More magnificence

Monday morning was beautiful...when I popped my head out the window the lake was glorious and the sunlight on the top of the hills gave them a real golden look. We were so so blessed with such incredible weather in this area known for it's tendency to rain rain and rain. So we headed off for Keswick to take a boat ride (making many photo stops along the way) but first went to the amazing Castlerigg Stone Circle which was pretty cool (oh and yes it was chilly too). Then after dealing with the confusing traffic diversion we found our way to Keswick and wandered through the town drafting for the lake. None of these towns appear to be built on the lake - they are all at the head of the lake if at all. So we found it and enjoyed a nice lunch in the tea rooms with the 'automatic piano' by the lake
(Derwenter) then we jumped on the boat, went a few stops and jumped off again to take a lovely lovely walk along side the lake. I have to say that this was one of the most pretty walks I have ever done and it was a nice easy flat stroll. Then back on the boat...and back to the car park before the money ran out( a bit of a repeating theme). Conveniently we were parked right next door to two museums. The Pencil Museum (did you know the pencil was invented in Keswick???) and the James Bond Museum. With only time to do one..of course it was James Bond and that was nice because even though we have watched very little TV there was a channel we watched in the early evening sometimes in Conwy that showed family appropriate movies and Michael had really enjoyed watching an old James Bond with daddy..so as this museum had an impressive collection of cars he really liked it. They also showed movie clips of some of the car chases so that rounded off our hour long visit. We then went for a very windy and narrow road drive over the hills to Buttermere to look at another lake and of course in Bruce's endless search for the perfect photo. The drive itself was stunning as was the lake and it was a pity as it was well the end of the day that we didn't have time to potter through the village and have an ice cream. We didn't really want to be on those roads after dark so headed back another way over the Honiston Pass
( I think I spelt that correctly??) and passed another mine museum ( we haven't made it into any of then and would really have liked to) and enjoyed a nice drive up the base of Derwenter and back to Keswick for fish and chips.

Tuesday morning and the view out the window was so different. You couldn't see the lake due to the mist but we were assured by our hosts that this was a good thing and it would be an incredible day. So we packed up the car, wrapped up really warm and walked over to the lake and then walked all the way around it to Grasmere village. What a glorious day. It was so peaceful and we saw a few people on stools painting and passed lots of people walking the other way. I would think that like most places in England the beauty would be hampered by the crowds - we have been so fortunate in his holiday to be able to enjoy so much in a relativity uncrossed way. Our host said it should take 40 minutes to reach the village from the B&B but we were travellings pace and I don't know how many 100's (if not 1000) photos Bruce took on that walk. So after a stop to buy some very famous and very nice Grasmere Gingerbread we jumped in the car and headed for Ambleside for lunch. This is Granny and Granpops favourite town so we thought we should at least visit. Again another very elegant and not too pricy lunch sitting outside in the sun and a little shopping and then off to Yorksire.