A Beautiful Day in Ambleside, June 3

He said:

I really wish we were able to hike up a fell or pike today, the weather was great, perhaps a bit warm in the sun while climbing a hill, but as they say here “brilliant”.  We made our way to the town of Ambleside at the north end of Windermere, one of the largest lakes in England.  Ambleside is a true tourist town, with constant car and truck traffic going through it, shoppers clogging the streets, and so many shops selling outdoor and mountaineering items guaranteed to restore your youth and make you a legend.  I must say, some of the most out of shape people set out and really do climb to the tops of these hills, not that these are the Alps, but they do have steep uphills and downhills and loads of loose rocks.  The people of the UK are much more adventurous than the average person in the US (just my opinion).  Perhaps it’s that they feel so cooped up through the winter, that they really must get out and give it a go, especially when the weather is good (which seems to be rare up here).  It’s not unusual for a British hiker to walk 15 to 25 miles in a day, even the ‘older’ hikers.  Hats off!

She said:

June 3

Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale to Rothay Manor, Ambleside

Our last day of walking – blue sky and sunshine!  We did taxi to the Rothay Manor but then walked around the town.  Ambleside seems to be a big destination, though we couldn’t quite work out why.  It has some cheesy shops, loads of B&Bs and Guest Houses, some iffy restaurants and more outdoor/hiking/climbing equipment stores than I have ever seen in one place.  Really, there are probably 15 REI-type shops in Ambleside.  This is curious as most of the tourists that we saw in Ambleside do not look like they would be happy hiking or climbing at all.

So much in life is a mystery.

We ate lunch off the main street down by a sweet stream in a tiny restaurant – excellent homemade hummus and sun-dried tomato sandwich, the best lemonade (R had a ginger beer) and a sampler plate of 5 desserts.  This was all in keeping with our unplanned program, against all odds, of actually gaining weight on our walking trip.  Sad, but true.

The Rothay Manor is a nice, over-the-top English hotel.  Our bathroom is bigger than my entire studio apartment was at the President Apartments on University Avenue.  Everything is big and grand and very fluffy and manicured.  To wit: I am sitting on our lovely balcony overlooking the green grounds and the croquet lawn.  A half block away is the lawn bowling club (alas, our train to London is too early tomorrow for me to get in a set - game? - of bowls.)

Ties at dinner.  R did bring one but we felt like hanging on our patio in our sweats instead of dressing for dinner so we shopped in town for a tasty Happy Hour food and beat the 100 pound dinner tab with cheese, olives, crisps, nuts, tomatoes and sliced turkey (8 pounds.)

London will bleed us dry, so might as well save our money for a place where I will actually be able to get as much buttery, creamy chardonnay that I can handle, no matter what the cost.  Can’t wait.

Health is solidly in “good.”  I’m sure I’ll be “very good” by the time we leave London and maybe even “excellent” when we get home.  Ironic is not quite the right word, but you probably get my drift.

Looking forward to London, as I always do.  It is my favorite city.

(Also looking forward to the train ride there.  First Class.  Very civilized.)