Day 4

Of the Awesome August Automobile Outing!

From Lytham St Anne's we hightailed it up the M6 in horrible downpours. Popped into Morecambe. Saw the beautiful Midland Hotel and just had to stop and have a look. The lady at the reception desk was lovely and very welcoming. We looked like miserable drookit dugs by this point! She suggested that we have a rest and a cup of tea in the rotunda so that we could still enjoy the views in spite of the rain. The inside of the hotel was really lovely and I was in Poirot heaven. The rotunda was nice too, if a little tacky. Of the 15-20 tables in there, only 2 were taken by 3 people. The barman didn't even acknowledge us and the floor was filthy with crumbs. After 5 more minutes we decided not to stay. It was only 11 am on a Monday morning in an empty restaurant! Very disappointed!

Headed from there straight to the Lake District and arrived at the lovely Newby Bridge Hotel. We were far too early to check in so we drove on scarily narrow, busy and flooded roads to Hawkshead and had a very tasty lunch at The Queens Head followed by a wander around the town.

Then we headed to Lakeside to jump on The Tern for a boat tour of the southern half of the lake. By that time the sun had made an appearance and we had a lovely time chatting to a family from London. On the return journey we even had the boat to ourselves!

Back at the hotel we showered and went to the hotel restaurant. Supper was amazing, very nicely done and friendly and efficient staff.

Post-supper drinks at The Swan over the bridge from our hotel and then a couple more at the pub in our hotel and then off to bed for the best and longest (6 hours) sleep I've had in awhile.