Day 5 - Easedale to Patterdale

We have breakfast, then use almost the last of our cash to pay the bill for our B&B.  Fortunately Grasmere, only a kilometre away, is the first village that we've been past with an ATM; well, two ATMs actually.  Unfortunately, the first ATM is out of order, and the second will only accept UK issued bank cards.  We spend the very last of our money to catch a bus the 10km into Ambleside, restock on cash, then catch another bus back to Grasmere; all of which delays the start to our walking to 1pm.

Summer in the Lake Districts is on form, and it is raining again.  We head up into the hills, meeting no one.  Presumably it is too damn wet, and anyone else who is walking the Coast-to-Coast will be four hours ahead of us.

Fiona, soaking up summer in the Lake District

We have lunch, more sandwiches in the rain, just before the highest point on the day's walk; then cross a pass between two mountains and desend to a large tarn.  On the edge of this we stop for photos in the rain.

A minute later two figures appear out of the mist at the end of the lake.  One walks over and asks us if we know where we are.  I'm a bit incensed by this question, because I like to think that my wilderness navigation skills are not too bad, but I restrain myself and simply say "yes".  Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn, and he asks me if I could tell him where he is.  It turns out that they, a brother and sister, have just summited Britian's 3rd highest peak then become lost on the way down.  They are both wearing jeans, which brings to mind the old quote - "there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing".  The sister looks cold, and Fiona and I have got two packs full of warm clothing between us.  The sister accepts my gloves and a couple of chocolate biscuits.  They then follow us down to Patterdale, the destination for both walking parties.  

We reach Patterdale at 6pm.  Fiona and I are camping outside the YHA, in the rain again.  Fiona is now up to 3 days in sodden boots. My boots are a little more water proof so I'm doing a bit better. 

Distance walked today : 13km