LOCATION: Liverpool to Windemere
What's happening?
This would have been farewIell to the @Littlens. They would have had Liverpool to themselves. Time for us to hit the road.
And the morning started as predicted. Yes, did iron those clothes from the wash last night and did a rinse and repeat on preparing breakfast.
We were ready.
Part 1 of today was the checkout and then the 1.4 km walk from the Castle to the car pickup. This was a roll, push, drag and lift of our bags and backpacks through downtown Liverpool.
Again, we were not the only ones - plenty of other suitcases heading on their leg of the journey. The blessing was that for the first 800 metres we were on a downhill run and the bags virtually walked themselves there. For the remainder - a little more effort required and we did work up a sweat. Timed it perfectly though and fronted for the car at 10 50.
It wasn't quite ready - had to wait till 11.30 before we were introduced to our cute little Mini Cooper. @Mac ŵas all ears for the Liverpudlian accented instructions and I served as interpreter. Even had to ask him to slow down a little so we could at least get the basics.
Loaded her up, adjusted the seats and the mirrors, plugged in our destination and we made the first few turns, aided by the windscreen wipers instead of the indicators and merged into Liverpool's midday traffic.
@Mac is an absolute KING OF THE ROAD. No idea how he manages to remain so calm. Working in miles and yards, following highways and byways, he called on all the tips from @Nigel and without single wrong turn, or even a wrong lane selection, had us gliding, at speed through this beautiful countryside.
Rolling hills, trees, lakes, rivers, stone hedges - a totally greener than green tapestry unravelling again for us. The car was registering 31 degrees outside, we were revelling in the views, the run and the air conditioned comfort of the Mini.
We made a no-stops-beeline to our destination in Windermere in the Lakes district. There were distinct contrasts on the drive - from the urban clutter of the Liverpool city, to the wide fields and open farmlands of Lancashire through the River Leven valley dramatically carved by glaciers in the Ice Age and finally the wooded approach to Windemere with glimpses of the lake.
We arrived in the carpark of our accommodation at 1:50. Thought we might give an early check-in a crack. Got the short shift really - no greeting no chit chat small talk, just a gesture to a sign and "Check-in is at three."
Got it. Seems like lunch was a possibility
The big challenge anywhere is the parking and in such a small hilly town, with a jam packed main street, couldn't believe we jagged a park so close to the action. Carefully read the signage to make sure we were legal - there are so many combos of restrictions for parking (but again, @Nigel had been training us) and made a dash for a seat in The Brown Sugar for some food.
A winner. @Mac scored his pasta, the coffees were brilliant and served with a spoon that was made of crystallised brown sugar and I had the biggest scone ever made with clotted cream and jam!
Back for 3:15 and jagged a downstairs room - that is a big win in a country with multilevel accommodation amd very few lifts. Dropped the luggage and took off for a drive.
A nerve wracking drive. A narrow country lane drive. A no passing lane drive. A nowhere to go other than into the stone wall drive. A white knuckle ride.
Our goal was the Claife Viewing Station. It was a viewing tower on the west shore of Windermere, built in the 1790s for early Lake District tourists who wanted a dramatic, panorama of the lake. It was a quirky thing, because different coloured sheets of glass were installed so you could experience the lake in different "moods" by taking in the panorama through each coloured panel.
By the time we got to the westside we were in no mood to walk to the tower! I think I spent 90% of the drive with my eyes closed, moaning amd gasping as I could here the hedge growth flailing on the side of the Mini. Very gratefulcalm amd logocal response to my every groan was "Hitting the hedge is better than hitting the oncoming vehicle!"
Totally ignored the promised view at the end of the ride and gave total attention to our approaching saviour. The vehicular ferry was arriving and we joined the queue to avoid a return drive through those laneways.
Parked the car back at the Lodge and set out on foot. Really just trying to get to the lake shores.
Why Windermere and the Lake? It is beautiful countryside and the lake here is the largest in England. At just 39 metres above sea level, it is nearly 18 kms long and just under 2 kms at its widest point. Poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge were inspired by the landscape and it was home to Beatrix Potter and the "birthplace" of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and Tom Kitten.
Our walk took us on some alternate routes (we hot quite a few dead ends where access to the Lake was cut off) and eventually wound up at Bowness-on-Windermere. It is right on the lake, with piers, boats, cafés, birds, a crowded waterfront and the best fish and chips in the UK.
What it didn't have was a toilet that you could access. I slapped every card we had at the entry gates - it was a tap and go afaair - huh, if only - with no luck. There was a sign stuck to the wall a ove the gate, offering an apology for the inconvenience that their unreliable software may cause! Nothing to do but hold on amd refocus on the fish and chips.
The verdict from @Mac - not bad .... but the he would like to see the criteria, the date of the award and the voting stats.
We had almost worn out the sunlight by this time and with a toilet stop still high on the agenda, we opted to take the bus back up the hill for that last 3 km to "home."
Had no idea of our stops but the lady assisting the bus driver advised us to press the button when we thought we were close and the driver would stop to let us out. Much warmer support than our check-in dude.
The Mini Cooper was safely tucked up in the carpark and we were safely tucked up in our ground floor twin beds with very loose plans for a leisurely get away tomorrow.
Survival Barometer
Steps: 13 846
Weather: 31 in Liverpool - 27 degrees Windermere
Today's Spot the J clue - there are two!
"Bet your muscles are starting to look like this Grandad with all that bag handling. Just joking."
Can you believe that?
A little background from Co-Pilot about the Lake
🐉 The Lake Monster That Won’t Go Away — “Bownessie”
Sightings of a mysterious creature nicknamed Bownessie have been reported since 1873, with locals describing a long, dark shape rising from the water. It’s Windermere’s own Nessie-style legend, persistent enough to be mentioned in modern fact lists.
🧊 The Year Windermere Turned Into a Frozen Highway
In 1895, Windermere froze solid for six weeks — so completely that people walked across the lake, held parties on the ice, and even sailed boats fitted with skis across its surface. Other freeze years include 1864, 1946, and 1963.
🐟 Ancient Arctic Fish Living in an English Lake
Windermere is home to Arctic char, an Ice Age relic species. A century ago they were so common that fishermen trawled them with nets — now they’re declining due to warming waters.
🛩️ WWII Flying Boats Were Built Here
During WWII, Sunderland flying boats were manufactured at White Cross Bay. These enormous seaplanes were assembled right on the lakeshore — today the site is a holiday park.
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