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At various times over the extended half term we were blessed with visits from all of our four children.

They all managed to self- isolate or take covid tests in advance of their visit (half term was before lock-down 2 was announced).

Paula and Tom were up last week, Jenna was here for a few days and on this particular day Cathy and Gareth were playing tag,

one arriving during the day, the other leaving during the evening,

so as to fit in with their plans and also to  avoid overcrowding the available pod or bedroom space.

Home made Sushi by Jenna . . . photo by Cathy, Gareth, Ann and myself complete the picture.

- - - o o o - - -

But let's jump back a day or so before Jenna arrived to show a rather damp walk that Cathy, Gareth and I managed on the 29th October.

I'll set the scene with a lovely video that a friend sent us recently . . . Click here or on the photo to enjoy a short Crummock Water video by friend Tony Broadbent who we met via Loweswatercam several years back. (Make sure your PC speakers are switched on . . . . and use the full screen symbol [ ] to enlarge the video if you wish.  Click backspace to return here.

- - - o o o - - -

However since those tranquil scenes were recorded the weather has taken a dive.

After spotting a slight break in the day-long wet weather, Gareth, Cathy and I headed down to Lanthwaite Woods to stretch our legs

and to allow our four dogs to do the same.

Gareth, Catherine and Dougal walking a damp, autumnal path by the river.

The rain of recent days plus the stormy morning has caused the river levels to rise.

( In Lanthwaite Woods we were out of the worst of the weather but it was dark enough for the auto-flash to kick in occasionally.)

The river is starting to fill the smaller flood channels in the woods

so that those folk without wellies have to start choosing their route more carefully.

The dogs don't mind of course, they seem to revel in these conditions.

In fact they quite enjoy a swim on a cold, wet afternoon . . . rather them than me !

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Dougal swims in to what used to be a sandy beach and an eighteen inch step up onto the path.

He still wants us to play 'throw the stick'.

" Where are they going now ? "

A change of direction from my normal route found us on the track up through the woods

on the path towards Lanthwaite Farm.

It rises steadily and we have a view down to the lake and across the cloud-covered slopes of Mellbreak.

The autumn colours of the beech saplings are lovely this year . . . just needs a touch of sunshine !

We round the bend and see the farm

but rather than leave the woods we take a right turn and stay within the trees, heading back down towards the lake.

Someone has made a reasonable attempt at a woodland shelter, complete with a mossy rain-proofing membrane.

It has been there a while now but is starting to fall into disrepair.

The lake is full but not high

and the boathouse is nicely placed with its feet in the water.

. . . whereas the dogs go for a full body immersion once again.

At the beach by the pine tree, the strong southerly wind has created white horses offshore

and the reasonably sized waves roll in and break on the shoreline.

With a fridge full as a result of visiting family I wasn't ready to eat the pumpkin . . . hence the felt-pen face !

Thought you might in ‘interested’ to see this sugar beet we came across the other day on our walk . . . Hilary Linnington

Very timely for Halloween . . . Thanks Hilary. . . RmH

Over the next few days the family left and the rain returned with a vengeance.

However the wind has not been too strong so the colourful leaves are still hanging on the trees, especially the two oaks seen here from the road.

You know it is wet when we have two pools of water in the field below the road . . . we know them as 'Puffin Tarns'.

The extra rainfall has caused the river to overflow onto the meadow upstream of the bridge.

A wider panorama as we walk across Scale Hill Bridge.

	- - - o o o - - -     The dogs and I only needed a shorter walk today and we certainly didn't want to run the risk of not being able to use the footbridges next to the weir,   so we turned and headed towards home, taking the scenic route around the bottom road . . . or should we say the bottom flooded road !     - - - o o o - - -

More problems at the next corner . . . full marks for waterproof trainers.

A new road sign . . . the sign is almost bigger than the bridge itself !

The Low Park Bridge has been deemed sub-standard and a temporary weight limit has been imposed while the council thinks what to do.

Strangely 18 tons is a big limit . . . I don't think an eighteen ton vehicle would be able to squeeze over the narrow bridge anyway !