As a geekish teenager I immersed myself in Road & Track, Motor Sport and Autosport – the racing journalists Denis Jenkinson and Pete Lyons achieved hero status alongside the drivers and cars they wrote about. I became saturated and obsessed by the hunt for the perfect racing line.
This went on for years until a bright young lass widened my literary horizons and my brief practical encounter with racing failed miserably. Then, on 6th October 1973, forty years ago this week, François Cevert came to grief at Watkins Glen – enough was enough. For a good many years other interests took hold.
That same year I became immersed in the William Morris saga, The Well at the World’s End, an epic tale of a knight who goes in search of a well that bestows immortality on all those who drink its waters. This convoluted set of interconnected topics brings me to a waterfall.
Thirty miles south west of Hexham and four miles beyond Alston is the old lead mining village of Garrigill. From here it is a short walk and modest climb to Ashgill Force, an impressive 50 foot waterfall beneath the B6277 road bridge. The major attraction of these falls is that it is possible to walk behind them and take photographs through a curtain of water without getting entirely saturated although I imagine that in flood or icy conditions this could be treacherous. It seems just the sort of place that Ralph of Upmeads would have encountered on his quest for The Well at the World’s End:
(click on the images to enlarge)
northumbrian : light 
Wonderfully soothing, tranquil scenes – just the thing after too much baked apple!
Aha – the baked apples – that reminds me, first acquire your apples. They are on the list for Waitrose this week 🙂 (none in the garden)
Reblogged this on anneliesski.
That last one is particularly nice.
Many thanks – in the end, I agree that the more conventional shot was the better. I was trying too many tricks with exposure behind the waterfall and most didn’t work – certainly long exposures blocked out the sense of movement and transparency…..so the first two are a bit of a compromise.
Amazing works.
Many thanks, much appreciated!
Beautiful pictures! I really like this interpretation of the challenge.
Cheers,
Charlie
Many thanks Charlie
for a little while
I’ll shut myself inside the falls –
summer retreat has begun ~ Basho
Be sure to wear something waterproof, the waters will be freezing :-). Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
wonderful images
Many thanks Amar
These are really atmospheric, and there is something so magical about a waterfall you can stand behind. Hard to photograph though, and I think you’ve done a wonderful job…..the black and white makes me feel the water is cold:-)
Thanks Seonaid – ruddy perishing I suspect 🙂 These are the falls I recommended you visit next time you are down this way.
Wow, such an interesting post! I never heard about François Cevert so I clicked on the link. At first I thought your pics were of Watkins Glen but then I read your description. Beautiful images. I especially like the last one.
Many thanks, glad you like the pictures. I should be more explicit about my geography, not everyone knows deepest Northumberland 🙂 Jackie Stewart was about to retire so François was on the verge of great things – a great and sad loss. Thanks for stopping by.
Love the clarity of the waterfalls. The waterflow of the last one is beautiful!
Many thanks Amy – despite all the effort and getting wet, I agree the simpler one at the end is the better of the three 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous scenes!
Many thanks, it is a magical place.
Looks like a must do, to me! Love these photos. I was in Hexham on Monday, watching salmon leap.
I recommend it Jo. Here is an admission – I have lived in Hexham for 18 years and I have yet to stand on the bridge and watch the salmon 😦 A must do for me too!
I scrambled down the bank and nearly fell in! Caution at all times 🙂
Be careful at the falls then 🙂
Lovely textures and tonality there. Great that you can view the cascade from behind.
Thanks Graham – in flood it could be really spectacular.