Woke up to bright sunshine, and thinking I need to make the most of this trip. So the obvious outing is to Aira Force; with all the water of the fells, it’s guaranteed to be a spectacle. Also, more practice in packing down for an outing. I’m told it gets quicker in time. I didn’t forget the drain tank this time, but still forgetting to turn off the gas at the cylinder. So that’s another one to the list, and need to print a checklist later.

One of the few upsides to being widowed, is the heightened emotions; sometimes down, sometimes up. Cresting the rise, and seeing Ullswater and the fells spread out in front took my breath away. Starting off up a 1 in 5 slope, then tootling along single track roads, Willma coped with everything, apart from one time I pulled off the tarmac, on an uphill slope, with one wheel on the grass verge. It took a few goes to get off. Then parking at High cascades car park, once again impossible to pay by app when there’s no signal! So drove down to the main car park; time to rejoin the National Trust.

Climbing the paths to the higher falls was a stunner, though short windedness meant regular pauses. I took photos! Very glad of my walking pole/ alpenstock thing. The NT do a great job maintaining access to all this.

Got down again, to the welcome of the cafe – on the left in the picture. Tea and a bacon bun as a treat. According to the app, 6000 steps, and 15 stories climbed (about 150 ft). The rest of the afternoon spent in rest and contemplation, while managing to stub my toe and trap my fingers in the bed mechanism. Won’t hurt when the pain’s gone.