17 August

Today's train ride was from Carlisle to Penrith, where we explored the ruins of a castle that was home to Richard III before he was the king. We then took a bus to Keswick, a town in the Lake District National Park. This is where Beatrix Potter lived for many years. The town reminds us a lot of Breckenridge, Colorado. We had booked a room online, so didn't have to find a room, just the hotel. We took a cruise around the local lake this afternoon, going ashore to hike along the hills for a few miles before catching the next boat back to town. This is a magically beautiful place, with small mountains running right down to the lake shores. So far, the rain has toyed with us, but not hampered our activities.

Penrith Castle

info sign (larger sign)	castle & moat
castle ruins	castle ruins
J&J at the Red Tower	castle ruins	door at base of gate tower

Bus to Keswick

Blencathra mountain

Threlkeld bus stop

hiking trail bridge River Greta

west end of Blencathra

Derwent Water Lake

Theatre by the Lake

Keswick tour boat

lake view from tour boat

lake house

lake mansion

Brandlehow hiking trail

hiking south

Brandlehow Park

looking south

looking north

south end of hike

Derwent Water Lake

leaving Brandlehow

another tour boat

lake view

Lodore Falls Hotel

tour boat hostess

mountain shoreline

Keswick

Keswick ferry terminal

Keswick flowers

view from hotel (back)

view from hotel (front)