Windermere

Today's the day ............................. to wax lyrical

Windermere is England's largest natural lake. Created during the last great ice ages, it curves gently northwards for 17 kms reaching almost into the very heart of the Lakeland mountains.

This is how it is described in The Prelude by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Standing alone, as from a rampart's edge,
I overlooked the bed of Windermere,
Like a vast river, stretching in the sun.
With exultation, at my feet I saw
Lake, islands, promontories, gleaming bays,
A universe of Nature's fairest forms
Proudly revealed with instantaneous burst,
Magnificent, and beautiful, and gay.

It's a shame that nowadays the word gay would not have quite the same impact - but it was certainly looking magnificent and beautiful today ....................