Glenville House Windermere

Ingnoring most advice we did head off for our anniversary weekend to the Lake District. Cumbria had just experience record rainfall of 400+ mm of rain in 24 hours and amny parts of the area were severly flooded. We had a great run up on the M6 on Friday afternoon and settled into Elim House. In the moring we went down to see the lake which was now creeping ...

... plans were made, and the slightly lighter weather made a short comfortable walk possible. We met up with half a dozen of the others at the car park in Hawkshead. Following yesterday's soaking, I made a strategic purchase of a clear, dry bag for the map. I am now moving towards 'kitted out hiker', thus making me the Fonz of the rambling world. I am just sooo cool.

Anyway, we followed a ...

... it more tricky. The storm burst had pooled in places, leaving puddles several inches deep. Getting through gates, where there was a build up of mud also slowed us down, as we were trying to avoid getting wet feet.

As it was, the rain was pouring straight down our waterproof coats and soaking into our less than waterproof trousers. After a mere half an hour, we were both soaked and Eartha was wanting to go back.

We crossed over a couple of swollen ...

... cross-country, across a little footbridge, in the dark and stormy night). Mad fools.

The bedroom had 15 sleeping places, consisting of 5 triple bunks. There were 14 of us staying, so it was kind of cosy. Eartha and I chose top layer bunks where you hit your head on the ceiling if you sat up too fast. Eartha went to sleep and I cracked open a bottle of homemade and joined Vince by the fire.

Tow truck 2, turns up at 15:29 and we are off again for the next leg of the journey, Stirling Services to Lancaster Services. This journey takes around 4 hours and I have a nice chat with the driver, Jim all the way. We phone ahead and arrange the next tow truck to meet us at Lancaster at 19:15, guess what? Yes, it wasn't there and I am told it won't be there until 20:15 and it finally arrives at 20:30

... We spent the day hopping from one tiny town in the Cotswalds to the next. And since in short order I found this relatively boring, I will describe this day in painstaking detail so you can completely share the experience. Of course, I'm not serious, I would never do that to you. After a day of towns like Stow-on-the-Wold and Boreton-on-the-Water we turned north to start seeing castles and Shakespeare's birthplace. But not before spending the morning checking out a few ...

Lake District was the northernmost area we visited. That's probably why the Lake District is one of the best attractions of U.K. John told me the story of Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit.
Actually, I don't remember which lake I visited, because John took me there. I still remember I took a boat to the opposite ...