Through Campbell's eyes

A lovely bike ride around Coniston Water today certainly helped me feel better. Off all the photos I took, this is the blip of choice for today.

This is Waterhead at the top of Coniston Water, and not far from this spot Donald Campbell set off to attempt the water speed record.

I tried to get down as far as I could to get some idea of his view.

In the far distance, invisible today as they would have been to Campbell, at the markers for the start and end of his runs.

The boat house that he used then is still there today, hardly visible on the right of the blip.

Conditions on that January morning in 1967 would, I imagine, have been much more still than today. There was a breeze today making a slight swell in the water. I believe January 4th 1967 was as still as it gets.

Having made a run of 297mph he turned. What went through his mind we will never know. It is thought he didn't wait to refuel, or fot the wash to die down. Perhaps he saw Coniston Old Man from the far end and thought that as soon as he got back he'd have a world record in his hands. We will never know