Smile

This smiling herdwick was sat next to "The Band" going up Bowfell, a good excuse to stop for a breather under the pretext of taking a photograph as we slogged up towards Bowfell Buttress in the Lake District. This was the second of two dry days in a row, and Simon made the welcome suggestion of climbing the big mountain route up the Buttress. The wind carried the first real chill of the Autumn, an incentive to keep pushing on to the top. Simon led it all the way, and it was glorious in the variety of challenges it presented, all of which were satisfyingly overcome with relative ease.

I wasn't sure before we started whether, after months of idleness, the old body would be up to it, but though I puffed a bit as we walked in, and the knees were a little painful on the descent, I managed it quite well.

I have blipped a herdwick once before, and the links give a bit more information about this unique breed of sheep of the Lake District. In case you are wondering, this isn't an especially wonky photograph, the sheep was sat on very steep ground.

There was a lot to smile about today:

*Friendship
*Rock climbing
*Tumbling, cronking ravens
*A pint of Yates bitter
*Wifie's scones when I got home
*A lovely hot bath
*Fond memories of my Mum, who would have been 88 today if she was still alive.