A different type of conference for me…….But it involved a trundle to Paradise…

So an extra blog about my trundle yesterday ……

Yesterday saw me trundling to Penrith in Cumbria……which is verrrry close to my paradise of Keswick. I’d been asked ages ago if I’d speak at the Annual Cumbrian Churches Dementia Conference and I must confess that I’d said yes without really looking at why I was going as it would mean a quick visit to Keswick in the autumn 🙄🙈

The people contacting me, Yvonne and David had sounded really kind on email and were asking all the right questions re support etc…..so it seemed a shame not to just got for it, even though it’s quite a trundle. Due to the distance they’d offered to put me up for 2 nights, which would make it less stressful…..

Anyway, we’ve had torrential continual rain for days now and it continued all the previous day and the night before. So much so that the taxi driver surprised me by coming from the opposite direction. He said he hadn’t been able to get through the village the previous night because of flooding 😳😱…….as we made our way slowly along the high street it became clear that it had subsided but you could see the debris piled up at the side of the road….we’re a very leafy village the autumn leaves falling always cause a problem with the drains…..

As we picked up speed the dark another flood across the road took us by surprise….must be scary driving and not being able to see the water in the dark…..

Once we’d settled we began chatting and he asked where I was going on my trundles this time….he confessed to having just downloaded my book and had been hoping for long airport rides so he could listen to more ❤️…….

The first train took me to Hull, and the chaos soon became evident as Doncaster had been hit hard again by the overnight rain and no trains or buses were heading that way…all were being diverted via Leeds……luckily for me I was heading westwards today towards Manchester ….🥵…it was silly oclock, still dark so no early morning piccies…….all I could see were headlights and the glistening of water everywhere……

As night became day the Pennines came into view looking soggy and drab but still beautiful

As we crossed from one side of the country to the other, the sun began to shine, the sky was blue and the ground less waterlogged…..what a difference……and the bonus of the patchwork quilt of loveliness…..

My lanyard worked all the way yet again, with the guards helping me at every stage even though this time it was Transpennine Train company ……made such a difference especially since my suitcase was full of books 🙄

Anyway, once at Penrith I took the taxi the short ride to the hotel to drop off my bag, trundled outside back towards the station feeling a lot lighter and thought I would have to wait an hour for the bus ……when suddenly in the distance I spied the X5 heading towards me…..I was nowhere near the bus stop but stuck my hand out hopefully and Mr Kindness was driving the bus as he stopped with a smile …….I would get an extra hour in paradise….🥰…..#randomactsofkindness……….❤️

Being out of season, the bus was quiet and I had the front seat upstairs with views to die for….

As we neared Keswick,  calmness wrapped me up warm in a paradise hug and I settled down ready to be mesmerised by the autumn colours…….and even a dusting of snow on the peaks…..

I went down to the Lake and sat in my favourite spot………it’s a lovely warm glow inside when you find that special place to call paradise…….

More photos followed as the sun tried hard to shine through…but it didn’t really matter what the weather was like……the autumn was stunning wherever I walked…

I watched 2 dogs playing in the water chasing a very large branch and then each running to its owner with 1 jaw round each end, happily sharing the load…

It took me by surprise that the launch was running this time of year but It was a nice day so expect they were making the most of the opportunity…

So I ambled up to the boat cabin to see if anymore were going today…to find I was in luck ….along with a few other hardy souls I braved the outside, in order to get better piccies…….but ventured inside on the way back as my fingers had gone numb 🤣

I came across 2 people weaving willow branches looking out onto Derwentwater  . I went up to chat to them and it turned out they’d been  commissioned by the National Trust to make a “viewing spiral” out of willow, with holes woven into it through which you can get magic piccies…….they even left me help! So if you happen to see it and spy a dodgy bit, it’s probably the bit I did……🤣

I found somewhere to sit inside for my last while and the heavens must have been watching as it pulled the plug on the skies’ bath once more ………but what a wonderful few hours I’d had and at least the weather had waited until I’d finished…..

I’ve written so much for this journey that Me thinks I’ll  have to publish this as an extra Saturday blog and the actual conference will follow on Monday….