After an early start (for a Sunday) I loaded up the boats on the car and headed up to Derwent water. Derwent is certainly one of my favourite lakes. It's much quieter than some of the more southern lakes but still has everything you need.
My first view was this.. Absolutely stunning!
On the way we stopped to look at a national trust sculpture.

After paddling up to Nicholend for lunch (and cake) we headed back on our return journey via the East side of the lake. Again there's an interesting national trust sculpture that we have a look at. Normally this is on the shore but today is wasn't so we got to do something not many people will have done before us, paddle through it.
Even though the trip was over the fun wasn't, we all unashamedly had a laugh as one member who managed to fall in the water whilst getting out of the kayak because that's what friends are for. Not to mention he'd have done the same to us. I'll leave the photographic evidence off for now, although there's plenty of it!
Anyway all in all a fantastic family paddle. A huge thanks to John for organising it. Keeping fingers crossed for more weather like this as the year progresses.