Wednesday 13th July 2022. I received a great book for Christmas which detailed a number of bike rides throughout the North of England. There are three routes in the North Lakes, so I thought it would be a good idea to link them together for a two day adventure. So that’s why I’m here.
The weather this morning was dull, not too hot but a bit windy when I left the car in Keswick to tackle the first ride from the book. Of course, I had to reverse the route so that I could tick off Newlands Hause pass in the ‘right’ direction, i.e. hard. I prepared for it appropriately by refuelling at Syke Farm tea rooms, enjoying a cracking Cumberland sausage sandwich. I think they must be used to people with substantial appetites there, since it was accompanied by a small bowl of pasta! Far better than the usual limp lettuce and a sprig of rocket.
The pass itself was probably the prettiest I’ve seen. Beautiful green valley with the road clinging to the south side, with an abyss to the north. The scenery took my mind off the pain however. Simon Warren reckons this particular pain should only last about 9 minutes; mine lasted over 15 minutes. That suggests I’m harder than him, doesn’t it? The westerly breeze may have helped with the time, but who’s measuring?
The scenery from Keswick to Carlisle was less dramatic, but very pretty in the afternoon sun.
A couple I know had hired a cottage in the Lakes this week, and purely by chance my route took me right past their door! So I had to call in for a brew and a chat especially since they were conveniently based 25 miles into the ride.
Pizza for tea tonight at a Carlisle pub not too far away. Reasonable prices, lovely staff, very good food and a stellar playlist. Before choosing this one, I read reviews of other establishments nearby. One review said ‘Typical local pub; the sort of place you’d go to watch footy on a Saturday afternoon’. No thanks. Another was in the student quarter and read ‘Very lively place, full of youngsters apparently having a competition to see who could swear the most’. Next!
Anyway, I’m now back at my comfy digs checking the route tomorrow and hoping the rain holds off.
Facebook comment from Jim Solan: “I rode Newlands for the first time just a few weeks ago. I agree re stunning valley and views. That Simon Warren is a slacker, he’s just not a “stayer” on these climbs. Did you have panniers, or a support crew in Carlisle?” My response “Just one pannier Jim. I was only away one night and it’s warm so I travelled light.
Thursday 14th July 2022. Greg Wallace would’ve been proud of me today as I ‘ate well for less’ at both the places I stopped at. The first was a breakfast stop at a butty bar on an industrial estate. Doesn’t sound great, but the sausage, bacon and egg baton for just £3.50 was huge and really tasty. A cup of tea (or instant coffee) was available for £1.30, but I splashed out and ordered a cappuccino for £2. The place was extremely busy and reminded me of White’s at Warton in its heyday (BAE Systems people will know what I mean).
I was thirsty more than hungry by the time I arrived in Wigton at 1pm, and the first place I saw selling tea was aptly named The Shack, so I called there. It was actually an easyCoffee outlet and once more the tea was just £1.30, so I had two, as well as a huge piece of cake. (What??? I was thirsty and also needed something to keep body and soul together)
Today, I merged two of the Lost Lanes rides but before that, I took a trip up to the river Esk, as far as I could go without going into Scotland before heading West to follow NCN 72 along the Solway coast. Gorgeous roads where very frequent signs informed me that they are prone to flooding. I managed to keep my wheels dry, but not my body, since it rained between 10:30 and 11:00. It was warm rain, so that was a bonus. As soon as that thought entered my head, my brain substituted ‘warm’ to ‘hard’ and so Bob Dylan accompanied me for quite a while. This was both good and bad: I can sing better than him, but he knows all the words. I’ve had worse earworms, though. Facebook comment from Janet Holleron: “Haha Bernie, even I can sing better than Dylan and I’m tone deaf.”
I was interested in a large array of transmitter masts near the coast so I had to Google what they were. It seems that they’re the source of the BBC pips and have been since 2007 (so one website claims, but citation required). Anyway, they are at RNAS Anthorn whose overgrown runway is still visible. The first 50-odd miles were absolutely flat today but I still managed over a kilometre of climbing overall. And I managed to snag another 100 ‘explorer tiles’. (I’m not going into all that again. Read my earlier posts if you’re puzzled)
Home again now and thinking about my next trip which is not yet planned. That’s a bit remiss of me and will be rectified pronto.
