Day 16 - A Rest Day with Richard II and Day 17 - Jenkins Loop

July 17:  After a week of intense hikes, we chose to take it easy today.   Instead we went to a videocast showing of Richard II originally produced at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in 2015.  Richard II was played by Charles Edwards, an actor who many people saw on Downton Abbey in the role of Michael Gregson, editor and suitor to Lady Edith Crawley, and father of her child.  There were a few other actors that we had seen on TV also.  Richard II is a history play with beautiful speeches and not much action.  It focusses on the philosophical question of whether kings really have a divine right to rule.

After the movie, we walked around the town a bit, enjoying the nice evening, and eventually opted for a restaurant meal of salads and pizza for dinner.  We shared tiramisu for dessert.

July 18:  Today, the clouds persisted in covering the fell tops, so we adjusted our planned hike from a high altitude one (which we may do tomorrow) to a low altitude one.  We hiked 7.5 miles with over 1,000 of ascent to Jenkins Crag, through pasture lands, down to the Lake Windermere shore at Brockhole, (the National Park Visitor and Recreation Center), back up to Briery Close, down to Low Wood Hotel (built in 1850 to replace an older one), and finally back along the lake shore to Ambleside.  It was a stereotypical Lake District hike, with rocky paths, stunning views of fells and lakes, sheep in the meadows, pretty stone cottages, and a scenic lake shore.  Brockhole was full of vacationing families trying out the canoes, gardens, pony rides, miniature golf and "tree top trek" and zipline - something for everyone.