We had lunch at Ullswater in a quiet layby watching the boats go by.
Had the unusual experience of cars coming speeding into the layby and one or two passengers getting out, snapping a few pictures and then jumping back into the cars and speeding off. We decided to describe it as 'extreme sightseeing' and decided we would try it out sometime.
Once we finished eating we sped off south until we got to Aira Force were we decided to stop and look around. This is a National Trust managed site containing an impressive waterfall and ravine.
One of the paths had a sign - Path closed due to fallen tree. Both Fiona and I presumed it was a tree simply blocking the path which they hadn't gotten around to cutting. Fortunately there were alternative routes to the top of the waterfall. One the way back down we passed the site of the fallen tree and understood why the path was closed. The tree was originally below the path and when it fell, presumable due to the heavy rain, it essentially ripped out the base of the path leaving an Indiana Jones style gap with Victorian style iron handrail
It also had a 'wish tree'. This is a fallen tree trunk which visitors have hammered coins into, instead of the usual tossing onto a fountain.
After leaving Aira Force we continued south towards Lake Windermere but the road got progressively more windy and narrow as it climbed over the Kirkstone Pass.
At one point a side road appeared which Ciaran wanted us to take, though Fiona as driver was adamant we would not. She explained to Ciaran that often dodgy roads are fobbed off to tourists as 'Scenic Route' or 'Coastal Path' but any road which the locals called 'The Struggle' was not something she had any plan to drive.
We did get to try our Extreme Tourism by snapping our pictures from the car as Fiona negotiated the bends.
I think by the end of the day she was getting a bit annoyed by all our snapping but had to admit that Ciaran can take a nice photo, but is more reluctant to smile in them, unless you can sneak up on him.
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After driving back to Penrith we stopped in a nice Mexican restaurant for a lovely dinner.
