THE ART OF THE ‘MID-WEEK WEEKEND’

Top Wheelbase Lake District staffer Andrew Barlow has perfected the art of the ‘mid-week weekend’, our very own talented time-pushed landscape photographer loves to get out on the bike as much as possible and never misses an opportunity to capture stunning images of his rides and the amazing Lake District landscapes that he gets to ride in. A job in retail typically means working at the weekends, especially here in the Lake District when we are super-busy; an early Autumn ‘mid-week weekend’ strikes that work/play balance…

 

Making the most of the time that we have now were heading towards autumn, as the nights draw in and the weather becomes nothing but rain for prolonged periods of time. A mid-week camp is what keeps my creative spark and also my mental health in check. There is something within these simple primitive actions such as cooking over a stove and sleeping in a basic shelter helps ease my mind, resetting from the rat race that we all find ourselves in.

Myself and a few others embarked on a mid week micro adventure, starting from Wray castle on the north western shores of Windermere and heading up and over to Moss Eccles Tarn for a post work wild camp. Beatrix Potter owned this tarn and was inspiration for her writing, it was donated to the National Trust after her death in 1943.

Climbing up from Low Wray into Claife saw us riding on some of the Lake Districts best gravel, flowing up through Long Heights with views down to Windermere. This ride then turns into a flowing descent down to Moss Eccles tarn, after making our way out of the obtuse woodland. Doing this in blue hour was quite some fun, questionable lines under the forever fading daylight, we soon made it to our home for the evening.

Setting up camp is one of my favourite parts of a micro adventure, or any adventure for that matter especially when arriving in the dark. We chatted up until late evening, exchanging stories from our childhoods whilst watching the clouds fleet across the rising moon, silhouetting the capacious sycamore trees in the distance, after saying our goodnights it was time hit the hay, the comforting sounds of tents zipping shut and rustle of sleeping bags as one another attempts to get comfy, I’m lucky in this instance and promptly find comfort in my temporary accommodation and tend to sleep rather well.

Being awoken by the alleviating sound of bird song, sheep bleating and cattle mooing in the distance reminds me why i find so much peace within bike packing and wild camping. Sitting and watching the local habitants and the day come to life with a brew in hand, its the simple things in life I seek so much comfort from.

After striking camp and making certain we had “left no trace” it was time to head down to the shores of Windermere to watch the morning unfold as we rode along through the forest that sits right by its side, transient clouds on the fell tops catch my attention as I’m riding the shoreline, having to stop for. Moments at a time to capture this beauty before my eyes, a truly special morning in the English Lake District.

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

 

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