Act IV: Keswick | rs-england2016

Keswick

Day 8

Unfortunately, our short stay in Wales has come to an end and we must return to England. We will be spending the next two nights in the Lake District at Keswick...taking a "vacation from our vacation". Enroute we stop at 80-acre Bodnant Garden, established in 1874 as a private garden for Bodnant Hall. The garden was donated to the National Trust in 1949 by the Aberconway family who continue to live in the home.

Bodnant Garden Pin Mill

Robert did a wonderful job juggling our various tour stops to try and avoid the intermittent rain. Nature was very kind to accommodate him here...

"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it."

As You Like It (II.iv.90-91)

Waiting for the rain to stop

We arrive in Keswick with just enough time to settle into our rooms at the Crow Park Hotel before Robert leads us to our group dinner location, The Old Keswickian.

It's rumored to have the best sticky toffee pudding...we're willing to weigh in!

The Crow Park Hotel

Yes, they DO have great

sticky toffee pudding...

AND beer!

Day 9

View of old Moot Hall from the Old Keswickian

Robert's luck has run out...

Catsbell Mountain

Thus far we have managed to dodge the nagging showers, but as we look out our hotel window at

Catsbell Mountain we wonder if our planned boat tour of Derwentwater will be compromised.

Today has been set aside as a free day. With no obligations, we can make the decision to explore the market town of Keswick, join Robert for a boat tour and hike, or just "hang out" and rest.

This is also the place to have our laundry done... welcome news as we're running out of clean pants and shirts! Robert recommends

a facility within a 10-minute walk of the hotel

which will complete the job by mid-afternoon if we give it to them by 8:00 AM. We opt to have our laundry done and join Robert on the boat tour and hike.

We invite The Bard to join us, but with his new-found passion for soccer, he declines. His favorite team, Manchester United, is playing a pivotal game, but he

agrees to join us for lunch and "happy hour" at the hotel this

evening.

"But screw your courage

to the sticking place

and we'll not fail."

Macbeth (I.vii.60-61)

The wet walk to the boat house

TRAVEL TIP

Don't waste a day-use a laundry service

18th. century Derwentwater Boat House

(formerly the home of the islands' ferryman)

Lake and Derwent Island view from the boat house.

Waiting to board...

Part four of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was filmed here.

Lake and Derwent Island view from the boat house.

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(click on image)

THE LAKE DISTRICT'S DERWENTWATER

The area inspired writers William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, among others

There's nothing like brisk morning exercise to stimulate the appetite! It's a very short walk from our hotel to the town square and we arrive just in time to beat the lunch crowd. Bill needs to make more entries in his gastronomic journal and The Golden Lion Pub and Kitchen seems just the place to do it.

The Golden Lion, convenient and welcoming

"I like your accent!", fellow American,

Barrington, says as he introduces himself.

Estrella Cervesa Barcellona: Very Good

(a small departure from the

usual English beer)

A place for the whole family

The Bard finds owner, Simone, most charming!

We've had a wonderful afternoon getting to know our way around this most friendly little town.

A leisurely stroll around the market square finds a number of sports-oriented clothing establishments as well as pubs, restaurants, antique and gift shops. We buy several souvenir

tins of a local candy called the Kendal Mint Cake. Sugary and strongly flavored, we are told

hikers use it as a quick energy source.