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Published: July 16th 2009
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Day 7
Tuesday 16th June The sun beating down on the tent meant an early start to the morning, and so after the boys had a quick dip in the stream, we were on the road again.
Our first stop was the township of Betws-y-Coed, a cute little village that was quite sweet. We all had a walk around, buying a few souvenirs and having a drink, before once again hitting the road.
From Betws-y-Coed, we said goodbye to Wales as we headed back into England and on to the Lakes District.
We made really great time, arriving in Windermere just after lunch. Straight to the info centre, we got info on camping grounds in the area, and I bought some ‘mint cake’ for us all to try as we had been told that it was a unique treat. Unique indeed... not actually a cake but more like a block of sugar very strongly flavoured with mint. Its claim to fame is that Sir Edmund Hillary took some with him as an energy boost when he conquered Mount Everest. Not the greatest taste, but another tick off
the list!
Off to the campsite recommended to us on the nearby Coniston Lake, we set up camp, crossing our fingers that the midges weren’t as bad here as they were the night before... We were too late to hire a canoe, and so we went down to the water’s edge where Lucretia and I read, while the boys, complete with their matching board-shorts* and lack of sense, had a swim in the icy waters.
Back at the camp, we had a lovely dinner before the local midgee population honed in on us, forcing us to our tents for an early night again.
*
Dav and Craig have matching board-shorts as they were a wedding present from Craig to his groomsmen. It was obviously a design Craig himself quite liked, as he also bought himself a pair. They are lovely shorts, but unfortunately they are the only swimming apparel both boys have brought on the trip and so anytime we go for a swim anywhere they have to wear identical outfits. Very funny... and embarrassing... I tend to walk a fair way apart and pretend I don’t know them... Day 8
Wednesday 17th June Rain, rain, rain... As per the forecast, bad weather had set in overnight and it looked like it had no intention of giving up. Determined not to let it ruin the day, after a quick brekky we all jumped in the car and set off to explore the Lakes District.
From our camp at Coniston Water, we did a big anti-clockwise circle as recommended to us by the info centre lady. Firstly we went down to Broughton in Furness (nothing much to see), on to Whicham (a tiny town, nothing much to see), then out to the ocean with some nice views on the way.
Further north it was out to the little seafront town of St Bees in search of a coffee shop, which proved fruitless (coffee-less even), so onto the larger seaside town of Whitehaven. We pulled up in Whitehaven opposite a fish a chip store by pure luck - for both our bellies and the store, as the four of us, wet cold and hungry, stumbled in. Back in the dry shelter of the car
to enjoy our feast, we can honestly say that they were the best fish and chips that England had served us up yet - delicious!
We did also find the one and only cafe in Whitehaven, where Lucretia could satisfy her Devonshire tea cravings, although they sadly were a complete disappointment... Much better back home!
From Whitehaven it was onto Buttermere, which we had been told was a must on any itinerary, with delicious homemade ice-creams of crazy flavours, such as fig, and orange and chilli. But they were shut... Don’t know why, of all days they would be shut, but they were... Grrrr.
By this time the heavens were really opening, giving us all she had. And so as we drove on through the valley between Buttermere and Honister, the water was pouring off the mountains and dumping into the already overflowing mountain streams. The road up to the Honister slate mine was on quite a rocky narrow road, and the water was absolutely pouring down the mountain, making the road more like a river. Although a little nerve-racking, the views were stunning, especially from the warmth and dryness of
the car!
The slate mine was only moderately interesting and so more of a loo-stop than anything else. Back in the car it was on through the town of Keswick and then a scenic drive back to our campsite as the rain stopped and the sun attempted to make an appearance.
Back at the campsite, it was another lovely dinner before retreating to the tents as the midgees came out for their night-time feeding frenzy.
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