On the road for 9:15 after waiting for The Brief to arrive from the Travel Lodge where he spent the night with his family. Hit the Kirkstone Pass and by 10am we had reached the summit...Too early for a beer at Pub at top so made do with Coffee.
It was like a race track going up the pass with groups of motorbikes trying to break the sound barrier, mind you we were not hanging around going down and The Brief had a full blow out on the front tyre which we quickly repaired.
With the Kyber Pass behind us it was on to Patterdale and Glenridding along the north shore of Ullswater.
Besides the magnificent natural beauty of the Lakes we were privileged to see a group of wild Deer, Pony's and Red Squirrels...
Had lunch in The Dochray Inn an old favourite of mine as it was where I stayed when me and Del Boy did our first Coast to Coast cycle ride Whitehaven to Newcastle ten years ago. As we left the Lakes we had an intimate ride along quite backroads, past old sandstone farms towards the industrial and garrison city of Carlisle.
Carlisle is nothing to write home about, though the castle is 900 plus years old,we stopped for a photo and then that was Carlisle done. Ten more miles to go and the previous 500 miles and the Kirkstone Pass was beginning to tell on me. Arrived at Longtown at 5:30, typical border town with not much to do although our digs form part of a golden triangle with a chippie and pub...
Snapper and The Brief leave the route and return to Tarporley tomorrow but I will be joined by Big Dave at Annan for the SW Scotland leg...Dave was born here so this his manor...
Big thanks to Snapper and The Brief for forming the Peleton to pull me through the Lakes and who have made a good journey a great journey!
Statistics;
Days Mileage ; 63
Total Mileage; 573
Time; 5h 05m
Ave speed; 11mph
Max speed; 34mph
Ave heart rate ; 114
Max heart rate ; 148
Calories ; 2,700
Weather ; Warm and sunny spells
Alcoholrometer; Jennings...three Plus glass of Red
4 comments:
Following on from Shazza's comment yesterday I can see the plans for next years challange to windsurf across the channel to be in the planning before this one ends.
You are getting really good at including the dice in your photos - how did you get them up the flag pole on Carlisle Castle?
You forget Shazza Al was in the TA so jumping out of aircraft, etc, etc! So taking that pole in bithj hands wasa doddle! Well done Al and it is good to see you were able to fix the Briefs bike without a generator!
I could NEVER forget that he was in the TA mainly because he brings it up every so often! Did you know that he used to windsurf AND live in Austrailia?
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