Keswick - The bikes are out, again!

 At last, some sunshine! While the rest of the country basked in record sweltering heat, we in Keswick had been feeling a little left out. But this morning the sun was streaming through the blinds and it actually felt warm. We had decided to get the bikes off again and cycle a bit further down the West side of Derwentwater. Plenty of pfaffing ensued before I walked down to Booths in town for a few vittels. Luckily part of my pfaffing had been looking at the news. Apparently the world was in chaos because some windows spywear firm had pushed a wrong button. ‘I think I will take some cash’ I said to Ian as I left. A young man was standing in Booths open doorway turning people away. ‘Cash only today. There has been a wrong button pressed at a windows spywear firm!’ It was very quiet in Booths where I got a baguette and croissants for breakfast. 

It was a fine breakfast. Sat outside Dame Shirley staring at the hills with the sun beaming down saying ‘This is the life!’. We sat and stared for a while before Ian got the bikes ready and we sun tan lotioned, oats so simpled, and smidged up. 

We set off around noon and braved the Keswick traffic, although Ian was very nearly taken out by an old bag exiting a petrol station. I had turned down cycling over the Whinlatter pass as being too steep but with the electric bikes you don’t really notice uphill so much. Maybe I could have done it. Nevertheless we thoroughly enjoyed the road by the lake. It did take us quite high up the hillside where we got some spectacular views. Ian kept trying to tell me that there were some top secret filming locations with beefed up security, but I noticed none of them. 

A photo stop

On the way back down the hill we stopped by a bench to talk to a couple of other electric bikers. Around our age, lady was around my build. They had been over every pass in the lakes, including Honister. No problem they said. Dead easy. Maybe next time. 

When we arrived at the tiny village at the bottom of the lake, Grange, we came upon a lovely tearoom. Just in time for lunch.

Lunch at grange tearoom

We rested there for a while before setting back up the hill, once again dead easy, before stopping at the cycle bench for photos.

What a lovely bench

Our next stop was the ice cream van we had spotted on the way up.

Ice cream stop

Once we had braved the Keswick traffic and returned to Dame Shirley, we looked up the film project that only Ian had seen. He was right! It is a new, top secret, Netflix drama. With more digging, Ian found that it is an adaptation of a Harlen Corben book, an edge of your seat thriller with lots of twists and turns. I am now looking out for any famous people who may be in it. 

After such a perfect day we decided that the only way to end it was with a barbecue. We popped back down to Booths for a few more vittels and Ian got it going. Soon we were tucking into steak, chicken legs, sausages, roast potato’s and salad. All washed down with a nice glass of red in the waning evening light.

Barbecue

We sat outside for a while before doing the washing up, then retiring to bed. It had been another busy day.

Neighbour watch

Turns out our next door neighbours, the ones who took our grass, are really nice. Ian spent a good while chatting to the man, asking him about his blow up paddle board. 

Nature watch

Very little to report, although the site rabbits came pretty close to the barbecue!

News watch

Someone accidentally switched Microsoft off.