what did you do with your fazer today ?

[nick crisp]

[color=rgb(24, 36, 48)]Mini adventure today. Lured by the promise of some sunshine (I must be looking at the wrong weather sites or something :rolleyes [/color][color=rgb(24, 36, 48)] ), decided to go see what was accessible in the Lakes. Zapped down the A595, then A591. After that I didn't really have much of a plan, so when I saw signs for Bassenthwaite lake, I thought I'd turn off for there as I haven't been down by that lake shore before. Nope, road closed :\   Ok, into Keswick, and head for, er, what's that sign say...Borrowdale, that'll do. Loads of little streams running across the road along Derwent Water shore, and material washed out from the hills above, so taking it carefully, but quite passable. Stopped at Grange:[/color]




[color=rgb(24, 36, 48)]The wind was really beginning to pick up here, coming off the fells above and rushing along the valley, and it didn't look too promising as I looked towards Castle Crag, the guardian of Borrowdale:[/color]




[color=rgb(24, 36, 48)]The higher hill tops lost in clag, and looking pretty threatening. But sod it, I'd come this far, I'll press on. So through Seatoller and the climb up to the Honister pass. Looking back:[/color]




[color=rgb(24, 36, 48)]Just after cresting the top of the pass, stopped for a tricky shot; perched on the bike at the roadside, pointing steeply downhill, right foot firmly on the rear brake, I fumbled the camera out of my pocket while the wind tried to blow me off the road towards the drop into the beck, but got the shot [/color]




[color=rgb(24, 36, 48)]Further down, and the wind was really howling down the slopes on either side now, but thus far it was manageable...until I stopped and wandered down to the beck side for a quick snap. Here, I could barely keep my feet, and had to brace with feet apart just to stay upright, constantly glancing back at the bike to check it hadn't been blown over.[/color]



[size=1em]Then when I got going again it was at a very sedate pace, fighting the gusts to stay on board. Just before Buttermere, got caught behind a couple of cars who were being really gay about a little bit of flooding on the road here and there - three of em stopped at one point, and got out to discuss if they could drive through a particular mini lake. I went passed em, ploughed straight through and waved them a cheery thumbs up[/size] :b

[size=1em]Stopped next to Buttermere lake, I think the pointy bit is High Seat:[/size]




[size=1em]And stopped for a cuppa at the empty tea room, where they looked shocked to have a customer [/size] :lol




[size=1em]Then turned around and took the pass that cuts across the fells between Buttermere and Stair. Just as I took that turning, there was a sign warning of ice, "Route Not Advised"...no danger of that today! [/size]




[size=1em]But much of the road had gravel, larger stones and vegetation washed down from the fells strewn around on it, and parts were like riding up a shallow waterfall, with the run-off streaming down it, so care was needed:[/size]




[size=1em]And the view looking back showed that rain was fast approaching, in fact the first heavy drops had started to spatter my visor already:[/size]




[size=1em]And the hillsides were everywhere alive with waterfalls:[/size]





[size=1em]Further along, a bridge had been washed away, so took an alternative route, a little lane down to the Newlands valley, where there is one of my all-time favourite Lake district views:[/size]




[size=1em]That's Hindscarth on the left, with Scope End in the foreground, Robinson on the right. Not the best light for it today, and I really want to get this shot on a crisp, clear day with the snow lying on the fells, but still couldn't help stopping for a snap. Then back into Keswick, where the rain started to hammer down, and did so all the way back to Carlisle giving me a good soaking, until I got home, took my lid off...and it stopped[/size] :rolleyes