from my trip diary originally posted at Crazy Guy on a Bike

Day 12, got to be a tourist today, Lake District

Friday September 16, 2016, 63 miles (101 km) - Total so far: 632 miles (1,017 km)

I awoke to birdsong this a.m. it really was a beautiful campsite. Sometime in the middle of the night I heard chewing outside the tent. I waved my flashlight around and scared off some sheep. They're allowed to wander.Left before 8 a.m. and made it to Grasmere in 20 miles. I took the cut off before Keswick that took me through St. John in the Vale. It really was pleasant. A couple full-size ups. It was all downhill to Grasmere where I had a terrific breakfast.
Next I went to Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth wrote some of his best-loved verse. You can imagine how people died of the damp. It was noon when I left and felt cold and achey. I soon warmed up, and the day turned sunny. From Windermere it was uphill. Not too bad, except the last bit that I walked.
The rest of the day felt swift and downhill. Maybe the wind was helping. My goal was Lancaster. I left Kendal on A65, got a little lost around Holmes, but continued to Carnforth, A6, then picked up the Lancaster Canal path, which at the end of the day, and with crazy rush hour traffic, was a miracle. Loved it and took lots of pics.
In Burton in Kendal I phoned a warmshowers host, Bob and Jan in Lancaster, and was accepted. Made it to Lancaster by 6 pm. 63 miles--not a lot of getting lost.