Unfortunately, Pete was unable to join us ...

We were all saddened by this news and wished Pete well for a speedy recovery.

Friday

Charlie and Simon meet at Tim's and set-off in the Tossler Tesla. Charlie begins looking at the on-screen manual but Simon assures him that you only need to read the first page ...

Simon already had a charging stop planned for Tebay Services on the M6 - however, for some crazy & inexplicable reason (that, perhaps, only Lord Elon of Musk knows), the Tossler Tesla Superchargers are only located on the southbound side! Not to worry - Simon's research had shown an escape road goes across the motorway which can be used, as long as you're willing to pretend to be a guest at the hotel.

So the Tossler Tesla eventually gets to "fill-up" with electricity.

The services soup was welcoming and tasty.

The shopping is procured from Booths of Keswick, which affords Simon the chance for a (very expensive) top-up charge.

The shoppers grab a deserved drink at the Bank Tavern and wait for Dave & Steve to join them.

For the first time since records began, the kitty was in a negative equity state!

Simon, who was on a bit of a health-kick, was not drinking alcohol!

Dave & Steve soon arrived and we all drank a toast to our absent Head Chef and old mate, Pete ...

We head to the cottage and get settled-in before utilising our resident alcohol-free driver and going back to Keswick for drinks and a curry at Lakeland Spice.

The Usual Suspects

Saturday

The place.

The accommodation.

The fleet.

Each morning's breakfast was ably prepared by a different sous-chef - all doing a great job.

This snail resprented the pace at which certain members wanted to tackle the day's walk!

Mackerel sky

Spelling correction

The Usual Suspects

Waterfall!

Unfurling fern

Athyrium filix-femina    (Lady fern)

Babbling brook

At this point, it was a familiar situation, with one group keen to crack-on & complete the full circuit and another faction ready to do a slightly easier there-and-back.

The A-Team.

The B-Team.

Lunaria annua    (Annual honesty)

Lunch stop

And here's the photographer faffing-around with tech, just to get that last shot

Piercy Pot Noodle Pic

This little cafe said it was open but sadly, was not. No ice creams, then :-(

Tagetes    (Marigold)

Narcissus    (Daffodil)

Lambing time

These two were very recent additions to the world ... (Video)

Charlie was very happy to see his team had made it to the final of the Scottish Cup (just!)

After we all get back and freshen-up, we head out to a newly re-opened pub up the road ...

Simon shows us what gimicky show Lord Elon of Musk has programmed into the Tossler Tesla ... (Video)

Then it was inside for tea & cake.

Simon sets-up his Sky-Go gear so that we can watch Macth of the Day.

Sunday

There was some sort of active event happening over the weekend, in which the participants required directional guidance.

Steve fakes removing a marker-flag. The small print on the previous sign makes it clear that removal of said sign is a criminal offence

- so goodness only knows what trouble Steve could have gotten into, had he actually removed the flag.

Even Dave is in on trying to catch a Piercy pratfall on video ...

... or a stepping-stone stumble.

Charlie paid his usual visit to the cave / tunnel ...

... and was joined by the others.

The Usual Suspects

Then it was time for cream teas at The Grange Cafe & Tearoom.

Then it was onwards along the edge of Derwent Water, to catch the Keswick Launch.

Vinca major    (Greater periwinkle)

1972 VW camper van.

(The photo turned-out pretty well, considering Charlie hurriedly snatched his phone from his pocket and shot from the hip as the van drove by.)

Waiting for the launch ...

Approach (Video)

Bow wave

The paying public passengers (although, the conductor was so busy, he didn't get around to taking any fares from us!).

#TakeTheFreeRide

Now let's play a game of "Where's Steve?" (Video) [watch until end]

Just like buses, along comes another.

Steve's opinion of the experience is  

Tulipa gesneriana    (Tulip)

We head for a Keswick pub that is showing the Coventry -v- Manchester United F.A. Cup semi-final. Later, seeing as Man U were 3-0 with 19 minutes to go, we head for the bus home.

" 'ave ya booked? "

When we get in we see that, not only did Coventry pull the game back to 3-3 but they also scored a cracking winning goal in time-added-on at the end of extra time to make it 4-3 ...

... or did they? V.A.R. said it was offside. Fair enough, you can clearly see the nail of his middle toe is ahead of the last man.

Man U went on to win on penalties.

Later it was time for another excellent Sunday dinner at The Langstrath.

The Usual Suspects

Monday

We have a "finish-whatever-is-left" breakfast before packing-up and leaving.

On their way back, Charlie & Tim are offered an option by Simon ...

Either play it safe and charge at the next services -OR- gamble on reaching the next services after that, Charnock Richard

- the gamble being that the estimated battery percentage on arrival would be, erm, quite low ...

It was a split decision but the consensus was ...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

GAMBLE!

There was added jeopardy when, once again, the Superchargers were only on one side ... the WRONG side!

Simon did not want to risk using a possible escape road, for fear of being camera-snapped and fined

- so, it had to be a 13-mile up-and-down detour - just about made it, charged-up and then, as Simon had seen other Tossler Tesla drivers using the escape road, he decided to join them.

When we got back to Tim's, he said that his new home came with a charging outlet and that perhaps Simon would like to test it to see if it works?

It did.

Another cracking weekend (dampened only by a certain lack of Pete).