River Deep Mountain High - Four Go Mad In The Lake District

We're just back from a brilliant break in The Lake District with Krista and Chris and we're already missing them like mad.

We ascended to over 1000 feet at Loughrigg Fell, braving torrential rain and bitingly cold winds and were rewarded by sunshine and glorious views when we reached the summit.

The hill that many visitors to the Lake District climb to say they have climbed a hill, and that has introduced more people to the delightful lunacy of hill-walking. With a cave, scrambly rocks, corking views and within staggering distance of fine cream teas in Ambleside, drag a hill-walking virgin up Loughrigg on a fine day and – guaranteed – the bug will bite.   (Live For The Outdoors.com)

 Our choice of walking gear caused looks of amazement and countless comments by other walkers kitted out in boring old Gore-Tex, fleece and drab waterproofs.

 At least Mountain Rescue would have had no problem with finding us had we got lost.

Jon's got the walking bug so perhaps I can realise my dream of reaching Everest Base Camp once I get my other hip done.

Barry M, the preferred lippie of hikers.

 The euphoric rush of conquering a challenging peak in inclement weather beats a shopping trip hands down. 

Bowness-on-Windermere

 It's been over 27 years since I last went to The Lakes and it was as fresh and exciting for me as it was for the others.

 On the banks of Lake Windermere captured by a friendly couple from Liverpool.

Jon's such a bird magnet

 Most Brits love a queue, we chose not to join it and went charity shopping instead (what I found deserves a separate blog post).

Coniston Water

 We took in a bit of culture visiting the pretty village of Grasmere and William Wordsworth's modest grave.

 We posed in the grounds of the gorgeous 14th Century St Oswald's Church,

We called into Sarah Nelson's for the best gingerbread in the world.

 Former gingerbread-haters Jon & Krista are now converts.

We found time for plenty of boozing, eating and hanging out in pubs, too. The local restaurants were beyond brilliant. 

We seemed to attract a lot of strange looks, hot pink & turquoise doesn't appear to be a common choice of clothing colour in a conservative village like Ambleside. 

Bring me the finest wines known to humanity

We introduced Krista and Chris to the ultimate slacker film, Withnail & I after a session in the pub on Thursday night.

 The bromance continues.

Krista finds a bargain in Windermere.

Bridge House, Ambleside.

1970s cocktail dress courtesy of the divine Curtise

 Why bother with Gore-Tex when there's lamé and leopard print?

 Can you tell how well we all got on? Krista and Chris are amazing, funny, down-to-earth, generous and gorgeous. It's like we've been friends for years. There wasn't a moment of moodiness or an awkward silence from the minute we met.  Look out Portland, Oregon, we're coming to get you as soon as we can!

 Thanks for all your wonderful comments left on my last post, Krista and I loved reading them. You are fabulous and I promise to catch up with all of you tomorrow. Right now the pub's calling and our sadness at our friends' departure needs easing with alcohol.

See you soon!

PS If you think I've fallen out with you, I haven't! I've lost my mobile somewhere in the house.