Lake District

The second May long weekend was the long awaited 'Truly Magnificent Weekend away', organsied by David Marchant, and a couple of other guys from church, and truly worth the wait!

We set off after work on the Friday, David driving the minibus with 15 of us, and Paul driving his 'beast' (40 year old volvo station wagon), on the 6 hour journey to Kendall, in the Lake District in north West England.
Friends of David's very generously offered their home for all 16 of us to use for the weekend, as they were away in Morocco.
It was a 3 bedroom, 2 sitting room, kichecn/dining room 4 - storey house, which accomodated everyone, either on the floor or beds for those lucky enough to get a spot in one of those!
Saturday morning we set off for Lake Buttermeer and the Haystacks, where we walked for the afternoon. We were blessed with really nice weather - mostly sunny, with a few clouds, that thankfuly didn't drop any rain on us.
We were rewarded for our steep treck up the mountain with the amazing views from the top (see photos below!).
I had not done any kind of hiking for many years, and I realised why people get hooked on walking up mountains, especially with a good pair of boots and nice weather!
I'm looking forward a little more to the Macchu Piccu hike in August, though I'm still a bit nervous about the altitude.

Saturday evening we all managed to have showers (in the one bthroom in the house!), and had it was great to sit down to dinner with 16 top people, whose company was a absolute pleasure.

Sunday morning, some of us visiting the Parr Street Evangelical church, where re received an amazingly warm welcome. I think any church in a smaller country town would love for 7-8 twenty-somethings turn up for a service, but the people there were really chatty and welcoming.
I had a 'small world' experience, as two of my good friends, Mark and Cathy, from Buxton last year are from Kendall. It happened to be Mark's uncle's place we were staying at, and he was in town and dropped in on the Saturday, and his fiance, Emma was at church on the sunday morning, so it was lovely to see her. I have been invited to their wedding in august, which I so excited at - my first 'England friends' wedding! What's more, I'll actually be between trips, so I can actually go to it!

Sunday afternoon some of us went to an indoor pool for a bit of fun, and a few went for a walk around lake Windermeer.
Sunday night, all 16 of us turned up at Parr street church, where we were welcomed even more warmly!
With Colin in the kitchen with some helpers, making one of his delicious curries (from scratch!), the rest of us played Frisbee till about 10pm, though the game was cut a little short when Claire intercepted a Frisbee throw from David with her eyebrow - lucky she ws wearing glasses, or it could have been a lot worse!
The curry was well worth the wait, and we all slept very soundly.
Monday we cleaned up and set off for Chester. The zoo there was amazing, though 4 hours was just not quite enough time to see it all - will have to go back one day!
a brief walk around historic Chester, followed by a downpour had us running bck to the minibus to head back to London.
An amazing weekend or beautiful scenery, great food, and hanging out with a bunch of fantastic people, getting to know them better.