Monday 21st February 2011 - C2C Road Trip, Day 2 - Borrowdale to Eden Valley

The day commenced with a full English breakfast for me in the Scafell Hotel, while Liam opted for the smoked mackerel. There was no possibility of tracking the real Coast to Coast route direction from Borrowdale to Grasmere - well not in a straight line anyway - so we followed the road up to Keswick.

   

Cue our first stop of the day, and a treat for Liam with a visit to the Cars Of The Stars Museum, and lots of photos taken alongside the motors from The Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider, Only Fools & Horses, Batman, The A Team and even Postman Pat! And many more besides.

   

From Keswick, we drove south to a brief tea stop at Patterdale, then over Kirkstone Pass, slicing between Stony Cove Pike G/LD-018 and Red Screes G/LD-017. We pulled in at the Kirkstone Pass Inn for beer/J2O, photos and a bowl of homemade vegetable soup each. I enquired after Stanley the British Bulldog, but learned he had emigrated to Scotland with retired former landlords John and Carol - the parents of the lady now running the pub.

   

Again, the roads were taking us nowhere near the C2C route, but it was as close as we could get as we headed towards Kendal to the south before turning East. Approaching J37 of the M6, I pulled in by the quarry for the first SOTA activation of the trip. It was to be Lambrigg Fell G/LD-046.

   

Liam and I crossed the road to the gate, on which were two almost contradictory signs. One stated that this was private land with no public right of way, except open access land according to the Countryside Rights of Way Act. The other signed confirmed that this was open access land! We walked the faint grassy path until it met the wind farm vehicle track cutting across it. Now we followed the track up to its highest point before cutting left and yomping up to where the high dry stone wall runs across the summit.

       

First job was to share out the venison chorizo I had brought as a snack-cum-bribe for Liam, and very tasty it was too. He then got stuck into the biscuits harvested from our hotel room that morning before settling to play games on his DS. Meanwhile, I set up quickly for 40m and called CQ on 7.033MHz CW, without a self-spot. I was found quickly by DL1FU and word soon got round, for there were 37 QSOs in the log before another 29 minutes had elapsed.  Thanks to all the following stations worked:

We marched back to the car, and used the M6 for a couple of junctions north. The next stop was Shap village, another key C2C stopping point. We had a drinks and photos break at the pub there, although I stuck to coffee this time. On the road again, and I thought I might just take the opportunity to make a surprise call on a friend. Alas, John G3WGV was not at home, so I adjourned to the Strickland Arms where I suspected he might otherwise be. Not so, but it wasn't really a problem, because I had already earmarked the Strickland as a probable food and accommodation option, knowing it to be top class from previous visits.

   

And so it was. Penny's Lamb Jalfrezi pie with roast potatoes was superb, as was the Jennings Cocker Hoop ale. We even watched Coronation Street on the big screen in the bar before retiring for an early night. Although it was a shame not to bump into John, the regulars in there were friendly and accommodating as usual, and Chloe behind the bar looked after us well.