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" Early Morning Crummock " Date & start time: 26th March 2020. 8.30 am start. Location of Start : By the red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 ) Places visited : Lanthwaite Woods,the Pump House, the gated road and back. Walk details : 2 mls, negligible feet of ascent, 1 hour. Highest point : The morning light over the lake. Walked with : Myself and our dogs, Dylan and Dougal. Weather : Sunshine and blue skies. |
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Self- isolation day four, or is it five so far . . . time has a different meaning in these strange times. The other strange feeling after the cold and damp winter is the bright sunshine and warmth of spring. Did someone suggest lunch al-fresco ? Dylan must have had his lunch otherwise he would be waiting closer to the table for any extras. Even when staying apart from others, we still have to get out for fresh food. The local shop at Lorton is open and they are stepping up to the task . . . full marks Lee and Arwen We've ordered a few essentials in advance so, with their help, time in the presence of other will be kept to a minimum . They advertise the shop as the "The Shed with a View" . . . they are not wrong on a day like today.
This is Ladyside Pike, Hopegill Head and the Whiteside Ridge as seen from my stopping place. An enthusiastic 'welcome home' committee . . . hang on I've only been gone twenty minutes ! - - - o o o - - - There are only a limited number of different local walks from home but even the same walk can vary due to the weather, the season or the time of day. Today (Thursday) it was a suggestion by one of you that I should sneaking out early to see the views and that was on my mind when the early sunshine through the bedroom curtains jogged at my conscience. Consequently I was up and away with the dogs by 8.30 am (early for me) on a morning walk down to the lake. Bright sunshine over Grasmoor means the camera struggles with the correct exposure. Looking away from the sun towards the Church and the Kirkstile the colours are easier. Behind is Black Crag with the grassy climb through the heather that takes you up towards Gavel and Blake fells. Carling Knott above the Quarry field. Today's competition . . . what's different compared to last month ? (I don't mean the weather or the new trees) Hold your cursor over the image to give you a clue (or open this page in a different window) [ * The answer is now that Spring has arrived the council has delivered a new green winter road-salt bin !] The other things that have arrived in the last week have been the new spring lambs in the field next door. The dogs and I set off down the road, catching a close up through the hedge. Where the hedge is thicker they don't face away as they don't notice us walking past. The dog on the top of the log pile could be looking out for a lost sheep on his farm . . . it's below you (ewe ?) The River Cocker . . . thankfully restrained by its normal river banks of late. Often in the past when I've taken this picture, especially during the floods, the water has extended across the whole width of the valley floor. I had heard that the National Trust has closed their car parks to discourage visitors driving to the countryside. A new tape across the entrance makes the point. However five great logs on both entrance driveways brings home the stark message in no uncertain terms. I walk on to the riverside path . . . there's no-one about. The water-gauge house quietly recording normal water levels. Mellbreak across one of the swimming pools in the river. Dougal waits as I make my way through the trees to the next big pool. The horseshoe bend in the river, seen from the forest track, after I climbed up through the trees.
" Play with me Daddy " I throw the ball behind me, back down the track in order to catch a picture of the reflections of Crummock without any dog ripples. A few moments on the seat to appreciate the day then it is on towards the weir. The overflow to the left is over natural stone, the more artificial white water to the right is caused by the bobbles on the eel matting. Red Pike and High Stile over the meniscus.
A dipper re-emerging ? . . . or just a stick trapped on the edge. Time to be heading back my breakfast, they had theirs before we left home.
The view . . . so nice I photographed it twice. Ahead is the gravel bank caused by the stones brought down into the lake by Park Beck. That's the local name here for the river that flows out of Loweswater as Dubs Beck but changes its name along the way. Using the concrete wall as a path, in Dougal's case as a step up and over into the water. More dog-ripples disturb the otherwise pristine reflection of Mellbreak. Seven and a half old pines alongside the small gravel beach on the Peel. Carling Knott once again as I head for home now. Directly ahead, though we'll not go that way, is the rock in the field with the ancient 'cup and ring' marks. New dog-flaps on some local fences have made the walk home easier all round. Back to the field with the new lambs. My outward route was along the road behind the fence that runs between here and Foulsyke House. Standing guard near her offspring as we walk past. Finally a lovely group of seasonal daffodils outside my neighbour's house. Coffee time now . . . that will be nice too !
I trust I've eased your self-isolation just a little bit with these pictures of our local area. Why not send me a picture of yours ? - - - o o o - - - |
Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Panasonic Lumix TZ60, or my Panasonic Lumix Gx8 Camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . encouragement from you all. Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here Previous walk - 22nd March 2020 - Under Mellbreak on a Spring Day A previous time up here - 24th May 2012 Early Morning Mists in the Valley Next walk - 28th March 2020 - Foulsyke and the Quarry Field
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