Thursday June 5
Keswick,
Youth Hostel

Dear Mum & Liz (& Toby);

Beautifuller and beautifuller!!! Dent had first place but now, after seeing Ullswater, the valley of Thirlmere & Derwentwater all in one day, I'm at a loss to compare them all. This morning it was raining again but it stopped about 11:00 and though it has been very cloudy all day, it didn't really rain again.

I was debating whether or not to go to Penrith to get the funny noises seen to but the bike sounded just fine as I set out so I turned off the main road & went to Ullswater instead. Pooley Bridge was just a tourist trap and the ferry was rather expensive so after buying some fudge, I set off down the length of Ullswater. I stopped about halfway & ate the fudge & just sat looking at the water & mountains for almost an hour then left Ulswater via Matterdale after a cup of coffee & lovely apple pie at a little shop at the crossroads. I walked most of the way up, not because it was all that steep, but I was feeling the fudge & pie. I got quite warm & for the first time in weeks I took off my coat. I didn't actually see Thirlmere but the valley leading there was a gorgeous view. Just before Keswick was an ancient stone circle dated 1500 B.C. I don't think it was too astronomical though, it just marked a spot with a beautiful view. Some of the stones seemed to point out the various peaks.