22 August 2008 – Angle Tarn, north side of Bowfell
The longest and steepest ascent to the highest and midway point of our swim home. We climbed for two and a half hours to reach the tarn to find it a busy place with hikers resting up a while by the water and two tents pitched nearby. The atmosphere was very different and somewhat under the gaze of others we entered the tarn and swam across to the other shore and back.
Although the highest, it was not the coldest and the afternoon sun helped cheer us. It felt good to complete a width and back and return to dry clothes, hot drinks and some belated lunch.
As we relaxed, the light played on the surface of the water and mesmerised us. Dandelion-like seed heads blew across the water, rolling on the actual surface without getting stuck.
The descent was as long and testing as the climb up, although enlivened briefly by conversation with a young Hungarian about to return to home after a period of employment in the Lake District. She had found her whistling echoed across the water from Rossett Pike as she sat by the tarn.
Richard and I had discussed many things including: restructuring lives to maximise opportunity; where the art lies in artwork; and jazz saxophony.
Below, in the Old Dungeon Ghyll the beer tasted so good.
