| Ronald at Hardknott |
| Sunday October 11th 1992 |
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Ronald was Jerry's old Nissan van, which had been converted to a camper. On the Sunday morning we eventually coaxed him into life by pushing him up and down the car park, and set off to by way of Langdale and Wrynose pass to ascend Crinkle Crags, intending to return from Three Tarns by Lingcove Beck and Mosedale. We parked a little way up Hardknott and walked back to Cockley Beck to decide the best route of ascent. Although there was a bridge only 20 yds away, I decided to hop over the beck. I planned my route - this rock, then that rock, then the far bank. In mid air between the two rocks I realised I wasn't quite going to make it. I got a foot on the rock, but the weight of my rucksack pulled me off balance, and I landed heavily in the water. The worst thing about it was a coach load of Japanese tourists who had observed the incident with some interest. After the others had stopped laughing we went back to Ronald, where I stripped down to my underpants and dried off in front of Jerry's camping stove before setting off again. |
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Scanned from the original negative.