eviedykes2018

Munich to Regensburg- 17/08/18

After yesterday’s long day, we had a relaxed start, with an impressive breakfast at Hotel Munich City.

Tummy’s filled, with Evie trialling even more fruits (she liked Kiwi & watermelon today!), we learned our lesson from yesterday and booked a taxi from the hotel to the station. It felt so long on foot, but rather short by car! Still, there was no way we were lugging those bags over 1km again!

Typically, platform 1 was at the opposite end of the station and down two levels, so we didn’t totally escape lugging the bags!

Train number one was a bit like the London Underground. Surrounded by all this luggage I am wondering how on earth we will get it all on two bikes!

Evie chose the opportune moment (3 mins before getting off) to be properly sick all over both of us. She is rarely sick, so a surprise to us both; maybe that kiwi wasn’t such a great idea?? So now I am hot and smell!

With a change at Freising, the next train was a bit novelty, with comfy compartments within the carriages.

Next opportune moment meant a nappy change, and given as all toilets on the train were out of action then it just had to happen in our compartment

This then equals hunger and, despite not being interested in her milk, she was very happy when I opened a banana. Though her hands wanted it more than her mouth.

We arrived in Regensburg at 2pm, taxi at the hotel, for the reception of Hotel Lux where we are booked in to be closed. After trying to understand a notice, I ask the nice lady in the jewellery shop next door. She sends me across to a restaurant, which is shut. I finally find the chef, he finds a key. None of us can open the door…. so we wait in the corridor….

Eventually another woman arrives. I’m glad at this point I did A level German as she has no English. But the door is finally opened. And very nice to see, as requested but not necessarily expected, a cot for Evie (shame she is too small to use the lovely bedding).

After a drink in the cafe opposite and a quick visit to a rather lovely deli, it’s time for a snooze.

Then up in time for some dinner and a short wander over the bridge just to give us an idea of what it will be like.

We are excited to go and discover this UNESCO world heritage site properly tomorrow.

Walla Crag – 27/05/18

One of our favourites and a special place to. We parked in the Keswick streets as always, but because it had taken so long to get out the house, and breakfast seemed a long time in the past, we didn’t get beyond the cafe at the bottom of Walla Crag without first justifying an ice-cream before starting the up!!

The up we went, steady away with the climb. Gorgeous view on yet another gorgeous day.

We headed back down Cat Gill, which as a bit of a rocky scramble path, is no mean feat with a baby strapped to your front in a sling! It’s amazing how much we must look at our feet without realising, which meant being super careful.

A respite from the sun walking back through Great Wood and down to the shores of Derwent Water. Or as it was on this day ‘Costa del Derwent’. Having carried my cossie with us, I enjoyed brief swim to cool off.

Refreshed we headed into Keswick to get me an early birthday present. I needed a bigger rucksack to continue with the Wainwrights!

An evening mooch around Munich

Having flown in earlier day and then that epic walk with our bags to the hotel, we had a little chill before heading out to see the sights of old-town Munich.

We headed to the main centre of Marienplatz, with the Rathaus centred in amongst impressive Cathedral domes and other splendid buildings. Very lovely old centre and worth a visit.

We built up a good appetite so finished the evening with an ever so not German dinner of halal kebab!! But wow was it scrumptious. Called ‘Simbads’ at the end of Schwanthalerstrasse…. just incase you ever want to try it.

Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell round – 22/05/18

An early 10am meet (that was still super early for us with Evie still only 7 weeks old) with some of my mums walking group,

the Bampton Amblers, for a walk up Helm Crag…. and a few more if we fancied it.

I was getting better at carrying Bean and a bag, but it was still super hard work doing that initial ascent up to the Bracken Hause saddle. There was a decision to be made. Continue right to do the round, or deviate left to bag Helm Crag.

Left it was, and worth it…. and no I did not climb to the actual rocky summit with a tiny sleeping baby.

Then back down and up onto Gibson Knott and Calf Crag, and we stopped somewhere here for a spot of lunch.

Some gorgeous views and a tiny tarn deserving of a swim (but not this time).

Then for our final ascent up onto Steel Fell. The walk was starting to feel very long, but the views were still fabby.

So that left the long descent back down….. our biggest day out to date, the body knew about it. Evie slept most of the day!

Penrith to Munich- 16/08/18

4.30am alarm! Even too early for Evie.

5.57am train Penrith to Manchester Airport, with a sad goodbye to Daddy, who we will see in a couple of weeks, when part 1 of our holiday adventure is over. Evie, my mum and me set off. The journey was spent sleeping, looking at people and munching on cucumber!

Through check in…. pleased I could take the car seat without extra cost.

Through security, where I was again pleased to be able to take her milk through. Having a baby didn’t make any of the rest of security less thorough though. If anything it was even more so.

Some quick breakfast and ready to board the plane.

Evie had a little mini belt attached to my belt, not that it really stopped her wriggling. Luckily the cabin crew gave her a little toy and my seat neighbour enjoyed entertaining her.

After snoozes and wriggles we landed. Got the Number 1 bus straight to the city centre, all going far too easily.

Now picture a baby in front sling, rucksack on back, 18kg bag over one shoulder, car seat in other arm. Then the taxi driver says it is easier to walk than drive…. talk about a sense of humour failure when after 10 mins in sweltering heat we still hadn’t reached the hotel…. but in the end we made it.

We will be catching a taxi back to the station!

Kendal Calling festival

One week on and we hit the festival scene again, this time much closer to home. No need to camp which was a good thing because it did turn into a mudfest !

For the first day our new friends, Claire and her son Oliver, came to help look after Evie whilst went to teach my Pilates class. Festivals were a first for them to, so thankfully the weather was fine and the ground buggy friendly on this day.

After wondering around and watching some music, Claire & Oliver left us and Tim joined us to see ‘James’ play.

We hung out a little bit the following evening, but the weather had turned and the rain started. The Bundlebean came out for Evie, and after some food whilst sheltering from the heavy rain, saw a little music, we headed home.

The final day, was rain & mud! Evie stayed at home!

Setting up The Chariot

When Evie was 4 months old I purchased the Chariot for a few bottles of wine and a new-to-me bike to tow it. Owning it was one thing. Working out how best to use it before Evie has independent sitting balance was another.

Our first trial was a child seat insert, but Evie wasn’t stable enough at her size.

Then I remembered that I’d got an old car seat off Freecycle. Bingo! With a couple of attempts we strapped the car seat in without and give and we were happy. I was very happy and importantly, Evie smiled when we sat her in.

This time is was just a test up the road. Soon to be tested for a ride.

Bluedot Festival

So when Evie was just 12 weeks old I had an out of the blue request. Would I go and teach Pilates for 3 consecutive days at both the Bluedot Festival and Kendal Calling. Well my initial response was ‘no’. But then I thought why not, especially as I got a guest ticket for each festival.

It took quite a while to work out the logistics, especially as I decided to camp at the first one with Evie. I needed a babysitter at the festival for when I’d be teaching. My sister Imogen kindly stepped up to the job, along with Sam, her 2&1/2 year old son.

Arriving less than 2 hrs before I was due to teach on the Friday, having come straight from our holiday in Staithes, we first had to wait very patiently whilst security (Nigel) allowed us in, because of course, our passes were not where they were meant to be. Then the tent I was teaching in was the far side of the site, thankfully not muddy! And nowhere near any toilets (which for anyone who has recently had a baby will know that toilets are necessary regularly!)

So the class came and went and that was just fine. Then time to enjoy the festival.

We had a nice bit of family time before Imo & Sam set off. Then one thing you realise once you have a baby is just how loud bands are! So we took an early retreat and hung out in our tent. Being in the staff bit meant that non- drunk people came and went through the night. The thin walls and voices spooked Evie the first time someone walked past, but then all was fine

The next day we had a relaxed start, met the family yoga teacher, so went to her session together both mornings. Then we hit the festival and did some cool stuff. Like go in this geometric art structure!

I also bought Evie some baby ear defenders, which I was amazed that she tolerated 100%. Which also meant I could watch some music.

The final day we randomly bumped into some people from home, managed to see a couple of lectures, which were by top scientists, and Evie happily sat and smiled at people, or slept! And watch a lot of amazingly big bubbles!

Then time to pack up the tent, teach my final class and then drive home to daddy. Tim had missed Evie Bean so much that he had brought her a present….. Long Bean Bear!

Souther Fell and Bannerdale Crags 19/05/18

On a roll and a bit too cocky.

On a map, not looking too closely, this looked a nice achievable loop. So off we set.

Souther Fell = easy tick

Look at the map more closely once on top of Souter Fell and I realised that there was no direct link footpath. I could see one which looked a lovely steady climb going up to Bannerdale Crags on the other side of the valley, and the ground down the edge of Souter Fell didn’t look too bad, it was dry and a beautiful day….. So I went for it.

As I started walking down it turned out that it really was as steep as all the close contours on the map suggested. Knees were sore so I thought, well why not slide down on my bum (don’t fret, Evie was secure in the sling on the front). And asleep.

Well that’s what we did, bum-sliding interspersed with walking when the terrain was more rocky. And it brought us out into the valley floor, amazingly without Evie waking up. However then another obstacle….. a wide region of heathery grassy lumpy ground to actually get to the path!

Finally to the path, I started tromping up, by this time quite hungry. Evie woke up half way up the ascent so we stopped for a double feed with a view.

It was at this point I realised I’d lost my banana in the bum-sliding descent so had less food than anticipated to fill my now energy depleted body. At least I had refilled my water bottle at the stream as that would otherwise have run out to.

Eating all I had and having fed Evie, I continued onwards and upwards to the summit of Bannerdale Crags. A new one for me; Evie was asleep again!!

Then for the final descent, which was on a path this time but almost as steep and very tough on the knees.

A glorious but tough hill day, with my sore legs I was pleased for once to get back to the car.

Angletarn Pikes – 18/05/18

With Evie now 6 weeks old, for Angletarn Pikes I met up with my friend Lou ( well into a pregnancy herself) and her old but fit dog Seamus O’Leary. Given as this walk was before I thought to start this blog, looking back I now find it funny as we were trying to find a catchy title for a book for a guide to the Lakes with an ante-natal woman, post-natal woman with baby and a geriatric dog! Not quite what this is going to be, but part way there.

So it was another gorgeous day so we packed our cossies and headed to angle tarn.

Taking our time getting up the hill, both with good reason for a slow and steady approach, we decided to get in the Pikes and tick off a Wainwright en-route. Seamus seemed happy with the pace to!

Once we reached Angle Tarn and had some lunch, it decided to get cooler. Angle Tarn is generally very cold anyway early in the year, so we swapped the swim for a jumper and headed down instead.

What it did mean was that when we got back to Lou’s we had time for an ice-cream, and Evie had time for a cuddle with Paddington!