Late start from Carlisle due to fact that the B&B didn't serve breakfast till 8:00am we knew that the day was going to be tough 60 miles with some tough climbs. As typical whilst the rest of the country has been basking in a heatwave the rain drizzle followed us and the rain gear went on as soon as we left on the A6, known here as the London Rd and in fact much of it is still the original route from Carlisle, then the outpost of the Roman Empire and where Hadrian wall passed. Whilst the Romans built straight roads they took little regards of hills so we spent our time grinding through our gears uphill and free wheeling downhill when head wind allowed it.
We followed the A6 past Penrith where we could not even find a decent cup of coffee and after about 10 miles picked up the B6261 to cut east following the M6 sometime between the separated carriageways but whilst the motorway evened out the topography this single lane track meandered up and down amongst the sheep through to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and on a number of occasions I had walk up and even Murray with his super low granny gear was forced to abandon the pedals and walk. Going downhill was on occasions a death defining act hanging onto brakes levers. This route was infact one of Sustrans inventions for a cycle route N68. We eventually abandoned this route at the first opportunity A65 where the climbs were less steep.
This had infact been 67 hard miles and having booked into YHA in Ingelton, a place I had not been to since early wild days of Marconi for potholing expeditions. I popped to the pub for a few pints of Thwaits and a proper pie, not just a piece of flaky pastry shove on top of a bit of stew, and watched the first half of the world cup. Falling asleep and unable to keep awake I retired to bed for the second half and went out like a light, snoring contently I was told.
The following morning I had to attend to bike the gear changing was getting progressively worse and before breakfast fitted new gear cable and sleeving to the rear dérailleur gears. I agreement with Murray decided to abandon route N68 for the last leg especially as it included even higher climbs than before and rerouted on A roads. Despite the height climbs we made good times mainly because the gradients were manageable, that we didn't stop at the YHA in Mankincoles/Tod Morden that we soldiered on to Manchester to my sister Elia in Heaton Moor. Whilst this was maybe our longest distance in one day it was far from the hardest.
The going to Manchester was a great move it would shorten the next day to less than 40 miles but with a 450m climb we are going to need this shorter route, So tomorrow the Buxton and the Peak District and 20 miles of abbandoned railway line converted to a cycle route.
Picture tommorow or when I next get coverage
No comments:
Post a Comment