I love to go a wandering.....

we went to england this summer.

during our visit we went to the lake district for a few days for some R and R.

and we all know what r and r stands for.

don't we?

rest and relaxation?

you might have thought so.

when we were packing our cases before the trip my other half asked me if i was putting in some good outdoor shoes for walking tours in the lake district?

i did not answer in the affirmative.
because
a) putting in good outdoor shoes would mean taking out some frivolous heels or sandals
and
2) i don't have any good outdoor shoes
and, he wondered, what was i packing to wear in the event of rain?
because it ALWAYS rains in the lake district.
again, i ignored him because, basically, i wasn't planning on getting wet.

so orf we went on our jollies.
and had a rare old time.
then we ended our trip by going to the lakes with my sister and her other half and we stayed in a lovely little but n ben in a lovely place called portinscale 

as i said i hadn't planned on being outdoorsy.
it's not really me.
i pictured myself in front of roaring fires at night, full english brekkies in the a.m.'s,
pub lunches at lunch times and fortifying ales and meals in good hotels at night.
i was taking books to read and magazines for the in between times.
aahhh bliss.

but have you met my husband?
have you met my sister and her other half?
not to mention my brother and HIS other half who also came to visit us while we were there and agreed with t'others, (i wasn't consulted) that the day should begin with a good long walk around derwentwater.
that's a lake to me and you.
i looked out the window and it was damp and drizzly.
i'd just finished a good plate of breakfast and was ready to have a wee sit and perhaps a nice coffee whilst i thumbed through the magazines.

rewind to the previous week when my other half had insisted i buy a jacket (waterproof) and shoes (sturdy and supportive) in some kind of outdoorsy shop catering to people who like to walk in the lake district!
so i was kitted out.
and had no choice in the matter.
we set off up hill and the other members of the 'team' pointed to the top of what looked to me a small mountain, something called catbells which they'd all walked up one side and down the other at one time or another.
well guess what?
not today people.
not today.
anyway. i fell in and kept step as we walked.
and walked.
and walked some more.
up hill, down dale, over meadow, across glades, through trees, past cows, more cows and lots of sheep!
and guess what?
we walked for miles.
and miles.
of course it was bloody marvelous and i loved it.
and i want to do it again.
but guess what?
i left my brand new jacket in the luggage bin above my seat on the plane.
but i did manage to bring my good, strong, sturdy shoes back with me.
i loved being with my sis and my bro.
and my sis in law and my bro in law
and not forgetting my other half.
who really is, my other half.
i loved every bit of it.
and now that i'm back here in canada.
 i wish that i could do it all again.

this was BEFORE the 20K hike

The "team" midway during the hike

me and me little sista contemplate the scenery and the meaning of life

this was at the start of the hike








this was what we went to see!

and this is what i looked like when we got back.