eviedykes2018

The adventure begins. Penrith,UK to Christchurch, New Zealand – getting there

It’s a very long way from Penrith to NZ, but the first conundrum was how to get to Heathrow with a lot of bags and a baby. Not wanting to take our car when this trip is a long one, we looked at the train as an obvious option. But both the train and the ‘getting across London’ elements were very costly and not very easy. So we hired a car, which worked out great and allowed us to get to the airport with plenty of time to spare and was a lot cheaper.

Our first flight was a late night flight, straight away getting Evie out of sink. But Heathrow has a great play area hidden away with soft play and even a sensory room. So that kept us occupied.

On the plane and Evie has the option to fly in luxury on a basonette…. or she could instist on sleeping on one of us most of the way instead.

She will never know how probably for the only time in her life she turned down sleeping on a bed on a plane… oh to swap places with her!

So we thought it sensible to have a night in Hong Kong. Could have a relax, get a good nights sleep, then be fresh the next day for a bit of sightseeing in Hong Kong. How naive! Reality was exhausted on arrival, minimal sleep as Evie didn’t know what time of day it was, so I ended up walking around the airport and hotel in the middle of the night, and exhausted the next day, meaning no energy to go into Hong Kong for sightseeing!!

Middle of the night entertainment!

Hong Kong airport does have great buggy trolleys so if you don’t have a buggy, you can whizz your baby around!

On to the next stage of our journey – Hong Kong to Auckland. Evie gets a different style of basonette, which she generally chose not to be in for most of the flight !

Would rather sleep on us!

So she did ok, we got tireder…. too tired even to watch films….

Eventually we arrived in Auckland and it was a beautiful day there. Blue skies and warm.

But we weren’t staying. We had to pick up the bags and go through customs (baby food in packs and milk formula allowed into NZ). Then drop them again for our internal flight to Christchurch and back through security.

Well the last part of the journey is often the longest, or so it seems. But we did finally get off the plane in Christchurch, achy and exhausted.

And we somehow got all our stuff and three of us into a Suzuki Swift ready to start our New Zealand adventure!

Little Mell Fell – 03/08/18

For a small walk so close to home, this was a walk new to me as well as Evie. A blustery damp August day meant it was perfect for a brief bit of fresh air.

Even on this dank day, there was still atmosphere in the views. It’s rare that it’s not worth going out…. at least for a little while…

Moel Famau – stunning views on a stunning Autumnal day (20/10/18)

A great place in North Wales for an easy walk with stunning views, starting from the car park just up from Loggerheads.

The sun was out so a family walk on this beautiful day was a must, with the sun bringing out the best of the colours.

Evie was fast asleep and snoring in my ear for the first part of the walk, but then woke up to enjoy the top

Arriving at the busy top, where there is a great 360 degree view from the tower for miles around

Time for a much deserved snack for Evie (having made it to the top awake!)

Then back down through the trees that are all turning

And back to the car across the wibbly bridge! Nice playground for when Evie is older….

Sale Fell – 31/07/18

Making the most of being in a different part of the Lakes, as we were headed to The Lakes Distillery for a very belated Christmas present, we decided to go up Sale Fell, as it was VERY windy! So a short walk fitted the bill nicely.

Evie is now big enough to go front facing in the sling when she is awake. More interesting for her but harder for me. I don’t know if she is happy or not… and she kicks me with her legs!!

It really was crazy windy on top!

But not particularly cold

And the views over Bassenthwaite were lovely….. but not as lovely as the afternoon tea at The Lakes Distillery!!

Happy belated Christmas mum!

Beda Fell – 26/07/18

One of those days with multiple work deadlines but too gorgeous not to! I really wanted for us to do the Beda – Place Fell round but ran out of time, so settled for just Beda Fell.

A blistering hot day, the sling and rucksack made for hot work as we clambered steeply upwards through a thick bracken little trod footpath. One on the ridge line life got easier.

Looking over Ullswater and back at Hallin Fell, the views are stunning as soon as you have climbed a short distance up. Even the sheep like taking them in!

it took longer than I anticipated to get to the summit, and despite the heat was a bit breezy on the very top, so we dropped a bit for lunch.

The colours at this time of years were gorgeous up here, all tiny little Fell plants that made a beautiful fellside.

Then time for the grassy descent down and walk back along the Martindale valley where Evie chilled out on the grass whilst I had a quick dip in the river to wash off and cool off!

Blencathra 09/07/18

One of my all time favourites, I decided it was time to take Evie up Blencathra for a picnic!!

Going up from Scales it’s never an easy start out of the car park going straight uphill. So paused for a cute picture

We got to the summit but Evie was still sleeping so I decided to walk along the saddle to Knowe Crags.

Evie then woke up so we did some tummy time!! This allowed Evie to take in the view!

Took a selfie!!

Then after the picnic headed down via Scales Tarn as it looked so beautiful!

Another gorgeous day for a walk.

High Rigg – 15/06/18

A blustery day meant a low(ish) level walk was desirable, so Lou & me decided on High Rigg.

Parking near the church up St Johns-in-the-vale there is very little up, so it didn’t take long to reach our summit!

There are still lovely views from this peak

Then it’s quite a rocky descent down the far side of the Rigg. So need to be careful underfoot (especially when you can’t see your feet!).

After that it’s a flatish path along the base of the Rigg, although somehow I managed a big trip on the flat section. This then required a stop in a conveniently placed friendly family run cafe to soothe Evie, before heading along the path back to the car.

A glorious October day

We woke to a beautiful sunrise and a forecasted amazing day.

How to make the most of it (apart from drying 3 loads of washing?!).

I decided to get out the bike and Chariot and cycle us to Penrith to get the food shopping and, most importantly, take Evie to Rattle and Drum, a session she seems to love.

Even better, whilst I was enjoying the biking and the colours, she had two good morning sleeps!

Then (after more washing), I met up with Jess and her Osh, and we walked along Haweswater to the Forces.

We had a nice picnic and I believe the bubas enjoy each other’s company, Evie slightly frustrated that she can’t yet walk to chase Osh around. A great place to enjoy the autumn colours and listen to the deer rutting.

Then onwards, we said bye to Jess & Osh and Tim came and met us at Pooley Bridge for an amazing sunset.

He and Evie chilled

I swam (brrrrr – getting cold in there)

And then after a lot of excitement in one day, it was time for home, bath and tea!

Haweswater lakeside path

With just a couple of hours to get some fresh air and not the weather for going up, the path along Haweswater from Burnbanks often hits the spot. And at this time of year the colours are beautiful even when the weather isn’t!

All prepped in warmth and waterproof, we are now very much into using the rucksack

However, I’m finding I need to use different muscles (my glutes +++) to the sling so we are steadily building back up again with distance and inclines. This path is again perfect for that, as it gently undulates with beautiful views.

Today we only went to a bit beyond the forces

Enough to see the tops were in cloud anyway (always makes turning around easier!)

And home for tea as we now need to think about actual food for Evie….. life is moving on too rapidly!

Foraging the hedgerows

It’s all about timing!

I did well on timing the foraging outing on the bike with Evie’s sleep. I did badly (by at least two weeks) of timing the fruit picking. The rosehips are softening and I only found a handful of blackberries.

We started out and took every opportunity to pick fruit, meaning that Evie could help with the rosehips and elderberries!

Then with the eye rubbing, it was time to tuck her up and do some cycling to get her to sleep

Continuing along the way, the bushes were abundant in elderberries and crab apples

The Chariot was useful for carrying the jam pan to collect the fruit in, in the ‘boot’ with the nappy change bag!

Though the wind was strong, the views were gorgeous. Definitely feeling autumnal

Quite tired when I got home, well timed as Evie woke up!! Ready to make the hedgerow jelly jam when I get a spare moment!