A SEAT WITH A VIEW

A great day today.  The sky was a pale blue when we got up this morning, we knew it wasn't going to stay that way but thought we'd going up to Keswick anyway, if all else failed we'd just have a coffee and come home.

We went the A590 and A591.  It was very grey and Keswick was pretty windy. I haven't been up to Keswick for ages so it was time to visit.  Boy have the parking prices gone up - Keswick is always one of the most expensive places to park anyway, plus you have to pay extra to use the facilities.  So we went into the Lakeside cafe for coffee instead and free use of the facilities.  I met two gorgeous Westies in there called Monty and Dexter - adorable.  NOT as gorgeous as Fletch of course, or Gus either but still rather lovely and they enjoyed being made a fuss off.

We then just walked over to Friars Crag where I took this photo - the most photographed bench in the Lake District I think.  This isn't a brilliant shot, because the weather was so grey but also I couldn't get behind the bench to take a better angled shot -  so it's a little different!!!

We then decided we would head off towards Calfclose Bay where the Centenary Stone Sculpture is - we got part way there, but then could feel quite large blobs of raindrops falling and it was getting darker so we abandoned that idea and just went back to the car.

We just got back to the Derwentwater landing stages as the heavens started to open.  We managed to keep up cover of the Lakeside Cafe and the Theatre by the Lake quite well, so not all bad.

On the way back down the A591 we stopped off for lunch at The Traveller's Rest Inn at Grasmere.  We only had a Ploughman's lunch but it was a really good one - oh and I had a glass of white wine too as I wasn't driving!!!!  The place was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  Great service, so friendly and helpful, beautiful traditional Lakeland interior and good food, what was there not to like!!!  By the time we came out the rain had at least stopped.  

As we got back into Grange we could see blue skies over Kents Bank, where I live - well it's always sunny in Grange ;-).

Well that is all from me for today,  Do take care an stay safe and I will see you all tomorrow.