Rest Day- Grasmere 8/13/13

This was a day supposedly dedicated to rest and recuperation.  Those of you that know Ben and Joe probably will respond with "Yeah, right!", since neither of the men are good at R & R.  We did rest a bit, but we also ran around too much, leaving all of us tired by days end.  

We took a "hop on, hop off" bus between Grasmere, Windemere, and Ambleside and also stopped at the Lake District National Park visitor center as well as Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth museum.  It was fun and more than a little insightful to see the countryside from the open upper deck of a moving bus - a very different experience from the landscape slowly revealing its nuances and detail as we walk along.  Which is better?  It is a treat and a privilege to take the time to walk.

P

It was a lovely, mostly warm day.  Windermere showed its subtle beauty and reminded us of why so many poets were inspired by this area.  The lakes, close up, soft, and mesmerizing, have a beauty different from the dramatic, stark, and angular fells.  It is this contrast, I think, which fascinates us and somehow engages a deeper aesthetic sense.

We stayed two nights in a modern and comfortable Inn on the outskirts of Grasmere village.  Our delightful hosts gave us much information about the area, fed us well, and provided rooms with views of the fells.