It was a "boys day out" yesterday when me and two of my pals set off to reach the peak that over-sized hill that they call The Old Man of Coniston.
We were lucky with the weather - there was a band of torrential rain in the Lune Valley but north of that the weather cleared and we did not encounter a spec of rain during our trek up the mountain.
Len, Brian and I are all schoolmates from St Mary's Secondary Modern at Astley, near Leigh. This was our second attempt to reach the 2635ft summit of this popular fell together.
Two years ago we tried to make it on a day when we got drenched in rain and low cloud at the top forced us to turn back - low cloud and tired legs, I should add.
Len is a seasoned fell-walker and has lost count of the number of peaks he has conquered. For Brian and me it is more of a novelty so when Len said that this time we would take a easier route we were relieved to say the least.
I won't bore you with a Wainright-style step-by-step account of our walk, but for three guys who are all pushing 60 it was not bad to get up and down in six hours.
Mind you, we were not alone. There were scores of people enjoying the walk and I'd estimate about 40 folk were lolling around on the top when we got there at around 3pm.
Coming down, we took the more direct and steep route that we had attempted two years ago when we gave up and failed to reach the summit. Imagine my surprise when I noticed that the spot where we had given-up was about 200ft from the top!
So, we've done it now and we all enjoyed our day out tremendously, despite the aching calf muscles next day, and not least the frothing pint of Bluebird Bitter which we enjoyed at The Wilsons Arms pub in the village of Torver on our return journey..
I have never been a big "walker" but now I think I might be bitten by "the bug" and I am already wondering when we can plan out next "boys day out".
Another point to mention is that when we got back down into Coniston, it was surprising to see how quiet it was on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Perhaps.like us, there were a lot up the mountain, but I would have thought there would have been more tourists milling around.
I gather fear of "swine flu" is making the Americans reluctant to travel and perhaps coach trips to The Lakes are more popular midweek with old age pensioners.
Certainly Coniston - whether viewed from the peak of the Old Man or from the lakeside - is a lovely spot.
When will they ever learn?
(Fri 08/10)
Blackpool FC - back where they belong
(Tue 25/05)
A good bet... the date of the election?
(Sun 03/01)
Three men make it up Coniston Old Man - at last!
(Sun 28/06)
