Accommodation at Rosthwaite was run by Rachel. Seventy three year old Rachel is a gem and a character. She regularly goes up the mountains to rescue people and gets around with Pip the parrot sitting on her shoulder. She had our gear all dry in about an hour. Angel. Dinner was at the very crowded pub down the street. Where did all these people come from?? The food left a little to be desired but, well, hey ho.
Today was going to be another tough one, but that’s to be expected in this part of the world. It was up and down with a final big UP to Helm Crag. The views over Ullswater, Windermere and Grasmere are worth the effort and you’d be hard pushed to find a prettier lunch stop than the one experienced today.
The other interesting thing about the coast walk is that you keep running into the same fellow walkers day after day. It’s heartening and nice to exchange stories and encourage each other along. We all made it to Grasmere at the not-to-late time of 15:00 with “only” 10 miles covered today. I actually find these “strenuous” days less taxing wit the brain more occupied, as I explained earlier. I was ready to do it again!!
Mum was in good form tonight, first of all by voicing her concern about catching chlamidia (that’s not an algae, Mum!) from the tap water! Next, whilst watching a tv programme on some Amish people and observing them making their own clothes, she wanted to know, “Haven’t they heard of China??”
It was lovely to end the day by drifting off to sleep with the view out the window of the recently conquered brooding fells.
XXX
