Artistic Impressions

No real plan. But time together for the whole Team IttH. Another favouritest place seemed a goodly way to spend a few hours. 
Pushka would sing with glee when the car drove along Ullswater, perhaps as it becomes familiar Missy will make her strange Wookie noises of happiness too. Already she bounces for joy when she sees her little walking harness and strains her head upward to help put it on, good girl. 

As we passed the pier at Aira Point I could see the ferry. The still waters of the lake looked like slow rising whale backs - the boat's wake making languid furrows, almost as if the water felt heavier under the leaden sky. Stopping for a moment at Glencoyne Bay I knew I should take the opportunity to capture this, something fellow blippers must know well. The lack of a bright blue sky, a staple of so many classic Lakeland reflections, gave a muted pastel tone to both sides of the horizon, reminiscent for a moment of a Degas clouded sky. Despite knowing where we were headed next, I just knew this would be the choice of the day. 

Then a loop of glorious Grisedale, a valley like no other. Saddened to see the inevitable commercial felling of the wood at Thornhow End, disgusted at the concreted sheep sorting pens at the turn for Thornhow Bridge, both exceptionally poor stewardship of a special place. 
Fortunately by Elmhow both were forgotten, as the majesty of the ringed peaks, one of the finest cirques in Lakeland, and the joy of a running free puppy worked their inescapable magic. Joy and wonder are both infectious. 
The day though drab was both warm and dry, moments of blue briefly pierced what could only be described as a bruised sky. Turneresque in a wonderfully dramatic way, a fine juxtaposition to the lake's earlier calm. 
A small picnic at the footbridge at Nethermostcove Beck, and then a return along the t'other side of the valley. Oddly for Christmas week we saw just two other folk. 

In extras: Missy climbed four foot up onto this boulder like a pro. She then beautifully demonstrated the classic mountaineering 'stare meaningfully into the distance' pose.