Date & start time: Wednesday 25th November 2009.

Location of Start : The National Trust car park, Buttermere, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 142 )

Places visited : Scale Hill Bridge, The Loweswater Hall, Buttermere and Long How Woods.

Walk details : 1 ml, 250 ft, 1 hr 15 mins.

Highest point : The community spirit.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Showery and a blustery wind but improving

Firstly with the genuine concern for the plight of those caught up in the recent problems

we have had literally hundreds of emails expressing everyone's best wishes for the people whose lives have been disrupted by the events of the last six days.

May I thank you all for your kind words and dedicate this page to you all.

Viewers of Loweswatercam were in St Bees on the first day of the storms and sent me this picture.

Even at the coast, the powerful forces of nature that day were very evident.

Sent by Val and John Rider . . . photo by Harry and Pat Allick.

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Unfortunately one victim of the weather has been our local village play.

One actor, and many of the potential audience were directly affected by the flooding and the event was unable to proceed as a result.

This morning we had the slightly sad task of taking the set apart.

It's all packed away . . . but not for long !

We'll be back . . . FOR A NEW YEAR PRODUCTION . . . watch this space !

In the mean time this photo of the final photo call of the dress rehearsal will stand as an unique record of

" The event that didn't happen "

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A good day today . . . as mid afternoon the council declare our old bridge officially " OPEN "

The barriers were removed, the road declared safe and the valley re-connected.

The bridge and the stonework coped with the floods . . .	. . . although underwater at this end, there was minimal damage.

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Towards the end this busy day we take the car and drive to Buttermere in order to take the dogs for a run alongside Crummock Water

Big problems at Rannerdale Cottage where the Rannerdale Beck had broken it's banks causing damage to the garden and the house.

It then changed course and ran over the road and fields rather than under the small bridge it normally uses.

This is the aftermath where the floods had escaped from the field and carried rock and rubble onto the road.

Due to tremendous work by the guys from the National Trust

the river and this minor beck are more or less back on course.

The sign is now redundant . . .

although motorists should still proceed with care as they make their way up towards Buttermere.

The head of Crummock with Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks ahead.

There was a strange afternoon light with the weak sun shining across the low cloud

and being reflected in a very milky Crummock Water.

We parked at a deserted National Trust car park on the outskirts of the village in order to walk through Long How Woods.

Ann leading the way.

Signs of the power of the water as scoured banks and debris leave testament to the flooding.

The footbridge survives, well screwed down to the pillars on either side.

The grass and leaves that have caught in the wire

have effectively retained most of the current spate of water on the correct side of the fence.

We were coping well till this last puddle.

Still . . . no problem as we have wellies instead of fell boots today !

The view down Crummock with Mellbreak off to the left.

The gravel beach has become a lagoon.

We'll have to rename this " The Swamp "

Ann, Bethan and Harry take to higher ground.

The reason for the new pool became clear when we walked along towards the footbridge.

The water had backed up on the debris and carved a new channel to the beach finding new ways to avoid the obstruction.

A few minutes work cleared some of the blockage, but there are some large logs under there which wouldn't move.

Walking back we took the path behind the wall, up past Wood House.

"Walkers . . . haven't seen many of you these past f-ewe days"

The Fish is still there !

The Croft Farm Cafe has been open for business.

And the Bridge Hotel has survived intact.

In fact we can say . . . " Cumbria is OPEN for business again "

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Stop Press . . . .After work today I briefly called into the Moot Hall Square to join in the festivities.

The speeches and the lights were scheduled for 5.30 pm.

At 5.20pm we had a delivery of the new Memory Map Gps . . . so I was slightly delayed and finished work at 5.35

and consequently . . . missed the grand opening !

The Mayor then talked from the balcony and a choral group added even more atmosphere to the crowded market place.

The Market stalls were for the Food Festival which has been present in the square today

and the place was crowded with sightseers and, after the speeches, evening shoppers.

Somewhere in the throng is a throne . . . Prince Charles was chatting to the crowd.

Julia Bradbury was also in town to lend her support to her " favourite " county.

The lights were switched on by either Him . . . or Her . . . depending which News programme you listened to !

His carriage awaits . . .	Mountain Man . . . almost the George Fisher's logo . . .but not quite

( Pictures from my mobile phone )

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That aside, the floods have given the residents and businesses in certain parts of Cumbria a real problem.

There's lots of work still to do to help those immediately affected by the flooding and in the long term to rebuild the damaged houses and businesses.

Can you offer support ?

The Cumbria Community Foundation has set up a Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund for individuals,

families and voluntary groups that have suffered in the flooding.

See the Cumbria Community Foundation website for more information.

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The Rotary Clubs of Cockermouth and Keswick have also launched a joint charity appeal to help people affected by the flooding who are unable to afford insurance due to having been flooded previously and have no means to repair their homes.

You can donate to this appeal using PayPal. See the Rotary Club of Keswick website.

Cheques can be sent to Rotary Clubs of Cockermouth & Keswick Flood Appeal, 26, Briar Rigg, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4NN.

They should be made payable to “The Rotary Club of Keswick”

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The local paper, The Cockermouth Times and Star has the following web page on the Cumbria Flood Rescue Fund

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Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a feeling of optimism in the air.

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© RmH.2009 # Email me here # or leave me a Guest Book Entry

Previous report - 23rd Nov 2009 After the November Gales - Day 5

A previous time up here - 18th February 2004 Long How, Buttermere to the Lake for Thomas

Next walk - 28th Nov 2009 A pre-Christmas trip to Camberley

Late entry . . . Postscript to the floods from The " Visit Cumbria" Web Site