Ambling through Ambleside

I think the photos are working! Above you can see some of the pics I took yesterday in the Lake District - my first full day.

Day started with a breakfast at the B&B of salmon scrambled eggs and toast and a cafetière of coffee. Then I drove to the village of Ambleside, which is about an hour south of Keswick! It was pretty charming as well, smaller than Keswick. The waterfalls in a green forest (above) were on a walk I happened upon. After some tea, I drove to a smaller town called Grasmere. It’s famous for William Wordsworth and gingerbread. I got a rectangle of gingerbread for only £1 and ate it expeditiously. The strong ginger flavor was perfect against the rich butter flakiness. I walked along the next door graveyard and park dedicated to Wordsworth and his Daffodils poem.

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Then I made the perilous journey by car to Buttermere. “Mere” is another word for lake here, like the famous Windermere. Butter is my favorite name for a lake ever, and it’s the most beautiful of the lakes IMO (pictured above with the sheep, fallen tree and stone road). Buttermere is in the area called Cockermouth…

Get your mind out of the gutter I mean seriously are you twelve!?

Ahem… so Buttermere is situated in a much more remote area surrounded by mountains on all sides and a farm. It’s smaller enough that you can almost see the whole lake in one view. The drive there was absolutely stunning - possibly the prettiest road I have ever been on - with a surprise 80ft waterfall on the way that I didn’t even know about (Moss Force Waterfall) and sheep roam freely and I walked to a farm nearby. Though stunning, the road is very narrow. I was fine but there’s basically no passing room, it’s one lane for miles and it’s curvy so you can’t see if someone is coming around the bend half the time. It was my second day driving on the left side of the road too, so I’m proud of myself for making it and I did very well if I do say so myself!

I walked around the lake to the farm stand where they were selling Butty’s, buns, rolls and coffee. A Big Butty is a sandwich here (don’t you start!). Everything has a different name it seems!

Then I drove back the crazy road past the waterfall again and to Keswick. I retired to my room to rest. Then at about 9:30p I made my way to the local favorite bar, the Dog and Gun. There were a lot of those! No not guns silly, DOGS! The best thing about Keswick is it’s a dog friendly town, they’re welcome almost anywhere! Everyone has one or three dogs at their side, it’s very fun!

Once I’d ordered and sat down, a British man about 80 years old slid into the booth next to me to join his party.

He’s a chatty one be careful, said the bartender

I looked to the man and he shook his head No

He’ll tell you lots of stories, he’s a character! said the bartender again with a smile

Are you a regular here? I said to the man

Oh no. He said

Seems like they know you well though, I wagered

Ah no, he said

Well should I take everything you say like it’s Opposite Day then? I said back

I’ve only been coming here since 1964, The man said with a cheeky grin

And stories he had. Pete, his name, has indeed been coming here with friends for 60 years since he started climbing the fells (mountains) in his twenties. Since a knee replacement he can’t anymore but he and his friend still get around the trails! Stories included over our conversation; riding a motorcycle around England, 3 months ice climbing in Norway (narrowly missing the pathway through the ice where a heap of gold was found later), meeting and falling in love with a German girl during his travels who wanted to marry him and had a Manor with gardens and servants (he was scared off by all that), meeting Simon and Garfunkel in a small pub in England before they were famous and spending a night drinking with them, drinking with Jack Lemmon the comedian, and lots more!

After the bar closed at 11p I walked back to my room to sleep, dreaming of sheep.

This has been Abbie with BBC radio 16 on the Cockermouth station. Come back and listen again soon.