11: Patterdale to Burbanks (staying at Shap)

Well this turned out to be an odd day - up and breakfasted, Pete went off to organise lunch and Pheebs takes ill with a tummy bug.  So I volunteer to play nurse and stay with her and take the bus to Penrith and then to Shap - my decision is not too hard - weather is crap, raining & windy, route is going to be hard, and my feet could do with a day off.  So the others set off in the rain and we head to the bus stop - will tell my tale, then recount from Joes journal.

We seem like we are in the middle of nowhere but along trundles a double decker bus & Pheebs & I hop on for a roller coaster ride into Penrith (pronounced Pen Rith).  We wander up the road to the shops and see a little dress shop with nice things in the window - next thing I am trying on fancy clothes, assisted by two very patient ladies who politely didn't mention the state of my hair or the clothes I walked in in) and handing over some cash!  They did suggest that some heels might go better with the posh frocks than my hiking boots, but I wasn't sure my feet were quite up to being shoved in a pair of heels today, or that they would want my feet in their heels....  Anyway, I got a little something to wear to Mitch & Lin's wedding and posted it off to work to save carrying around. 

Had a little wander around town (very cute), Pheebs purchased some sweet treats for the walkers at a great deli/bakery/cheese shop, then back to the bus stop and off to Shap.  Bus driver lets us off right opposite 'The Hermitage' where we are staying - a 450 year old house crammed full of china, paintings and a stuffed badger under the baby grand!  We were early but allowed to wait in the 'sitting room' till Jean came home and showed us to our rooms - all very nice in a tudor style...  "Please wait in the sitting room until Mother gets home and she will show you to your rooms"

Had a quick nap, then Pheebs and I nipped down to the Bulls Head to book a table for dinner - as soon as we went into the pub, I knew the stinky Cambridge boys were also in town!  

So from Joes Journal:
We walked through the Patterdale Common and up towards Angletarn Pike.  The wind is getting stonger now but the views are great.  There was a point where we should have stayed close to a stone wall but we followed other walkers not knowing they were taking a different route - it was a steep climb and the wind howling - great views still though.  We clambered down back to the correct path, and then started up towards 'The Knott' - a steep climb and the weather turning fowl.  We got to 'The Knott' (730 m) highest point on the walk, and headed off towards Kidsty Pike - wind blowing a gale, horizontal rain, in the clouds with visibility of about 15 metres.  At Kidsty Pike we couldn't see anything apart from the sheer drop to our right!  Started down to Haweswater and walked out of the clouds to a great view of Shap.  A steep, slippery, grassy/rocky descent to Burbanks.  Pete, Mandy & Narelle took the arranged 'transport' option into Shap, but I was feeling good so continued on foot - but a few boo-boos meant another 2 hours walking (in the rain).  Arrived at Shap about 7.15 very tired, wet, hungry & thirsty!!

Off to the Bulls Head for dinner.  We are the only ones dining, possibly because of the food (turns out a reservation wasn't necessary and explains the chefs earlier surprise), but the stinky Cambridge boys are still in the bar - along with 2 locals and 3 dogs - everyone takes their dogs into the pub with them here!

A selection of Mrs Jacksons china!