On the trail of the lonesome pine.

The lake of Banyoles is one of the obvious destinations of the desperate. It is almost impossible not to find some shot and so it is photographed often. Sometimes it becomes a little samey, so this afternoon I took the road past the cemetery and walked up to the mirador (lookout).

The view is lovely, with the hills changing colour even as you press the shutter, slightly obscured by the lonesome pine, but if you balance on tiptoe, curl your left leg round a gorse bush for stability and brace your right elbow against the "Do not lean on this sign" sign it is possible to get enough blue water into the shot to prove you didn't just stick your lens into the nearest hedge and hope.

Over the road behind the mirador is a geriatric residence, no sorry, a residence for geriatrics. at first one thinks what a lovely situation for the inmates residents to be able to see the lake. Then you realise that not only is the access too steep, the return is impossible without crampons and a climbing rope.

They should have erected another sign "Beware of the abseiling granny" or perhaps "Danger, falling teeth"