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Posted: Thursday 22 September 2011
A trip to South Lakeland for
North East Associates
- Wednesday 21st September -
For the second time in as many months it is back to south Lakeland for North East Associates. This time, though, we will see "lake and fell" as part of our adventure, other highlights to be train and boat journeys.
The train departing, well locomotive, is for destination unknown via the A590 & M6
The train arriving at Haverthwaite is for NE Associates, and just a few others
And now for a float in a boat . . . .
After assembling at 08:00, yes that early, 125 of us were driven west towards Carlisle, then to go south on the M6 - the weather was very pleasant.
On leaving Tebay Services after a breakfast break the weather changed, with squally showers for a time. We were optimistic that this was all we'd see of a weather front forecast to pass over the area and as we approached our initial destination conditions improved nicely.
The preserved Haverthwaite Station
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One-hundred-and-twenty-five, please
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The early start had been necessary to ensure we could meet a scheduled train at Haverthwaite Station. While waiting at the station many were fascinated with a display of owls - live! Others took pictures.
The service, running on the preserved but isolated
Haverthwaite & Lakeside Railway,
would in about twenty minutes convey us
the 3½ miles from the railway's base to the jetty at Lakeside,
located at the south of Windermere - the lake, that is.
All went well, with no-one suffering from travel-tummy in old MkI BR "blood & custard" coaches hurtling along at the exhilarating maximum speed of 12mph and pulled by a diminutive industrial locomotive.
We were steam-hauled, though, as we followed the River Leven to its source!
At Lakeside we awaited our next transport, a lake ferry, for the forty-minute cruise north to Bowness-on-Windermere. Many chose the upper, covered, deck as the place to congregate as the skies darkened.
Our boat, the MV Teal was of 1936 vintage, having been built in sections by
Vickers-Armstrongs at their (local) Barrow Shipyard with final assembly at Lakeside.
Windermere has been her home for all of her years, and her quoted maximum speed was higher than that of the train.
We were surprised when told that a passing boat, the MV Tern (below) and previously SS Tern, was about 120 years old and is still in regular service.
Storrs Hall, now a hotel, was built on the proceeds of slave trade
Disembarking at Bowness the rain became heavy, maybe we should have accepted the omen at Tebay where the ducks were seen leaving their pond to shelter beside a building.
This was lunchtime so we spread ourselves across many of the eating - and drinking - establishments in the town. Extended lunchbreaks were the norm - why get wet outside as well as within! Some of us chose the "Hole int' Wall" pub with its unusual hanging decorations.
Venturing out later some heavy and squally rain reached us so window shopping was out, we just went inside dripped onto the floors in the shops until conditions improved. Sadly there wasn't the opportunity 'just to relax at the lakeside' as our organisers had thought of as a possibility.
Time to go, and as we passed through Windermere - the town this time - precipitation stopped. Back on the M6 and A69, noticeable on waking, the sun shone beautifully to round off what all agreed had been an excellent day, despite the rain.
Our last excursion this year too, very well supported as those over previous months - thanks to those who join in, and to those who organise. We arrived back just a little later than on the previous trip, sadly just too late for the Morpeth contingent to catch their train. When we hear the rest of their tale we may let you know.
ph
pictures: cs, hlp, rmh, ph
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