Grasmere to Patterdale

Another climb up and over, but this one started out warm and sunny. Left Lake District destination town of Grasmere with Rachel along the main road, then turned up a trail to head up and out of the valley. After a long, rocky climb, arrived up over the saddle to see little Grisedale Tarn (a high mountain lake) in a grassy bowl at the top for lunch at some rock outcroppings lakeside. We heard the story that the poet Wordsworth, who lived on the Grasmere side of the peak, hiked over to visit his brother who lived on the Patterdale side. They met just past the Grisedale Tarn at what is known as the brothers’ parting rock. There they said goodbye to each other for the last time as his brother then left for the war where he died. The trail wound down into Patterdale valley, full of woods, ranches, and down to a T in the road, where Tom and I turned right to follow a river on the left to Old Water View- our inn overlooking a little glade, stone bridge, road and creek. A wonderful little spot with outdoor bar, picnic benches, a separate tiny house room onsite. Many of our stays have something called a “drying room”- a little bit puzzling since there is no “washing room.” These were warm rooms where our boots and sometimes socks were whisked away to so that we couldn’t track wet and boggy mud around the inn. This warming room had a small industrial sink that we snuck into and washed out a few socks and other clothes. Hooks, clothes pegs and hangars were scattered about so we took advantage of the space and got a few things washed to buy us one more day. Laundromats seem to be pretty non-existent in these little villages.