We all went up in Jerry's car, arriving in Keswick at 3:00 pm to find last orders had just been called in D&G, so we went across the road for a quick one in the public bar of the Keswick Lodge Hotel.
That evening the beer in the D&G wasn't wonderful, and we were once again annoyed (mildly) by the piped music and (very much) by people who hovered over our shoulders and tried to take our seats every time we moved.

We parked at Legburthwaite and took the Sticks pass path, turning off left after the water chute to angle up behind Castle Rock.
There followed a long slog up grass to Great Dodd, after which Watson's Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd were reached by a simple stroll. We went down to Sticks Pass and back to the car.
That evening we set off at 6 pm for the D&G to find it didn't open until seven, although we were all convinced that last autumn it had opened at six. We went across to the Keswick Lodge for six pints of the best Theakstons for several trips. It was also much quieter and less crowded than the D&G, and we carried on using it for the rest of the week.
While I'm on the subject of enjoying a quiet drink with my friends, I'm going to have a little moan. Why do some people have to talk at the tops of their voices to the person sitting next to them? I really object to having to listen to other people's conversations, and to being unable to hold a civilised conversation with my friends. I suspect they are the same people who feel it necessary to shout to each other while on the fells and hog summit cairns.

We set off with a half thought of doing the Langdale Pikes, but the cloud was very low, so we parked at Elterwater and walked round the lake to Colwith and Little Langdale.
It was very pleasant, although I thought Slater bridge was rather disappointing.
Before setting off I had bought a new lightweight waterproof; Regatta, water repellent cloth with a breathable lining. It proved remarkably waterproof and much more comfortable than my heavy duty Craghopper, although I'm not to certain how windproof it would be at higher altitude.

We walked from the house to Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell, following the ridge to High Seat and High Tove and down to Watendlath. The depression between High Seat and High Tove was incredibly boggy, just about the worst I have come across in all my years in the Lakes, and Jerry sank twice, the second time up to the waist with both legs! I'm afraid that Mark and I were laughing too much to help him.
We made our way back to Ashness to find the 1510 boat had just left and the next one wasn't until 1640, so we walked back to Keswick round the lakeshore. It was raining heavily by now, and we had had just about enough as we struggled back to the house.

The ascent of Rannerdale Knotts was far harder than one would expect from the height gained. The path was at first on very steep grass, and then up a scree-filled gully.
It was a short but enjoyable walk, although it started to rain just as we reached the car. We returned to Keswick over Honister.

It had snowed overnight with a good sprinkling down to 2000 ft. We drove to Ambleside and went up Wansfell Pike via Stock Gill force. It was extremely windy on the top, so we stopped for lunch half way down the other side.
We went down to Troutbeck and then back to Ambleside by a different route (Robin Lane).

We parked in the car park up the Easedale road in Grasmere and went up Helm Crag, which is much easier than it looks from the road, being approached from the Easedale side by a well made path, which has replaced the eroded direct route. We followed the ridge to Gibson Knott and Calf Crag, and returned via Far Easedale.
We were attacked on Gibson Knott by a vicious hail storm which swept down on us from the Fairfield range on the other side of the valley. By the time we had got our waterproofs on the ground was white and the storm was over.

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