Keswick & Birthday

We had hoped to have dinner on Tuesday night in the trip-advisor top rating Thai Restaurant which happened to be part of the B&B right next door to ours! However, being very small they were already booked out so instead we did the short wander to The Dog and Gun, our favourite old Pub in Keswick with all it's character, low black-beamed ceilings, coins poked in the walls and a good selection of real ales which you can try before you buy. It's very dog friendly but all the dogs lying under the tables are always very quiet ad well-behaved! This Pub is famous for it's Hungarian Goulash which 90% of people seem to order so of course we had to order the same - a small for me and a large (which is HUGE) for Len, as well as a pint of Old Peculiar Ale. The goulash lived up to it's reputation and was delicious - meat which fell to bits and a little bit of spice. We were very replete afterwards!

T, The Dog & Gun plus a few dogs!

The next day was my birthday and it dawned a little cloudy but very still - after a nice big breakfast we set off on the anti-clockwise 9 mile walk around Derwentwater which is the Lake that Keswick nestles besides. It was another perfect day for walking and it is all very picturesque - lots of holly, oak trees and others just starting to show their autumn colours, good lake views, some boardwalks and a pretty waterfall, Lodore Falls, just up from the track. It took us just under 4 hours and on finishing we treated ourselves to Cumbrian rum-buttered scones and coffee at the Lakeside Cafe.

View up the Borrowdale Valley from Derwentwater

We popped in to see Harold and June on our way "home" to Wils and Esmes, not only to see them but also to see the renovations to the lovely accommodation, attached to their house, where Harold's mother used to live. They are going to do Holiday Lets and will be a lovely country spot for people to visit with its lovely views of the countryside and horses and sea in the distance.

Esme and Wils had a lovely birthday dinner waiting for us, and for Joan and Norman, when we arrived back to their house - Esme's famous Johnny Mazelli meat and pasta dish and Wils' famous trifle as well as lots of other nice things! We have been so spoilt in every way!!