A Day of Rest…

I’d had two hard days climbing, so treated myself to a ‘day off’… although I was still up at 7 a.m., and breakfasted as usual at 8a.m.

It was a more overcast, although still dry day, and I had decided to catch the boat from Glenridding, along Lake Ullswater http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/ to Howtown about 8 miles away… and walk back… nice day of rest !

I wandered along to catch the 9-45 a.m. boat, along the lake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ullswater and was soon stood on the bow of the boat, as it cut through the icy wind up the Lake… I didn’t stop too long though, and sheltered in the cabin, as I looked at the views of both shores of the lake… within about 30 minutes we arrived at Howtown , where I got off to start my amble back along the shoreline path to Glenridding… a nice peaceful side of the lake, my fellow walkers soon disappearing out of sight as I stopped and let them all ( 5 of them !) go.

The path wound its way along the shore, up and down over several rocky bluffs and coves, on a nice still day, with distant views across the lake towards the hills , lined with trees packed with berries…

I kept meandering along, taking in the views, stopping eating and relaxing…all too soon though, I’d got back to the top of the lake,passing the Hotel in the distance, as I made my way back to Glenridding, to survey my route for the next day ! and get a nice cake from one of the cafe’s there ..

I’d been out past 3 o’clock, as I wandered back to Patterdale , calling in at St Patrick’s Church http://www.stpatrickspatterdale.org/index.html site of where St Patrick had baptised people years ago, who’d have thought of the connection , of our patron Saint of Ireland ? – Patterdale meaning St Patrick’s Dale !

Then it was back to the Hotel, for a nice evening relaxing, and researching tomorrows routes !