|
|
There are plenty of boats to be had at Waterhead and
Bowness, and watermen who are practised and skilful. The
stranger should be warned, however, against two dangers
which it is rash to encounter. Nothing should induce him to
sail on Windermere, or on any lake surrounded by
mountains. There is no calculating on, or accounting for,
the gusts that come down between the hills; and no skill and
practice obtained by boating on rivers or the waters of a
flat country are any sure protection here. And nothing
should induce him to go out in one of the little skiffs
which are too easily attainable and too tempting, from the
ease of rowing them. The surface may become rough at any
minute, and those skiffs are unsafe in all states of the
water but the calmest. The long list of deaths occasioned in
this way,- deaths both of residents and strangers,- should
have put an end to the use of these light skiffs, long ago.
The larger boats are safe enough, and most skilfully managed
by their rowers: and the stranger can enjoy no better treat
than gliding along, for hours of the summer day, peeping
into the coves and bays, coasting the islands, and lying
cool in the shadows of the woods. The clearness of the water
is a common surprise to the resident in a level country; and
it is pleasant sport to watch the movements of the fish,
darting, basking, or leaping in the sunshine, or quivering
their fins in the reflected ray. What the quality of the
trout and char is, the tourist will probably find every day,
at breakfast and dinner.
|
Lakes Guides menu.
