Day 1 - Ambleside

July 2: Our first full day in Ambleside, Cumbria with blustery weather and lots of rain showers.  It is okay since we had routine things to accomplish today.  We started a load of laundry, each had haircuts, I had my beard trimmed, did some more grocery shopping for dinner supplies , and I went looking for new boots.  We also watched the town's annual "Rushbearing" festivities, a parade through the town to commemorate the annual replacement of rushes used to cover the dirt floor in the local church.  Children are the primary bearers, carrying clusters of substantial reeds (like those used for thatched roofs) bound and decorated with flowers,  and they are rewarded at the end with treats.  The parade was accompanied by a good brass band.  There is even a hymn that remembers the event of the past.  We followed along  at the end of the parade line, but it started raining again, so we ducked into The Unicorn, our second pub, for a pint.

Ambleside is at the north end of Windermere Lake, the largest lake in England (10 miles long, 1 mile wide), and is the heart of the Lakes District.  It is a popular tourist destination and a mecca for walking, hiking, and biking.  The town has tourist shops, numerous hiking and camping stores (some quite large), and multiple restaurants.  After researching plantar fasciitis causes, cures, and best footwear for it, I went in search for a new, lightweight, waterproof and stiff pair of hiking boots.  After visiting most of the stores in town, I bought a pair of Salomon's with special ortho insoles that feel great.  With luck, my sore feet will soon recover.