June 6 & 7 - Off to Ambleside in Cumbria

 June 6

  Today we took an Uber to Budget rental car at Heathrow. Mark drove the first hour and Jecca drove about four hours. We had snack food and drinks en route. It was predicted to rain, but, overall, it was mostly overcast.

   

We are at Crag View in Ambleside, up VERY narrow roads which are considered two way, but...no way! 

   The cottage has three levels. There are two bedrooms on the second floor, up a fairly steep stair. Jecca is at the top in the third bedroom. It was built around 1795 as a worker's cottage for a manor house. The estate was broke up in the 1920s, but the cottages were not sold until much later. It was for years run as an "Open All Hours" shop with the brother and sister owners living in what is now the kitchen and dining area and the front room was the store. The present owners, Pat Davies, bought it over 30 years ago and renovated it, discovering the chimney, for example. 

   After settling in, we drove to Booth's, a northern supermarket chain known for its puns and very good food. Mark bought a shopping bag with "Sweet Dreams are Made of Cheese" on the front and "Is it Brie You're Looking For" on the back.

    We drove home and had shepherd's pie for dinner.

June 7

      After breakfast, Jecca drove us to a spot between Rydal Water and Grasmere where we took a mostly flat walk between the two lakes. 

       Then we drove to Grasmere and walked in the village, visiting William Wordsworth's grave and visiting a beautiful gift store with local products including beautiful woolen items including blankets and scarves made from the sheep of local farms. There was also an array of local art - prints, paintings, ceramics etc. Jec and Barbara bought some cards and Jec bought a tea towel of the Coast to Coast walk she took with Willy and Otis.

    Then, we walked to a tea shop for lunch and Jec bought famous Gingerbread which are more biscuits than bread - yum. They have been made since 1854 using the same recipe. The building had been the school house for over a century.

     After getting home, Jec and Barbara took a walk down to the town which is quite close.

     We had soup we had bought at Booth's for dinner.