Day 8 — Last Light, Long Paddles, and the Final Frames

Our final full day before the long seven-hour drive home tomorrow—though by the time you’re reading this, I should already be back as it's posted a day behind.

I was up early, watching the morning light dance across the fells opposite the campsite. It felt right to head out solo, taking both the RealitySoSubtle 6x17 and the Mania 4x5 pinhole to soak in a few last quiet moments with some pinhole photography.

Later, with the family, we made the most of our last chance to enjoy why we came here in the first place: a proper paddle. On Ullswater we kayaked and paddleboarded a 3-mile stretch, stopping off at islands along the way before reaching Glenridding for snacks from the mini market. I shot a few frames with the 6x17, including one risky shot from my kayak. Unfortunately, I botched one exposure after accidentally opening a second shutter mid-shot and didn't realise until I started packing it away—but managed a clean redo. Still, nerve-wracking to handle a large camera on a tripod over deep water.

A "quick" detour to Windermere followed, for the all-important fridge magnet and some last-minute supplies. Back at the site, we ate, relaxed, and began the first stages of packing up.

With just three sheets of film left, I managed one final split panoramic on the Mania and a wide 35mm shot of the van—our faithful beast that has carried us nearly 1,000 miles by the time we are home on this adventure, all with a bright yellow kayak strapped to it's roof.

And that’s a wrap.

After nearly a thousand miles and many exposures, and more memories than I can fit in a single roll, this trip comes to a close. The gear’s packed, the van's (hopefully) pointed home, and the film—some 120, some large format, all full of mystery—is ready for developing.

That’s the magic of shooting on film. I’ve seen glimpses, watched light shift and fall, waited out clouds, guessed exposures—but I won’t truly know what I’ve captured until the negatives are pulled out the tank. There’s something grounding about that delay, something honest.

Thanks for following along on this analogue journey through the Lake District. Time to swap the freedom to explore and a tent for reality, having to go back to work to pay for these trips and evenings spent in a hot stuffy loft scanning film and editing video footage.

Until next time.