Sunday's forecast was marginally better than Saturday's, so I thought I'd do some jobs around the house that I'd been putting off, which included washing Paula's car. With that done, I bent down to pick something up, and thats when I felt my back spasm. This is not uncommon, and I've gotten used to treating it, so after a couple of days, I'm right as rain again. Sunday morning came and my back felt slightly better, so I made the big mistake of driving to Mardale Head to walk this exact route, trouble was, when I got out of my car after an hour and a half drive, straightening up felt painful, which was confirmed once I slung my pack over my shoulder, which thudded against the area where my back felt painful.

I didn't leave Mardale right away; instead, I took some photos and then had Dinner over looking Haweswater, it was stupid and costly to drive all that way, but in another breath, it showed my determination. I spent the rest of Sunday moping around and treating my back again, only to wake up on Monday with just minimal discomfort, funny how two days ago I couldn't straighten up and here I was on the mend. A lot of folk would say take it easy or rest it but I'm as stubborn as a mule when it comes to walking the fells, so I booked the day off and completed what I'd set out to do two days ago.

Two other guys were kitting up on the opposite side of the car park, and I managed to overhear their route, which began with the ascent of Gatescarth Pass, and once they'd passed through the gate I had the car park to myself. Despite the bright sunshine, it's actually quite cool, bordering on freezing, not helped by the car park being in the shadow of Branstree, so gloves were added, as was my buff which I left loose around my neck. As soon as I crossed into the sunshine, the heat of the morning hit me, and moments before I took this photo, I'd already removed my gloves.

I gazed back into Riggindale as a layer of high white clouds notched the brightness down a level, turning the Rough Crag ridge into complete shade, which prompted the words 'great timing' The clouds continued to gather, but nothing significant as the heat of the afternoon remained. I passed the familiar standing stones and wondered about their history before making my way towards The Rigg and beginning my descent back to the Mardale Valley, where windscreens glistened in the sun, which for me signified the start of Spring in Lakeland.