Derwent Water

Started the day properly this morning. An espresso, cereal, banana, 2 mugs of tea and 2 big fat bacon butties.

Walked down in to keswick. There's a big run on this weekend so it's heaving. 4000 runners competing. One of them is pitched up near me and came over for a chat at breakfast. That explains why the campsites are full and turning people away.

You can pick up maps at keswick market. Far cheaper than the outdoor shops. Exactly the same maps, all official and above board. 6 quid for OS ones. They were doing all four maps of the lakes for just 22 quid a set.

Set off round derwent water. Totted up the squares on the map and it looked like a 2 hour walk. Added an hour for cream teas and reckoned i'd be sat enjoying a pint back in keswick by mid afternoon.
I was wrong on a monumental scale. Got talking to a lass when i eventually got back and she informed me it's a 5 - 6 hour walk. 9 miles though which is pretty much what i predicted. What's happened to the old 4mph rule?

It's a nice steady walk though. Great views as you'd expect. There's signs all round the lake advising you to keep out of the water and not let dogs drink from it. Some crazy algae outbreak has been causing health problems. It's the same at windermere which means a swimming competition tomorrow has been cancelled at the last minute. Much to the annoyance of everyone who's travelled big distances to compete.

There's only a couple of stop off points round the lake, certainly on the marked trail. There was one hotel on the east side and a tea room near the top of the west side. I'd only taken one and half litres of water which ran out about an hour before i got back. I stopped at the tea room in portinscale. It was adequate at best. Squirty cream on the scones rather than the real deal. Carry on round the corner and there's a hotel offering proper clotted cream teas for similar price. They've got great views of the lake too.

Grabbed an ice cream in keswick. Was just tucking in when someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. It was one of the chaps from yesterday who i climbed scafell pike with. He looked fit to drop. Done a mammoth trek today, which put my lakeside ramble to shame. The fact i was chilling out with an ice cream didn't convince him i'd had a tough one either.

Back to the tent and the biker couple from last night had left a few pressies in my porch before they left. Some tins of heinz tomato soup, some posh choc chip biscuits and a big mosquito candle. Get in! If you ever chance upon this blog chaps, ta v much!

Desperate for a shower and a pint. Got two recommendations for food tonight. The bank tavern, as recommended last night, or the dog and gun on lake street. Gonna head down in a bit and decide over a pint or two or the local brew.