There is a bit of train theme to this trip as we started to come out of lockdown but there were several mishaps as well. Our first main site was  Ravenglass C&CC in Cumbria 

As it would take quite a while to get there from Salisbury we looked to find a CS (Certified Site) on our route, say above Preston. There were a couple of candidates. We found the site, (circled in my site book)  after an uneventful journey on 20th April. We saw the owner and paid the £8 pitch fee. She remarked that we were early, she had expected us at 5pm. At 5pm another van rocked up but I thought no more about it until much later I got a phone call from another CS asking if I was running late and if she should leave the lights on. Oops I was on the wrong site and much further up the M6! As you can imagine I apologised profusely, but stayed put. Oops.

We arrived at Ravenglass just after one the next day and were shown to our pitch. I reversed in and then jiggled about to get flatter, in the process I bumped into a tree stump at the end of my pitch and broke a chunk off my plastic bumper. Over the years this bumper has taken a few knocks and is repaired with gaffer tape but now it definitely needed to be completely replaced. A call to Highbridge camping's answer phone was made and a saw borrowed from the warden to tidy up the bumper. Oops again.

Ravenglass has two stations, a mainline one that is on the line from Barrow to Carlisle and the narrow gauge one to Garthdale which will be opening early next week. So on our second day we went to Maryport on the mainline. When we were last here in 2008, on our coastal odyssey, I remarked that Maryport could do with a lick of paint, well although there has been some new development the lick of paint is still needed. We did enjoy sitting in the sun by the harbour though and the railway journey is picturesque especially between St Bees and Whitehaven where it hugs the coast.

The next day we stayed close to the site, there are plenty of walks nearby and a beach, plus there was activity on the narrow gauge to view. 

Then the following day we drove towards Buttermere hoping to go on the Honister pass then north to Keswick. clearly by the time we got to Crummock Water we could see that the van was too wide so we turned around just before Buttermere village and then retraced our path a bit and went to Keswick via the Whinlatter pass.

One thing that struck me about Keswick, apart from the Pencil museum, was that there was a branch of every outdoor pursuit shop you have ever heard of and two Norwegian ones that you probably havent!.

Evening meal in hotel courtyard back at Ravenglass.

On April 25th we headed for Coniston water by the A593, which in places is a very minor road, to go on the steam gondola. This trip took us all around Coniston water, scene of Donald Campbell's fatal crash. 

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Came home the long way, down the eastern shore of Windamere. 

On the next day we walked to Muncaster castle, we were not impressed with the gardens compared with Exbury. 

The aviary was interesting and we liked the bug house (palace) which has served as an inspiration for our own, more modest, effort.

Highbridge rang with price of rear bumper pieces, £660, unfortunately didn't have card with me to make payment and a week passed before I could make contact with the lady handling it to start the ball rolling. That night had a zoom meeting to wind up RTMR, sad but inevitable.

On the last full day in the Lake District we went on the narrow gauge steam railway, La'al Ratty. Return  trip to Garthdale. This was a very good day although it rained a bit when we were at Garthdale.

Next day we drove the long way round to Settle via Keswick and the farm shop at Tebay. Our campsite was just outside town easy walking, in fact we walked in every day. Campsite had a temporary holiday site in a field adjacent, lots of caravans. Rest of campsite not as in the book and building work in progress on the facilities but all we wanted was a base so we didn't mind.

We walked into Settle (it was sunny) and had coffee and cake at the Naked Man* cafe opposite the market square (*True origin of name unknown) plus did some minor shopping.

The next day we went into Settle by another route, we crossed the Ribble a little North of our site and walked to the railway station, it seemed a long way round.

Saturday May 1st: Settle to Carlisle Railway, return to Carlisle.Many walkers on the train, some got off at Ribblehead viaduct then on the return journey they got on at Garsdale or Dent. We had a choice of return trains but took the first available not liking Carlisle too much.

On Sunday we walked into town, shorter route, and went to Booth's supermarket never seen one before it was nice.

Monday bank holiday and rain forecast all day, in the morning rain not too bad so walked to Longcliffe nearby 1000 books for sale in church widely advertised. In afternoon rain hammered down. In one of the breaks in the weather emptied the cassette, losing the dump cap down the hole in the process. Had to improvise for the rest of the trip.

Drove to Delamere forest site via Booths, A59 (Passed our ebike shop) M6 etc.

Many of pitches were waterlogged so got a free upgrade to a hard standing pitch. The site at Delamere is by the railway station with a cafe and also close to the Forestry England centre.

On our first whole day at Delamere we went for a walk but D couldn't manage the slopes so we came back via the station cafe and did some laundry instead. It rained!

Day 17 of our holiday got the train into Chester walked into town via Brook street Doreen bought a zip Police activity next to Cathedral walked on on walls had coffee outside theatre/library Frank went to old fashioned sweet shop staffed by two girls, midget gems and giant gobstoppers, there were sweets as well. I bought Doreen a watch. Had a non-Spanish 'tapas' at Lock keeper pub. It rained whilst we were on the train back so washing wet again.

Next day (18) walked orange route around the moss, coffee at FE centre. On site put out awning with washing underneath.

Saturday a small walk just to visitors centre for a snack.

Sunday got train to Chester did the complete wall walk, had coffee at library and lunch on the pavement in Foregate street returning to station by city road. Heard today that an elderly neighbour had died. 

Monday 10th May Drove to Rhos y Garth for Welsh holiday with grandkids etc. When we got there there was hugging etc and we then realised we were locked out of the van my keys were in the ignition and Doreen’s were in her handbag inside the van. This had never happened to us before, so for a few minutes we didn't have a clue how to proceed. Clearly now we had no option apart from breaking in whilst causing the least damage.  The van windows all have locks on and for once we had travelled with the 'boot' door locked. That has two locks and only one was locked so I drilled that one out but this only gave us access to a small area at the rear of the bed but by emptying the area and by jacking up the bed the smaller grandson was able to squeeze through and open the van up. Was this mishap 4 lost count

We went for a dog walk on Doreen's birthday, went on Aber cliff railway on Alix's birthday. . Learned how to do a Barn (holiday let) handover. On the Saturday went on Talyllyn railway at Towan. On Monday drove home.