Hopefully I can get the bike [fixed] early tomorrow & get the stuff sent off. The people I'm staying with tonight (a very nice Scottish couple) have said they will send it off for me if I can't do it tomorrow, it being Saturday. If there's time tomorrow I'll be going over to Ennerdale then down to the youth hostel at Wastwater tomorrow night. I went for a walk along the beach tonight near St. Bees Head & it was lovely to see the sea. Quite different from the east coast & much hillier. Crummock Water & Buttermere are another pair of beautiful lakes & again I can't decide my favourite.

Saturday June 7, 1975
Wasdale Hall,
Wastwater Y.H.

Again, the bike has been more trouble than the weather. I went down into the town this morning & found that the bike store was closed but another was open. They could fix the spokes but I'd have to wait till 4 in the afternoon. So I went down to the beach & sunbathed, watched seagulls & boats till lunchtime then went back into town. As I walked past the shop again, they came out and grabbed me & said that as soon as they had taken off the wheel they could see they hadn't the right tools for my sprockets. They straightened the wheel but couldn't fix the spokes. So much for the bike. It has really been too bad this afternoon. The people who I stayed with last night were very nice. they gave me supper & lunch (at very short notice) & then wouldn't let me pay them any more than the usual B&B charge of £2. I left my "Adidas" bag with them so that they can take it to the station on Monday to send to Russell. It was quite a bit easier to pedal with only the paniers on the back.

I left Whitehaven at about 1 o'clock & arrived here by about 3 so I left the bike & walked down the lake. Beautiful. & so sunny & warm I took off my shirt & started to burn. (Not very much, but the beginnings of a tan.) Drew another postcard & started drawing hostel (lovely old building with view & only 100 yds from lake.) Met two guys here: one English biker, one New Zealand hiker, going to pub this evening. Tomorrow Coniston.