Lake District Weekend


Lake district Weekend

Our trip started at 10am Friday morning. With about 300 miles to go we left Essex, headed up the M11, A14 and on to the A1 which we stayed on until Leeming then turned west over the Yorkshire Dales. The weather was bright but blustery so the top stayed up until we reached the Dales when the fresh air bug got to me and the top had to come down. After about an hour of glorious driving we pulled in for a camera stop, when the camera came out, the sun went in, the rain came down and the hood went up! so that was that. We arrived at about 5pm so had time to unwind before meeting in the bar for a pre dinner drink.

Saturday. Up bright and early, breakfast and into the car park for a 9.30am start.
  At 9.29am the rain stopped (how does Alan Shaw do that?).

A convoy of 11 Panthers started to wend its way out along the winding roads to the Slate Mine on the Honister Pass. An interesting hour and a half tour was had at the working mine taking in its history and the geology of how the slate was formed.



 

Phil Tucker obviously expected it to be cold as he kept his cap on!




From Honister we headed off to our lunch stop. After lunch a few running repairs were made to one of the Lima’s (sticky brake calliper) and it was tops down for the rest of the days drive (about 85 mile round trip).


 

The evening followed last nights format, drinks in the bar, gourmet meal followed by coffee in the lounge ( I could get used to this!)

Sunday.Some left after breakfast and some left after the complimentary lunch which consisted of a three course meal (not your ordinary roast beef and two veg). For those staying over it was a pretty much do as you please day. In the morning Terry and I had a nostalgia trip round Ullswater (we went there years ago when the kids were young). In the afternoon went exploring, getting lost in country lanes that were so narrow you could hardly squeeze a Kallista down them and sloshing around on flooded roads which was OK until confronted by lunatic 4x4 drivers coming the other way.

Sunday evening, more food (slacken belt by two notches!).

Monday. Had breakfast, loaded up car and said our goodbyes, departed at 10am arrived back home at 5pm.

 

Thanks must go to Alex and Alan Shaw for all of their hard work in organising the weekend. Good trips, good hotel, excellent food, great company what more could you ask.  

 

Mick & Terry Laplain