Sunday in The Lake District

I wandered lonely as a Cloud

That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:-
A poet could not but be gay

In such a jocund company:

I gazed-and gazed-but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the Daffodils

Written by William Wordsworth after an inspirational walk with his friend in April 1802. The poem wasn't published until 1807 and the above is a revised version that was published in 1815.

Today as I walked through the Lake District, there were green daffodil spikes everywhere. I suppose in April, they'll be at their peak. I often think of this poem when I go for a walk in Cumbria's Lake District. It was beautiful today. There wasn't a breath of wind so the lakes were like mirrors.

One of a pair of Mute Swans.

It was difficult for me to take lots of photos. Polly has never been more bouncy. She is shattered now. She slept all the way back north. While we were walking it was a job to get her to be still long enough for the camera to focus. I must say that I didn't complain too much when she was pulling on her lead. I had a sort of Staffie assisted ascent up this hill. Going down the rocky paths later, she had to behave herself and not pull.

Here are some of the other Staffordshire Bull Terriers that were on the walk today. ALL the dogs had a great time. Don't they all have beautiful faces?

This young girl was Polly's pal today on the walk. Sadly, I've forgotten her name. Her owners were darling too.

This is Ben. We met Ben last year and he has lost a lot of weight. The wideness he has now is all muscle, believe me!

Jake. He's a pretty boy, isn't he?

Betty and Bradley. Betty is the smaller of the two, a real pint sized Staffie.

Last but by no means least is Rocky. What a low clearance he has. He was in front of us for a portion of the walk. I hope Rocky's feelings aren't hurt, but walking behind him is very comical.