2020
NY7308 : Painted stones by Scandal Beck ford
taken 5 years ago, near to Smardale, Cumbria, England

Painted stones by Scandal Beck ford
Scandal Beck is crossed by both a ford and a footbridge which lead (if heading west) to this wall adorned with painted stones of a nature seen frequently during the coronavirus pandemic. I guess everyone with kids excluded from closed schools needs a craft activity to keep them busy and one directing their attention to issues of the day is well worthwhile. Meanwhile, some of the other signage at this locality is less deserving of respect. A particularly irritating one suggests that cyclists should dismount and use the footbridge rather than the ford. Surely this should be a safety decision for the individual cyclist and not the subject of bureaucratic dictat ? With water levels low, the smooth concrete bed of the ford poses no hazard whatsoever to anyone and idea that one would avoid it by bike is facile - most kids (of whatever age, even the retired) would want to pedal back and forth a few times just for fun !