Annual Birthday Outing.

With Birthdays falling within 2 weeks of each other we always go out together around the Solstice, although it isn't always such a sunny day as this. Today's itinerary was brunch at Grasmere and a look at the Heaton Cooper Gallery and the beautiful collection of environmental books for sale there. Then to the  Langdale leisure centre  to hire the Outdoor Mobility Tramper for a walk alongside Elterwater, with the Langdales in the background. 
The swimming here was interesting. For about 5 metres the bottom was gravel and stones, becoming deeper .Then it became much shallower for a long way with thick mud and weeds so you had to propel along with your fingers tip-toeing  in the squidge, to prevent grounding. It was warm and yielding, like jellied soap, squeezing between your fingers and the weeds stroking your legs so it became very therapeutic, when you got used to the idea of it. In the Canary grass margin opposite a Reed Warbler was churring and chatting.
The path then led on to Skelwith Bridge and Chesters-by-the-River cafe for tea. Sadly, their notorious cakes inveigled us to linger and we realised that we were not going to get the tramper back to the hire desk for four-thirty, as agreed, especially in the company of a tired little dog with short legs. 
So, with the tramper going at full speed over bumps and dips and me jogging and speed walking, two of us zoomed back to base, leaving the third member of the party to meander with and carry the dog. Despite her small size she is solidly weighted. We all felt a bit weak and sweaty when we eventually re-met up, particularly as the receptionist said we need not have hurried, as they stayed open in the evening. Phew!
However, it all added to the variedness of the day, the opportunity to laugh a lot and continue to get to know each other even after so many years of close contact, A good time was had by all!