It was looking like another fine day as we walked along the lakeside. Eventually we found our point to cut into the hills, I checked with a runner who was descending the route as it didn't look particularly well trodden, he assured us that it was passable (a relief as the alternative would have added about 4 miles on to the route).
As we started the ascent Luca's lack of energy and/or hill fitness started to reveal itself. Having said that, it was pretty tough going,possibly due to our heavy loads. After multiple stops,including one prolonged one so that I could make us some soup, we finally made it to the top. We were now on one of the hills that we'd intended on doing on during our night time swarray (?).
We made a speedy, but tired descent to Buttermere and found somewhere to get some late lunch!
We were now significantly behind the original schedule I'd sort of planned and we were somewhat lacking in supplied. What's more Luca was saying that he didn't really want to do much more hill walking. But we were right in the middle of the hills with limited routes out and and about 20 miles back to the car - as the crow flies!!! Luca was also saying that he didn't want to do a long day the following days as he would be achey... I looked at the public transport options and even they didn't really offer any solutions.
I started to get a bit hysterical because although we were surrounded by tourists and the weather was gorgeous, we were a bit stranded! The only way back was pretty much to follow the same route, but that was just soul destroying. Luckily Luca found another way back to Ennerdale. He was up for camping there and then walking back to the car the following day. I didn't fancy that as it was a fairly dull walk the first time - I suggested getting a taxi from there....
I was pretty disappointed as we set off that we'd be finishing so soon. If I'd spent more time planning things we'd have a had a better run at it. Maybe high hill walking wasn't the thing to be doing with Luca. Next time, I needed to get him involved in the planning more. As always though, Luca was committed and uncomplaining and he soon picked up my mood and made more content with the walk ahead of us.
We crossed over to Ennerdale via a lower pass through the hills. We passed Scale Force waterfall on the way and had an excellent little scramble into the gully to get a better view of it. We kind of lost the path after that - this was no walk in the park - but found it again after a few miles and before long we were on the same paths as we were on yesterday, but in reverse.
The Ennerdale Bridge pub did some good grub, a pint (!) and we ordered a taxi to start our journey home.
All in all, very enjoyable, but over too quickly.
GPX
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