Day 4: Stonethwaite to Grasmere

Expectations

We’ll say farewell to L’s brother as he heads off to Portugal (or maybe the farewell will have happened the evening before?) The rest of us will drag our noodle-like legs out of The Langstrath in Borrowdale, up over the fell to Dale Lodge in Grasmere, spurred on only by the thought of a rest day tomorrow! Only 7.8 miles but quite a climb.

Realities

Updated at the next usable internet connection–hopefully in Grasmere! Yes…good wi-fi at Dale Lodge Hotel.

Woke up to pouring rain. Already said goodbye to L’s brother last night (our hotels were a mile apart and his taxi was arranged for 7:30 this morning.)

Good breakfast. Then the ritual workout of getting rain gear on!

Then out into the elements. D sought shelter almost immediately 🙂

First half mile or so was soggy but straightforward enough.

The walk today was under 8 miles. We knew there was significant elevation gain, but still, how long could 8 miles take? Answer: about 6 hours! The climb was predictably slow, but it was the rest that was slower than expected. The paths were mostly streams, and there were bogs everywhere. Navigation was confusing. It was a good day, but wow, we really are weary now!

The top of the steepest part of the climb, though probably not the high point today (in the mist it was hard to tell!)

Then down into a boggy bowl, stopping for lunch and hot drinks.

Very difficult navigation, both in terms of which direction to head and how to work around the bogs. Gave up any notion of dry boots.

Finally, out of the bowl and heading down toward sunlight! By now the rain had stopped, the wind dropped, and the mist cleared. Heavenly. So we got the drone out.

Drone video to follow later!

Then ever increasing sunlight. Still tough underfoot but definitely better overfoot!

Looking back up the valley

M’s Lion King impression…

Nearly there…

There!

Two problems to solve now: We are hungry & thirsty (easy to solve!) and we need to do laundry very badly. Turns out there is no launderette in Grasmere! I have my laundry bag hanging out of the hotel window right now. It’s really that bad.

Will update later with hopefully more pleasant photo of our dinner! And here it is. Complete with a bomb on the table!