Christian Alliance Centre Lake District Trip 2009

Ingredients:

20 Residents,

1 Ops Director

1 Manager

2 Staff members

1 Bike

1 Tour Guide

Timing:

The trip takes 3 Nights and 4 days to achieve perfection.

Preparation

Ensure all residents and staff are fully kitted out with walking boots, raincoats and WARM clothing!!

Book train travel from London Euston to Windermere return.

Book 3 Nights stay in the ‘Ambleside Backpackers’ Hostel and plan the trip!

Method: 

What do you get when you take the above ingredients and mix it all up……well here’s what happened when the staff and residents at the Christian Alliance Centre Waterloo did just that.

The story starts here…

Thursday 4th June

We left the hostel with all residents in tow and made our way to London Euston to catch the 11:30 train and make our way to Oxenholme, Lake District.  On arrival at London Euston, we were all eager and keen to get settled on the train for the journey ahead. We looked up at the departure boards to check our Platform and all that we could see was CANCELLED, not delayed, not damaged or broken temporarily, but CANCELLED.  Not a great start.

 After a lot of running around and panic we finally found that we were being diverted via Milton Keynes, we managed to get everyone including the one bicycle on the train and our journey finally began.  All of us were in good spirits, the sun was shining and we were excited for the weekend.

 We arrived at the hostel just after 16:00 on Thursday 4th June and settled into our dormitories but it wasn’t long before we were up and about again. That evening we were booked in to eat at the ‘Badger Bar’, but as we were in the Lake District and with so much beautiful scenery to admire, we thought it was only right that we ‘stroll for our supper’.  

 At 18:00 we started on the ‘stroll’ all of us eager to eat, drink and merry. The walk seemed to take forever, and while the group started with an energetic spring in their step, the longer the walk, the spring started turning into a stomp, and with hunger and thirst growing stronger the group slowed to a snail’s pace.

 We eventually arrived at the pub where we swiftly made our way to the bar and sat down to a very enjoyable meal. After the meal, we gathered outside the Badger Bar, named so because it is one of the only places in England where you can see Badgers feeding within a couple of feet from you. We waited and waited and finally out came the Badgers hungry and ready to eat the scraps from the Kitchen, it was a fantastic experience to see these timid animals so close and we were all surprised at how large they were.

 The plan was always to walk back to the hostel the way we came, but as the night grew older and indeed colder, and after chatting with some locals we decided a trip on the local bus would be our best option, although I’m not sure the bus driver was best pleased when she saw 25 people standing at the bus stop!!

 We got back to the Backpackers Hostel and as soon as our heads touched the pillows we were out for the night, it had been an eventful day!

Friday 5th June

On Friday we woke to the beautiful smell of scrambled eggs being cooked by Op’s Director Ged Sutcliffe, we ate breakfast and met to discuss who would like to do what that day. The options were to take a walk over the hills to the village of Grassmere or to walk to the lake and see what activities were happening in this area. To the Staff’s great surprise after the previous night, nearly all residents decided to go on the walk, while only a few took the easy option to the Lake.

The group split and we decided to meet in a pub in Grasmere for Lunch. At 13:30 we met a group of tired, soaking and freezing walkers, who despite the rain, had smiles on their faces because of the beautiful scenery they had seen on the way. The other group had been on a boat around Lake Windermere were they had learnt about local the history. Everyone tucked into their lunch as they told stories about their trips.

Whilst in Grassmere we took a trip to see the graves  of the famous poet William Wordsworth and his family which was an amazing piece of history to see, we also looked around inside the church and took some time out.

 Friday evening was ‘Free Time’ so residents did their own thing with some heading to the local fish and chip shop and others using the facilities at the Hostel to cook their own food.  After the walk and busy day everyone was tired and another good nights sleep had by all.

Saturday 6th June 2009

We woke on Saturday to see grey skies once again, but the group were determined not to let that stop them. We arranged mini-buses to pick us up and by 10am we were all on our way to Keswick town. Once in Keswick, residents and staff looked around the quaint village and the markets that were selling local produce, once again some residents then voluntarily decided that they would like to go on another walk!!  Others headed down to another lake where they hired some power boats and raced (well at 5mph!!) each other, and headed back to shore.

Back at the Hostel that evening and after a well deserved rest and some showers, the residents met downstairs where Ged once again got his apron on and cooked a wonderful meal of lamb curry, ratatouille and rice, with a glass of wine to follow.

After the meal, the fun began with staff leading an eventful quiz and some party games and board games too.  It was the last night of the trip and with the residents and staff in a party mood, a brilliant time was had by all….well maybe not the staff at the Backpackers Hostel, but nearly all!!

Sunday 7th June 2009

Some glum faces arrived at breakfast on the day we had to leave and with everyone packing their cases it was a miserable atmosphere, although no-one wanted to leave, everyone was looking forward to a quick journey and a night in their own beds (that didn’t squeak when you moved)!

The journey began smoothly and just as everyone one was laughing and joking, telling stories from the trip and most were sleeping, the train pulled to a halt and didn’t move, we were stuck in the middle of nowhere behind a broken down train! Three and a half hours with delay, we eventually got back to London.  Not the greatest end to the trip but we were home at last and had had an amazing time.

ROLL ON NEXT YEAR!