72 miles, 4295' ascent, 5hrs 50 riding, cum 581 miles
A better day, ending with us crossing over into Scotland
The scenery was stunning. Passing through Lake District fells and lakes - familiar to me as a Wainwright bagger, but unfamiliar from the saddle - then over the Cauldbeck Fells with no-one in sight and some fast downhill runs to the delight of our 81 fellow adventurer, Brian. Finally we crossed over into Scotland with the inevitable photo shoot
But it was another day of Test by Weather. We expected showers, but in the Lake District (the wettest part of England so what did we expect!) showers can often mean proper continual and even torrential rain, of the very wet variety! So we arrived to our lunch near Bassenthwaite drenched and so cold that my hands wouldn't hold the coffee cup - which was supposed to be the essential part of warming up
But it did partially clear up and it was proper showers and some sun as we headed over to Carlisle and on to Gretna. Gloves dried out then got soaked again!
So a really good day overall and tomorrow we head along the line of the M74 towards Glasgow and my 4th and final recital in Hamilton
Well done, Nigel... I remember the rain in Cumbria... so heavy that it bounced high in the air from the frying pan at breakfast, and soaked you from every direction - including upwards. Watch out for the marauding Caledonian tribes as ye go. PS available for our Carol Service? My last - so all the favourites... Friday 13th (yes!) December at 1400h with rehearsal day before (1130 probably)??? hope you can.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Scottish routes. Though the M74 wouldn't be my choice on a bike - but then I can't ride a bike!
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly our route criss-crossed the M74 and adjoined it, rather than actually joining it! Route finding was easy, but the road surfaces that day were probably the worst of the scottish leg
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