Now. You maybe wondering what on earth your listening to and why the title is not (as per usual), a recognisable song title (if you've not twigged this so far, you were never going to without this prompt😂). Well, all will be revealed in due time but suffice to say, I have not broken the rules of the blog...just bent them (in order to work around my blog subscription criteria)..as I can 100% certify, this is a recognised song title that is searchable on YouTube....indeed...we are now internationally recognised!!

Anyway, back to today. We again started in familiar fashion, waking up to birdsong under tippee canvas. After a ramshackle breakfast of left overs (no time for a full cooked, this morning), we slung our possessions back into our rucksacks and 'checked out' of our dwelling. The weather is not as sunny as yesterday and consists mainly of thick cloud and 'fat' rain...I like this description...this is the kind of rain that the Lake District does well...not that flimsy fine misty stuff that soaked us within an inch of our lives on Monday but good ol' fashioned, slap you in the face, windy, chonky rain...a great freshener for the day ahead. By the time we arrive at Hawkshead, we are ready for the bus and decide to head up to Ambleside rather than trek across to Wray and catch the boat....we have already doubled our expected boat quota for the holiday anyway and neither of us are that bothered about getting back on the lake. While we wait, I treat myself to a Mocha (a friend told me, you should have at least one pr month) and Nick scouts the Chocolate Factory for a sweet treat ..he settles on a malteser based affair...an excellent choice...and while he monches on it, I take the opportunity to take a lovely picture of him unaware he has a fake cows bum over his shoulder...I regularly need to top up the Juvenile in me and make no apologies😂

After a bumpy bus ride, we arrived in Ambleside. With the promise of a visit to the Rock shop ringing in Nicks ears, I just about convinced him to take the rainy climb up to Stock Ghyll waterfall. It is a treacherous walk full of slippy rock underfoot a couple of mile from the centre of Ambleside but the views at the top of the waterfall make up for it and despite his protests, I think Nick really quite enjoyed it.

Not quite as much as he enjoyed the next stop tho....The Rock Shop!... This is a must for anyone with young kids or slightly older kids/adults who are infatuated with Rocks or geological curiosities...it has everything!..lots of fun tasks you can get involved in or just enjoy learning about rocks...more interesting than you would think. After nearly an hour of meandering, Nick convinces me to buy matching birthstone pendants???...and we retire to the newly completed Lakes Brewing Company tap room literally over the road for a well earned pint and in Nicks case, a decent chip butty. The beer is quality (best so far) but more over, the tap room is well thought out, with good music, friendly knowledgeable staff and an amazing beer garden right next to the river (on a sunny day, this would be a belter)- today we decide to stay hunkered inside whilst we compare our birth stone bling😊

And now to the bit you have all been waiting for (well maybe?)... Where the hell did that song come from? After lunch, our initial plan was to head to Ambleside climbing centre- a small place off the main road that offers bouldering and belay climbing at a fairly reasonable price for visitors. Unfortunately, we had left it too late and missed the taster sessions. However, remembering that there is a rock type scramble thingy in the nearby Rothay Park, I promise Nick he can get his climbing fix there. We arrive, to a short break in the clouds (could that possibly be sun?)- it is short lived but long enough to have a wee scramble and a play on some of the equipment. Just before we are about to leave, Nick stumbles across some of the natural wooden percussive instruments that have seen better days but nevertheless being a lad after my own heart, begins to knock out a tune. Now, those that know me, know one of my most annoying traits is that I never miss an opportunity to bang out a jam, so quick as a flash I whip out my phone and record the banger that you are hopefully listening to (see video at top of page). Ok, so it's not going to win any awards but little spontaneous moments of music, in the moment, in nature, like this, mean a lot to me and to be able to share one with my son (and now with the international community!😂) makes my heart sing with joy! So enjoy...we'll be coming to a record store near you very soon😂xxx

Following our musical foray, we hopped a bus back to Windermere. I've not seen Nick move as fast yet with his backpack on as when he saw it was an open top bus😂. We loaded our bags on and took our positions in the open air at the back. We got a few funny looks as it was still shedding it down but TBF they didn't know we were professional adventurers and a little bit of rain wasnt going to stop us enjoying the ride. These are great buses and you get top views, automated commentary of local landmarks and a little thrill ride as the bus driver tries to make up for being late....with the wind, rain...and occasional branch smashing into your face- Nick commented 'its like a rollercoaster'- quite right son, only with less health and safety!😂. Still...this is a cool way to travel and all for the same price as standard fare (which has now returned to £3 since COVID, for both adults and children...there are no Andy Burnham prices up here!- although would I be tempted to pay it for a whip around Salford in an open top??!...maybe not?)

So to our BnB at the top end of Windermere where I find myself writing this- after a couple of days roughing it (sort of), I decided to treat us to a real bed and a proper homemade meal courtesy of the downstairs kitchen facilities- I've made Nick's favourite-pasta with sauce and stuff (yes it's technical). The rest of the evening will be spent putting a wash on (the kitchen has a washing machine 😅- we were running out of underpants😂) and snuggling down to watch whatever crap film is on terrestrial TV- it matters not, I'm more looking forward to the snuggle anyway😉- because even professional adventurers need some downtime. Xxx