Cheap raspberries & chatting to random people
Today was a bit of a chiller day, which I very much appreciated.
We got up with just enough time to have some brekkie at the hotel and take our bags out to reception for them to be picked up. Not sure on how the buses were going to be running for the day thanks to the antiquated Lakes Bus Connection timetable, we walked down to the bus stop and asked one of the drivers which bus we should catch to get to Glenridding, our next destination!
It was only 9:30 at that point, and the bus wasn’t until 11am, so we decided to kill some time by visiting the Derwent Pencil Museum (yes you heard that right). The lake that Keswick is located on is called Derwentwater, and is where pencil manufacturing started. They even used to roll up little tissue paper maps and put them inside Derwent pencils during WW2 to send evacuation plans to soldiers on the front line. We got a free pencil on our way in, and I just had to buy a little tin of pencils on the way out. I really want to get back into drawing and colouring in so I thought that might make me commit. To top off a very niche experience we had to see the biggest pencil in the world, which of course was inside the Derwent Pencil Museum. To be honest, I did think it would be bigger. But I suppose there aren’t too many places that thing to try to build one bigger. Or maybe it’s polite to let them have it. Either way sounds good to me.
We also poked around a couple of shops through the main street and bought a massive punnet of raspberries from the local farmer’s market for only £2. There were also local craft markets on so we killed some time wondering through the stalls, just as the rain hit. For our last 40 mins or so before the bus departed, we decided to get something small for lunch from a pub in the main square. We got duck spring rolls and nachos to share and holy moly they were so amazingly tasty. We also ended up talking to the couple next to us and their dogs. I love chatting to random people while travelling, especially in the north cause everyone will just have a chat to you. And hey, if you embarrass yourself, you’re not going to see them again so who cares. I’ve found myself to be way more extroverted, especially in this area, I know everyone is going to be relatively nice at the very least.
Walking back to the bus stop we ran into the Americans we trauma-bonded with over the previous days. We also finally got their names, so that’s nice! We’ve actually booked a table tonight at the Inn we’re both staying in for dinner. I’m looking forward to chatting to them some more, we were talking to them for most of the way to Glenridding whilst I was devouring my raspberries (yes I shared them don’t worry) and they’re very interesting people.
Once we arrived at Glenridding we were able to check in early, pop some things down in our room then head out for a walk around the area- as per usual they’re in a valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes. This town is quite a bit smaller than Keswick, so it didn’t take us too long to explore the vicinity, we even walked over to Patterdale, a neighbouring village, to make our plans for tomorrow when we head back to Ambleside for our last night in the Lakes.
Overall a wonderful day, a perfect balance of chill and adventuring. Very sad for tomorrow to be our last day in the Lakes, it’s an area I want to bring every single person I know to. I fear it shall be my personality forever. Sorry!
Also you guys are not ready for the next bit of the itinerary (we’re not even close to done). 😉
Currently MIA,
Lauren x
