Nearly a Washout

The weather forecast was discouraging, but we went to the Ullswater Country Show today, thinking that the mountains on either side of the ground, at Patterdale, would provide some shelter (and the wind was forecast to be a little better) but we were wrong.  

I was encouraged to see quite a few cars in the parking area, but soon after joining the (wet) throng the wind increased, perhaps to gale force, and we started to get wet.  Very wet.

These two were part of the organising team, working hard we thought.  The Extra is of one of the dogs being judged; every one was wet.  Umbrellas were of little use because the rain was acutely angled by the wind.

So, after sheltering in the Red Squirrel tent, helping to hold it steady in the gale, talking to the champion dry stone waller, buying and eating a Cumberland sausage, getting some meat for supper, some flapjacks for our morale and chatting to the local newspaper team . . . we judged our duty to the community done and retreated to the car and drove back to a dry caravan, rocking in the gale.

But we'll be back.  Ullswater was delightfully uncrowded on our every visit this week; the Northern Lakes area likewise; and all the landscape is tremendous.  Yes, there's a little too much Wordsworth wherever you go, but why not exploit one of your local celebrities?