There was much sighing in the car on the way home last night. Thankfully these sighs were not born out of frustration or as result of a wet weekend in the lakes, they were sighs of satisfaction from three tired but happy bodies on the way home following a good weekend.

After work on thursday I collected Chris from the official chairmans residence and we filled the car with camping paraphernalia. Blazed a trail to Stockport where we met with Eastern European wrestling champ Ianovitch Culstar who had arranged a gourmet meal of sauteed pommes de terre and poisson. Following a tour of the Culshaw residence we left Manchester at 1900. It only took 1hr45 to get to the campsite, so the tents were pitched in the last vestiges of light before sacking it to the pub.

Friday morning we woke to horizontal death rain and there were no signs of improvement from the sky above. Drove to Ambleside for a mooch around, and almost as soon as we arrived the sun came out.

Ate and caned it back to Langdale to get out on the hills. The weather remained clear so we headed out up stickle ghyll. Steep, steep, steep - top! takes about an hour to complete what is ultimately a two mile stairmaster. At the apparent top lies Stickle tarn, a glacial corrie flanked on either side by hills and walled at the back by an 800 foot grey green cliff known as Pavey Ark. The crag rises out the back of the tarn like a foreboding grey presence and is slashed from right to left by a ramp which is called Jakes Rake. On clapping eyes on the feature the other two elected to take the footpath up the side. I couldnt miss the opportunity and with a bit of trepidation jogged off round the lake on my own. A bit of scrambling leads to the base of a deep groove which runs up the middle of the cliff, its more a very extreme walk than a climb but the exposure in the middle is considerable! This is a picture from Jacks rake next to a rowan tree which clings to the cliffside at about half way up (stickle tarn in the background) :

Anyway, met the others at the top and pressed on to the Pike of Stickle and ultimately home down the Mickleden Valley. Total time about 4.5 hours. Brilliant day out, walked straight back to the old dungeon ghyll hotel (ODG) which is 5 mins walk from our campsite. Couple of pints then back to camp for beautiful curry prepared by the marvellous miss barber, then back to the ODG for beer.

Saturday it was changeable weather again. Soon as we got in the car it cleared up but we'd decided to go to Keswick. I went to the climbing wall whilst those two ended up watching the football in Keswick labour club with a man dressed as Borat! Back home to Langdale for tea and beer in the ODG - very drunk.

Finally, Sunday packed up camp and headed to grizedale forest center where we hired bikes and set out on the 'deadly' North face trail.

Far from being deadly it was pretty good fun and we blazed round in an hour and half without incident. Quality entertainment. Finished the weekend in a pub in Hawkshead for a sunday lunch and then a quick trot back to Manchester/Sheffield. Funny how a weekend away exponentially extends the length of your weekend...

Plans for this week - Tonight, board - campus, rings, Wednesday - tor/staminaband. Ned isnt about so no Zeke yet, Think follicle said he was keen mind, so that might mean rooster booster... Then Thursday back to the works and Friday off ready for sat Tor again... Hopefully!