Today was a good day for a rest day since we woke up to rain. It rained most of the morning but settled down in the afternoon. Our morning was spent wandering around Grasmere and a trip to the post office. After lunch at a deli, since it was still raining I stayed in my room for a little while. Mid-afternoon, I went out and walked the river walk and then walked out far enough to get a view of the lake, Rydal Water. The walk out to the view was much prettier than the lake itself and I enjoyed it exceedingly. About five o’clock the sun came out so I went out for another walk. Six miles of extra walking on a rest day isn’t bad. Bring on the rest of this trip, I’m ready!

A quiet day gave me time to reflect on the trip so far. Here are a few of my random thoughts.

UNSOLVED MYSTERY: How can my bag be getting heavier? I’m not “collecting souvenirs” from the B&Bs we are staying at.

SOLVED MYSTERY: How to flush the toilet. I’ve been able to understand Donald Trump’s frustration. In case you are wondering how to flush even a small piece of toilet paper, first pull the lever up, then down.

FAVORITE SIGNS:

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Not the gingerbread I was expecting but very good! Very chewy and flavorful.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY BESIDES WALKING: Talking to the people we meet. The only people we have met have been Brits. (We heard there is a walker from Alabama ahead of us, but we haven’t met any Americans or people from anywhere except England.) The local people we have met have all been warm and friendly. If they have a dog with them, the quickest way to start a conversation with them is to admire or speak to their dog. People on the trail are always willing to offer directions, bits of advice, and encouragement. That’s just one of the things I love about coming here.