Catch a Bungie Jumper

Smardale Gill Viaduct

A wacky title for a new story.  It’s a bold strategy for attracting attention: the whacky title. Like A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian . It’s so odd  it’s courageous. My Catch a Bungie Jumper  is in English which you may find a let-down.   Sometimes photographs are a spoiler.  So use your imagination. Picture it for yourself.   Throwing health and safety to the winds , a rogue bungie jumper is about to dive from a viaduct.  The paparazzi are not invited.   Here we are, standing way below, arms outstretched to catch a bungie jumper.

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The title came to me far too late . Cumbrian Contrasts  was off on the Continent, being printed.  I was putting together a talk. Revisiting Smardale, a wonderful location between  Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen.  Arguably the best view in England looks east  along Scandal Beck to Smardale Gill Viaduct which soars above.  Earlier this year work was done on the viaduct to protect its structure. It’s a marvel of engineering.  And sometimes it attracts unwanted attention from thrill- seekers.  All sorts of illegal activities most of us are about as likely to glimpse as the otters that frequent Scandal Beck far below

At  Smardale the welcome and outreach to engage visitors with every aspect of the place is excellent. And positive.  And here lies the dilemma. How do you discourage the wreckers? They are comparatively few but they do significant damage.  It’s a question I wrestled with in writing Cumbrian Contrasts.  I want to share all that is wondrous and beautiful, to emphasize the marvellous.   That’s what you will see in my new book. Not a negative photograph in sight.  But a blog is something else. So for a moment let’s be honest and face what really happens in the countryside.  If you go down in the woods today beware of a big surprise----
So, discreetly, amongst all those welcoming information boards, here’s a despairing note. You are invited, encouraged to catch a bungie jumper. Not quite in the arms outstretched cartoon fashion  I’ve had fun in picturing.

Smardale Gill Viaduct