Our day of rest and recovery in Patterdale/Glenridding

I'm feeling so much better today!  The sun is out and it's a lovely day.  Just look at the view

from our room.  Slightly right of straight ahead is the path we plan to tackle tomorrow.  I call it the path well taken.  The next photo will show you the path that we had intended to take, the one done by Mr. Wainwright.  After much soul-searching, Tara and I have decided to take the trip into our own competent hands and honor our bodies tomorrow - and for the duration.

It is so much steeper than it looks in this photo!

After a very nice English breakfast during which we were chided quite a bit by the fellow from Liverpool sitting beside us (about the same time the TV newscaster announced that Obama's remarks were unprofessional in light of the fact that the US has the largest arsenal of chemical weapons in the world!)  we set out for Glenridding and Ullswater to shop for appropriate clothing for tomorrow. Tara found an excellent waterproof jacket and long-sleeved base layer and I got a clip for my poles and something called Buff headwear.  It's an ingenious piece of microfiber that configures about 10 ways, including something similar to a ski mask.  I also found a great aerial map that gives a much better idea of the terrain we have covered so far and what lays ahead tomorrow. Everywhere we go people are talking about how terrible the weather is supposed to be tomorrow and Monday.  The steamer we planned to take across the lake may even be cancelled.  If so, we may have to recalculate.  That little boat ride can shave 7 miles off our trip.  Here's a photo of one of the steamers and beautiful Ullswater.

Here are shots of the sweet little village of Glenridding that is about a 5 minute walk from us:

Tonight we are off to St. Patrick's church in Patterdale to hear a children's choral concert before dinner. Then early to bed in preparation for the ominous and extreme day of hiking tomorrow.  Tara and I would like to request that you send us responses whenever you can as comments here, emails or on Facebook. Please let others know who may not be looking at this blog.  I really enjoy having the feeling that we are traveling along together, somewhat like the comraderie that we are experiencing with some of the other Coast to Coasters.  Thank you and much love, Mary/Mom