Scarred on the 'Red Run'

Monday 6th September 2010

Well, I started off the way I intended to carry on...at 'Cowboy time ' (anyone know what the time was ??) and headed off up to Ambleside, where I got to my favoured outdoor store.. Gaynor Sports at Ambleside (link already on), where dissapointedly I couldn't get my favoured 'Nuptse' down jacket at the advertised price (t'internet only !), but got an even better Mountain equipment jacket, at similiar price...hopefully this one will last out the winter, unlike last years one, anyway I've got a new down jacket for the 'cooler weather'

Funnily enough whilst in the shop, I heard an assistant, trying to impress a woman from Birmingham,about which 'wet wether' jackets to get - I told him not to be so miserable, the sun was shining and would do all week !

So when I picked the down jacket to purchase, he said ' I have made everyone miserable haven't I ?!'...

From Ambleside, and a steak pastie from Greggs ! I went up to Grizedale forest , where I ended up paying an extortionate £5 to park for 4 hours !, and £1 for a rubbish 'trail map'...however..

Then I went on the North Face mountain bike 'singletrack trail' http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandCumbriaNoForestGrizedaleForestParkGrizedaleVisitorCentreTheNorthFaceMountainBikeTrail

which actually was quite good fun...the pictures would have been great, if only I'd remembered to take it with me ,doh....

I flashed round the, for me, quite tricky course,only coming off a few times,

twice being into the thick brambles aside the track, leaving thorns in places you wouldn't want ! Going over various built up obstacles, and rocky trails.

I finished the course in a creditable 2 hours, the target time being 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours...so pretty average then, not bad for an old geezer.

Having dusted myself down on the car park.....a sparse eaxmination revealed 'only' 1 cut elbow, both forearms scraped and scratched (and a sweaty !!!)..I didn't cry though !

From there I went to Whinlatter forest, to have alook at their trails,

and then drove to nearby Keswick, to find a campsite, and got the last pitch on the CCC Keswick sitehttp://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=2951, where I convinced them I was over 55 ...and so ,finally got my 'age discount'....finally after over 5 years being a pensioner...I've got an age reduction !!

I nipped into nearby Keswick, had Cumberland sausage,chips...and 2 pints of Cumberland ale...to start the journey properly...

I just managed to get back to the campsite, before the Heavens opened,and the rain thundered down for the night !!

Me ? I slept soundly after a hard day !