Winter walk

One of our favourite local walks is along the lower Borrowdale valley by Tebay. It is a quiet farm lane that follows the winding river through birch woods and on up into the fells.
One memorable year we were there in coldest winter and the whole river was frozen solid and so it is ever for us the 'Frozen Valley'.
Today, it was milder and we walked briskly, Pepper chasing her ball and is looking for birds.
The fence runs along the top of a steep bank some thirty foot above the fast flowing river and there is always a moment of danger when the ball strikes the rough track and bounces off in random directions with Pepper hard on its trail.
Inevitably it bounces through the fence occasionally and then she points and waits for it to be rescued.
Heading back down towards the car the river bank is really steep and the last throw bounced the ball over the edge and bounce bounce Pepper chasing it, closer and closer to the water, will she get it in time.... Splash!
Oh no really expensive favourite glowing whistling ball is bobbing away down the Rapids!
Then it meanders in towards the bank with Pepper tracking it and out again into the stream but then in again and trapped by a boulder, washing round and round.
I start slithering down the bank towards it hoping it will just stay there for long enough, Pepper anxiously following then just as I got to the water's edge she spots it and plunges in and it is rescued!
Phew!
Made it back to the car without further incident !