Kennebunkport

Headed from Boston to Kennebunkport via Salem on the Wednesday. Salem is where they had the Witch trials of 1692. A Beer and Lunch was consumed at the Salem Brewing company.

We then headed off to our next overnight stay at Kennebunkport, Maine.

Kennebunkport Harbor

A fantastic Seafood meal was had in the evening at Federal Jack's where Derek tried his first fresh Lobster

Derek's first Lobster

Boston Arrival

Sedbergh blogger will become Boston blogger for the next 10 days. Finally arrived in Boston at 21:00 EST (02:00 UK time 6/10/09) after maintenance problems with the plane on the internal flight from JFK to Boston Logan.

Went to "Cheers" bar for a few bourbons before crashing out at the Hotel. Met a very loud American Attorney - but very Anglo-friendly and two Canadians.

Breakfast the next day was followed by the "Freedom trail" and then a visit to the USS Constitution - the world's oldest commissioned warship. This one destroyed a British frigate in the War of Independence.

USS Constitution.

Boston from Charles River

The Calf - and The Ankle!

Sunday 24th May was a fine sunny day in and around the Howgills so i decided on a long walk comprising the northern and southern Howgills from Gaisgill (NY 640054). A good reference to this walk can be found at Langdale & The Calf (Howgills). I made slow progress to the Calf due to getting slightly lost near Docker Knott (headed North towards Hand Lake instead of South). There are some fine views on the way, especially of the Langdale skyline.

At approx 4pm the Calf was finally reached - 7 miles from Gaisgill. I wasn't too concerned about the time as i knew i had daylight until at least 9pm given the weather conditions. I decided to have an apple and a drink and consult the map near The Calf Tarn (SD 671975) as i knew i had to fork off soon as to avoid taking the Bowderdale or Cautley path. Evidently i wasn't concentrating on my footing as the next thing i knew i went over on my ankle (felt a pop inside) and was rolling around on the fell in agony. There wasn't another walker about for miles - i was on my own fearing the worse. After ten minutes i dared have a look at the ankle, so off came the boot. I was initially relieved not to see any bone sticking out and i could move my toes - a good sign! I then decided to try and stand up and put some pressure on it, at which point i then fell on the floor in pain again. It was at this point that my "Auntie Gill's" prophetic words only the week before came haunting me "those boots don't seem to offer much ankle support do they" - Gill your new name is Gypsy Gill...

So here i was 7 miles from my car at Gaisgill, no one in sight to help but i had very good 3G coverage on my phone (and a working GPS system). I knew Sedbergh was nearer to me than Gaisgill but i didn't fancy the descent back to Sedbergh knowing that i would have to put pressure on my ankle. The contours on the map looked much gentler on the way back to Gaisgill. I decided to try and stand up and put pressure on the ankle again. All i can say is that the Endorphins and adrenaline must have kicked in as i could actually hobble. It was a long painful 7 mile hobble but i eventually made it back to Gaisgill at 8:15 pm. I even managed to take some more photos in spite of the pain..

The drive back from Gaisgill to Sedbergh is thankfully motorway so not much gear changing was necessary until coming off the motorway at Junction 37. I couldn't face going to casualty that evening so i spent a painful night which i got through on panadol and beer (WARNING, THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE MEDICAL PROFESSION!!).

On the Bank Holiday Monday morning i went to the Westmorland Hospital who looked after me fantastically. The ankle was x-rayed and i was told that the "good news is that it's not broken but the bad news is it will take as long as a fracture to heal" The fact that i walked on it for a further 7 miles means a potential healing time of between 6-8 weeks. I was offered a plastering (the ankle that is) and cruches but decided that i needed some mobility to drive. So we've had the pictures of The Calf and now it's time for...

THE ANKLE.

You've gotta laugh, haven't you...

Aysgarth and "The Da Vinci Code"

A strange link you might think but the association is "The Knights Templar". Tucked away in a corner of a field between Aysgarth and Swinithwaite (south of the A684) lies the remains of the Penhill Preceptory built c. 1200. Within the remains you can still make out some old tombs.

A strange incident occurred while i was looking at the ruins (you can draw your own conclusions, i'm reporting the facts). As i was looking around, to gauge where i needed to walk next, i saw a fine looking grey horse walking in a direct line towards myself and the ruins. It was between a gap in the woods. I looked straight back at the horse and then it stopped. I thought nothing else of it until i had finished looking at the ruins and had a bit of lunch. I needed to walk in the direction that i'd seen the horse coming from as i was heading towards Penhill Beacon. The horse was suddenly nowhere to be seen. I gained a good vantage point on the rise of the hill where Langthwaite Lane starts. I could not see the horse anywhere and i really had a good view of all around me...

FP sign from Chantry.

The rest of the walk was pleasant but tough as i got slightly lost coming down Black Scar and West Witton Moor. I was heading towards the lovely village of West Burton which i eventually found. The walk was concluded on the return back to Aysgarth and a fine view of St. Andrew's church.

St. Andrew's church

Pen-Y-Ghent & Ingleborough

Sedberghman decided to meet his brother for a walk up Pen-Y-Ghent on Wednesday 18th. What a glorious day it was too. The only downside was that the "Three Peaks Cafe" was closed all day and the much anticipated "Coffee and bacon sandwich" start to the day had to be forgone.

The day was rounded off by driving to Settle for a much deserved cuppa.

'Gizza Job'

Apparently in these darkening days of the recession there are ten people chasing every job vacancy. In some parts of the country (mainly the South East) this figure is much worse. If you have been affected write your comments...

Inevitably burglary is also on the increase with rural areas reporting a 20% increase on the previous year.

Introduction

Well lets get started then. This is your chance (not just mine) to make comments about anything to do with Sedbergh and it's surrounds - or anything else you or i may wish to get off our chests

Local Issues
What local issues are getting your dander up at present? Is it to do with the future of Sedbergh Health Centre or anything else that gets your goat!

Is it me or are parts of this lovely town becoming a dog toilet? Don't get me wrong because i'm a great lover of our canine friends - but sometimes not the owners - but i can't seem to walk far without putting my foot in doggy pooh. It just seems recently that it's getting worse, or is it my imagination