...but no-one came out to play!
What with the planned trip to Scotland having been shelved, after watching the rain falling all day (and, on the way across to the Dales with Sue and her folks, taking a heart-stopping look at Backbarrow), Saturday night was spent scouring the guidebook, pawing over maps, entering coordinates into the satnav and hatching plans for a Sunday paddle. Complete waste of time though since, come the day, nobody turned out...
The Leven at Backbarrow Bridge; an hour later the river completely filled the arch!
I couldn't let it go, deciding that a detour through the Duddon was a better alternative than driving all the way to Keswick for a Greta solo, and so it was that I met Jo and Mike from Peterborough while hanging about (well, taking photos) on the bank of Church Beck. A quick chat and we were off to Birks Bridge for a blast down the upper Duddon from below Birks to Wallowbarrow Gorge. This has to be one of the best G3 sections in the Lakes and catching it at a great level and in sunshine made up for what had turned out to be a frustrating weekend. My new found mates had to pack-up sharpish - they were tearing off to Ennerdale for the 9km hike to the top of the valley for a run down the Liza! Best of luck to them, hope there was still enough water by the time they'd made it.
Easier section of Church Beck - doesn't look like G5 from here...
The slot above Birks Bridge - not today thank you!
This weekend also saw Borrowdale flooded (up to 8 feet deep on the road below Rosthwaite) and the OMM called off part way through the first day. Probably the biggest spate paddling day or two in the Lakes for many a year...
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