And so Saturday morning came along fine and chilly, but the wind had changed direction and was now, as luck would have it, blowing from the south and in out faces once again. A little climb of Keswick beckoned so we met it head on with a little visit at the top to the Castlerigg stone circle......I say visit, we looked at it across the field, but the detour to St John's in the Vale was well worth doing.
Thirlmere and it's dam were next en route and just so we didn't have to jump in, some of the water jumped out catching Ian while he wasn't looking. Away from the main road, the quiet side of the lake is the preferred road, but you can't avoid Dunmail. The other side is good though and Grasmere is soon reached allowing Simon to go and get his gingerbread. A trip in the ferry seemed a good idea as it always is, you get to have a rest from pedalling. From there it was the quickest way home via Milnthorpe for a cup of tea and a bun filled with whatever takes your fancy.
We're out most weekends so if you want to come and join us you are all are welcome, just let us know because we set of early.

2014 Part three, Rome to Athens

And so it continues for our intrepid bunch of heroes, sadly this year we are to lose Brian from the main challenge, but he's still with us on our training days. Jumping in to the breech is Rob, a dedicated Italiophile and what an asset he is since not only does he own a bike which he can ride, he also speaks Italian.

Training got well underway last weekend with a trip to Keswick via Appleby. A rather windy trip, but mercifully it had stopped raining. There were thrills and some notable spills as John and Simon decided to closely inspect a cattle grid or at least the soggy bits at the side of the road. Undaunted they jumped back on their bikes and John lead the way, it was after all his ride and there were another 23 cattle grids to be negotiated.

A quick visit to the upper reaches of the Lune to see the thundering water from the previous night's rain led some of us to believe we wouldn't be going on the little trip to Brethersdale, but we did, it's a steep little hill which has to be done. Andy had the one and only picture of the trip at Orton and it really is true that when 7 people all muck in to mend a puncture it takes 7 times as long to fix especially when you have to try each pump in turn.

Appleby has a cracking little tea stop even if the scrambled egg was a little dodgy. The next few miles were spent getting to and then avoiding Penrith at all costs, but the benefits are some great roads for cycling.

Keswick got nearer.....well it did then it didn't, we have to be able to do the miles and to drag the panniers up those hills.

In Greystoke we decided to look for Tarzan in the Boot and Shoe pub (only coffee and tea while on the road) and at 5 o' clock the place was packed with an open fire and a welcoming atmosphere, so we didn't stop long or we'd have been there all night.

Quickest way to Keswick from there, the light was beginning to fade, luckily there's a cycle track by the side of the A66 which turns into an off road experience on the old railway track.

And so to Sweeney's in Keswick a nice cold beer (or 3) and a good hot shower. Rob will get used to to our post cycle restorative regime......it tends to be beer not bed.

The less said about the steaks the better.

Not long to go now -9th May , and training well under way.
One training run to Keswick at beginning of March and another to Richmond in early April.

2014