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Our visitors pick a lovely day to drive over to the Lakes and join us for the afternoon.

Richard, Hilary and Peter arrive for lunch and together we enjoy not one but two walks because the conditions were so nice. 

The best weather for weeks . . . take advantage of it when when you can !

A cold but clear, autumnal morning with lovely visibility . . . and just a patch of cloud throwing Gable into silhouette.

	- - - o o o - - -     Storm Ophelia blew most of the leaves off the ash trees in the garden but the oaks seem to have retained theirs and are consequentially looking resplendent in their autumn colours.     The only down side is that there has been more peripheral damage to oak trees than the others because they were the ones that held onto their thicker foliage.     - - - o o o - - -

A rusty brown oak in the neighbouring fields . . . with Hen Comb behind.

The oak in the field next to us is also turning colour rather nicely.

- - - o o o - - -

Our friends Richard, Hilary and Peter arrived around lunchtime . . . and afterwards we take a stroll over to Loweswater.

Darling Fell and Low Fell from the Watergate Farm meadows.

The view across the lake to Myresyke.

Sadly this view isn't quite the same in the summer any more as the rowing boats have been withdrawn

due to lack of use and other 'health and safety' issues !

From the Loweswater Bothy we look back across the lake to Grasmoor and Mellbreak.

We have walked around the woods and reached the beach where Holme Beck enters the lake.

Peter and I in reflective, conversational mood.

( I think the first one shows the stone in the air in between hops.)

The wake of the next one . . . a twelve bounce skimmer.

Ann and Hilary . . . she's the one in red who's walking a little slower at present ;o)

The paths through the lower part of the wood suit her fine as she's recovering nicely and planning to have the plaster removed next week.

Peter and Richard express the desire to visit Holme Force, the waterfall up in the woods,

so Ann stays low with Hilary and I take the guys off to the waterfall via the forest tracks.

Thinking about it, I meant to go down and check how it was balancing so precisely, but we didn't return this way so I missed it.

If it's still there on the next visit it will prove it's an installed artwork, if it's gone, then it's a delicate balancing trick.

Our distant neighbour, John MacFarlane, sent me this photo of the falls in flood after the recent storms. 

There was a lot more water flowing that day and that stone wasn't anywhere to be seen.   Thanks for the use of the photo John.

Peter leads the way up the steep path by the side of Holme Beck, towards the upper water spout.

After leaving the falls we cut across the slopes of the forest and reach the wider track higher up.

We work our way via the normal footpath down through the woods to Ann and Hilary waiting by the gate.

Being on the southern side of the lake the woods have been in shadow during our visit, but they are none the worse for that.

Perhaps I should have got up early and given you a few photos of the sunshine on the trees earlier this morning.

If you're feeling deprived then click on the final link below at the end.  It is headed "a previous time here"

- - - o o o - - -

Our Loweswater walk was at an end . . . but the afternoon was not.

Instead of driving back to the cottage we continued on towards Crummock Water.

Sadly the bird failed to give us sufficient notice in order to get the camera out, let alone have the right lens on it.

I thought it perched on the birch tree but Richard informed me that it had flown on even before I pressed the shutter.

It was bigger than a kestrel, smaller than a buzzard, had white wing markings and was flying low over the fields . . . a positive ID I think.

All that the photo ended up showing . . . was the tree and the back end of the sheep . . . no need to look further !

Mild excitement over . . . we reach the shores of Crummock Water, close to the Pump House.

Harry sits happily and plays with a stick . . . one out of the pile thrown ashore by the recent high water and strong waves.

This afternoon there's not a wave in sight.

The sun is shining on Great Gable at the top of the valley, but we are in the shade of a large cloud and may have seen the last of the sun.

Grasmoor and the boathouse . . . across the water from the Pump House.

Dylan takes a dip, but the step down into the water is too much for Harry to cope with.

As we walk around to the bridge the sun starts to break through once more.

Suddenly the cloud clears from behind us and the fell side lights up.

The strong sunshine that escapes around the side of Mellbreak is illuminating Lanthwaite Woods and Whiteside.

A photo opportunity for all.

Looking back at the sunshine on Rannerdale Knotts before we move on.

The shadows have moved across the woodland once again . . . but the top of the fell is still reflecting the late afternoon sunshine.

A cool chill as a slight breeze appears out of nowhere, disturbing the afternoon reflections.

Calm again by the time we reach the foot of the lake.

The panorama is of Whiteless Pike and High Snockrigg, Rannerdale, the High Stile Ridge with Red Pike, with Mellbreak to the right.

In the centre the moon makes an appearance as the afternoon light fades.

A comet ?	Is it landing on the moon ?	No . . . it passes by without incident.

Was it a Comet . . . no . . . more likely a Jumbo Jet heading south towards London or some alternative European destination.

Time to set off on the last part of the walk.

I take a detour back to fetch the car whilst the others head back through the woods.

From the beach to the beech.

The forest track passes through mixed woodland but there's more beech trees than fir as they near the car park.

We started with a view of Great Gable so we'll end with the same, some six or seven hours later.

The clocks go back tonight (Sat 27th) and my brother gets an extra hour added to his birthday tonight . . . hope he makes good use of it.

Sleep well !