Sweden Bridge and poems

We set off from High Bield on the well-worn driving route to Ambleside, parked up and began a walk to High Sweden Bridge. 

The weather was better than previous days, with low cloud and unremittingly grey skies. But it was dry, though damp underfoot.

The walk was fairly easy and with not too much up, though there were some wet patches with stepping stones. Nic used his trusty poles. The bridge was a fine sight, and we sat on a convenient stone to have the last of the stroopwafels and a rest.

The return leg went past a force, as they call a waterfall around here.

By the time we got back to Ambleside we had done 10k steps and were getting behind schedule. So we dived into a cafe to buy sandwiches. On the way back to the van, we stopped on a bridge in the middle of town and saw an uncommon bird, a black and white dipper, on a rock in the stream!

To add to the joy, we then saw two longtailed tits in a nearby tree, cheeky little beasts. 

We ate our lunch in the van and drove up to Wordsworth Grasmere, where Lesley had a poetry workshop with Dove Cottage Poets at 2pm. This went well, chaired by Ilse Pedler, who is a vet and poet, and gave L some useful feedback on a poem about Lundy.

In the meantime, Nic drove to Grasmere, had a walk and shopped for food for a couple more days, at the Co-Op. Picked up L at 4pm and drove the very twisty alternative route via Elterwater back to High Bield. 

We sat companiably with Ann in her warm kitchen, chatting about this and that, family and the passage of time.

Lesley chopped potatoes and carrots while Nic took charge of cooking the dinner, salmon and plain veg, which Ann prefers. 

With a roaring fire, Ann's company and full tummies, here in the gorgeous Little Langdale valley, what more could anyone want?