The Lake District

This post is delayed.

Pretend it's September 14 or 15th.

I've decided if Australia doesn't make my dreams come true that I will be returning to the Lake District to take on any task that I can find.

It was simply stunning. We hopped on the train from Edinburgh, and the further south we got, the prettier the landscape became. We got off in Oxenholme, and took a fifteen minute commuter train into the heart of the Lake District - to the town of Windermere. Windermere is the biggest lake, and the starting point for most adventures.

For two mildly stressed individuals, stepping off the train was utter bliss. We immediately went to the organic food store to pick up some dinner and began to the 2.5 mile trek to the Youth Hostel.



The Hostel is situated between the town of Windermere and the wee shire of Troutbeck (which constituted 6 houses, one being renovated). We dumped our stuff in the hostel (which, for being a youth hostel was curiously filled with over 40s) and we walked to Troutbeck. We walked down into a valley and crossed a few streams. Then Spencer fell into the water. ON our way home 3 or 4 bats kept the midges away.

Because talking about walks is boring I'll keep this short:

The next day I woke up early (....6am) and went for another walk. I managed to get very close to a couple of unsuspecting deer. Spencer met me for breakfast at 8. The night before, we'd decided on the path we wanted to take, so it was just a matter of starting out. That day Spencer and I walked via the public footpaths to the town of Ambleside.



In Ambelside, we stopped in a quaint Tea Shop run by an older lady (baking in the kitchen) while her husband served us our afternoon tea. He was wearing suspenders therefore I liked him quite a lot.

Then we took a boat back down the lake to Bowness:



When we arrived we walked back up to Windermere we took the footpath to the Orrest Head Look out point.
After that we did another hours worth of walking through about 15 sheep fields, climbing interesting stiles, and crossing through people's back yards. One family had set out a box of treats for travellers to purchase. After getting home, we bought a wonderful locally produced meal (Spencer had Steak pie, and I had a stuffed chicken breast). Followed by an apple and date dessert.

The hostel was not what they call a 'happening place' and I was in bed by 9:30.

Breakfast the next morning was a huge feast of back bacon, eggs, fruit, yogurt toast, beans delicious tea. We stored our backpacks at the greasy spoon next to the train station. We hopped on another boat to cross the lake. We took another path through forests and local farms (where I got a serious case of swamp foot in sheep dung) to Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's house. It was drizzly that day, so there aren't many pictures. We didn't actually go in Beatrix's house because you need to get a timed ticket, but we did hang around her gardens. It was ever so lovely.



On the walk back we stopped by a small shed which constituted the variety store. They had something called Kendal Mints - famous for their use in the 1960 expedition to the top of Mount Everest. They were essentially a solid block of sugar flavoured with mint. For a sugar fanatic, I was outdone in two bites. It hurt. It hurt my pride, and it hurt my teeth.

Then it was the train ride back home.

I think we walked close to 20 miles that weekend.

This must constitute the most boring post in blog history - but it was serene. And for the first time in a long time I felt cozy and relaxed.