Cycling through the Counties

Haverigg, Cumbria

 Like the track seen here what passes for summer this year has been a bumpy ride but it hasn't put the cyclists off.  I travel up a hill on the way to work each morning which has a lay-by popular as a meeting place for road racing cyclists about to set off for mega miles.  No matter whatever the weather there is never less than three cyclists waiting for the rest of the group to turn up.

Coniston Water, Cumbria

They may be travelling past Coniston Water which is not too far away.  Monday here, as can be seen by the clouds, was a day of sunshine and showers, just the day for messing about on boats, or under cover in the launch. 

Cherry Orchard, Boughton, Chester, Cheshire

Or if it turns really wet, travel south to relax in the Cherry Orchard pub in Cheshire.  I see they too have a special Wednesday but rather than an ABC it is a quiz night with sandwiches at half time to keep those little grey cells in shape.

Clown Fish, Blue Planet Aquarium, Chester

Not too far away another indoor attraction at the aquarium are the fish that Disney made famous in Finding Nemo - Amphiprion osellarais - the clownfish, in its natural habitat found in the coral reefs of the Pacific.

An entry to ABC Wednesday - a journey through the alphabet now on its 11th circuit

ABC Wednesday - Elements

 Coniston Water

The elements as described in ancient and medieval philosophy were earth, air, fire and water from which they considered all other substances were composed. Later a fifth element was added called quintessence, or quinta essentia, supposed by Aristotle to permeate everything.  Well this is the quintessence of a  hot and sunny Sunday when people head for the water. They were 'in their element', sailing and swimming. although the boy at the bottom of the photo was not quite prepared for how icy cool a lake fed by mountain streams can be and was heading for shore. He shared his experience with us as he came ashore .

An aerial and elegant master of the elements, the golden ringed dragonfly (cordulegaster boltonii) who lives by mountain streams and heathland, I tried to get closer but the crunch on the rocky path alerted it and it resumed its patrol up and down the the bracken and stream .

Kikby Moor

Earth, air and water all in one picture. The spinning wind turbines on wet moorland and gathering clouds, we were 'braving the elements' on this walk last week.

That leaves one element left, fire,

 Broughton in Furness

no flames here though, because there are 10 retained fire-fighters to put them out, and on the left is their training tower. Retained fire-fighters are people who have full time jobs but are on call and when that call comes are ready to drop everything to become part of a team to fight the element of fire.

Time to take a canoe out of its element and natural environment where it glides through the water carrying its passengers, to four people carrying in onto the solid earth, dry land.  The end of an enjoyable day on the water.  Time for home.

Eager to see more of the participants of ABC Wednesday and what words they have envisaged beginning with E?  Then visit here.

ABC Wednesday - Coniston Water

Coniston Water one of the Lake District lakes. If you click to enlarge then a red sailed yacht is gently cruising between the shore and Peel Island on a calm warm May day when nature is fresh and green.

The year turns and we drift
into Autumn and look from the cairn on the top of High Light Haw over the Water to Coniston Old Man. This is a great place to have lunch on the flat rocks below and feel complete contentment.

The shape chugging its way along Coniston Water is the steam yacht Gondola

originally built in 1859 and beautifully renovated. The photo is from here where you can also see the wonderfully plush and comfortable 1st class saloon, gleaming engine and golden prow. It plies its trade up, down and across the lake, calling in at

jetties on both sides. But not on a Monday in mid Winter. One of its calling points is Brantwood,
once the home of the Victorian artist, critic and author John Ruskin. The gardens are lovely in spring and summer, bare here in winter, but lots of logs ready for the fire or perhaps a boat boiler.
There are bays and inlets on the east side

popular in the summer for picnics, swimming and canoeing. Some people cannot resist
leaving their mark.

This might be called my 'local' lake and when I'm passing to the north I always look at the
seats at the end as I drive past. Now these might be called concrete brutal, but I'm looking for the water. The more it rains the more the water rises and this is like a measure. At the extremes of weather the water can rise over the slabs and just below the seat. When it reaches that point it is probably flooding elesewhere. There is the reason the Lake District is so green.

But the water has receded now so you can sit on the seat and contemplate the view although
the sun was not quite able to break through the clouds yesterday, but it is indeed a lake for all seasons.

To join the rest of the ABC Wednesday crowd go here and you will see lots of words beginning with C.

ABC Wednesday - N

N is for Nibthwaite

A little hamlet surrounded by woods and pasture, a short distance from the side of the southern end of Coniston Water. The woods in the area are predominantly oak but also with small leaved lime, holly, birch and rowan, and in past times were coppiced.
The road which runs along the eastern shore of Coniston Water is delightfully winding and tree lined, with surprise views at every point. The car passenger can take in those views but the driver would be advised to keep alert for cars coming the other way because the widest the road gets is this. It seems the inhabitants prefer small cars for that reason.
Even old Morris Minors, not many of those on the road now. This model was built sometime between 1956-1971.
The village is in touch with the world because it has a phone box and this post box which is an old 19th Century QV (Queen Victoria) one.
But then this has been a settlement a long time. Its name is from the Old Norse 'Ny-burgar-thveit' meaning 'new town in the clearing'. No evidence has been found of a large settlement, so why town. Possibly because it was used as a central market place; the area was rich in wool, wood, charcoal and iron ore.

There are many large old barns. The village notice board is outside this one. We learned, amongst other things, we had missed the cheese and wine tasting by a day. Still that is probably a good thing for the old cholesterol levels.
Steps at the side to the higher level of this barn.
Crossing the field to the lake an enigmatic figure is encountered.

This is one of Antony Gormley's sculptures, based on himself. I love its position in the landscape as it looks over the water to the hills.

High Nibthwaite's other famous visitor spent summer holidays here as a child and learned to sail on the lake. When Arthur Ransome came to write his book "Swallows and Amazons" the lake he describes as "that great lake in the north" is based on amalgam of Coniston Water and Windermere.

Coniston Water

What is this in the reeds.
Perhaps it is the Swallow.

Coniston Water taken from Selside

But this is definitely Ransom's' Wildcat Island'. Its real name is Peel Island.

All these photographs were taken at the weekend on a glorious sunny day. If you wonder if it is still sunny, as the low pressure powers across the Atlantic, then have a look at the Webcam

For more natty Ns go to ABC Wednesday

Bethecar Moor

Setting off this morning from the east side of Coniston Water and walking up through Dodgson Wood, arrived at Low Parkamoor to head south

onto Bethecar Moor. The day was warm and sunny, but the views were hazy.

We watched the ferry boat chugging up the lake heading to the landing stage near Brantwood (John Ruskin's house, now a museum). There were very few yachts out on the lake, possibly because there was hardly any breeze.
By the time we reached High Light Haw in the early afternoon the views were clearing. It was a wonderfully still day as we continued the walk along the top of the moor, through the dying russet coloured bracken, and trying to avoiding the rich green moss that warned of bog beneath.

Reaching the end of the moor we started our descent towards Allen Tarn
and down to the village which may make an appearance in ABC Wednesday this coming week.
Down by the roadside we took a slight diversion to look at the River Crake. Here it is as it exits Allen Tarn at the start of its journey to the sea.

Dow Crag (left) and Coniston Old Man (right)

We returned over the fields to continue our route

along the rough track back to our start. The Coniston Range dominates the lake and surrounding areas. This is the most southerly of the mountain ranges of the Lake District.