After the last one a rest day was called for during which we went round the shops and Ghyllside Cycles sorted us with a replacement for a screw that had gone missing from one of Gav's pedals.
On the Wednesday therefore we got bikes loaded onto the car and headed for new (to us) cycling grounds up in Keswick. The plan this time was to follow a route from a guide book around Skiddaw & Blencathra.
The guide suggested parking at the leisure centre which we headed for to find signs stating patrons only and the neighbouring carpark on the old station is a maximum stay of 4 hours, so not much more help. Fortunately we found a free space on the street round the corner, so problem solved.
The ride took us out on the former railway line to start with, crossing and recrossing the River Greta up the pretty valley before ejecting us onto the path alongside the A66 (smoother surface but not pretty). Having had tea first thing and no stops since loading the car a pit stop was needed which we found in Threlkeld where there is a nice looking cafe with public loos alongside.
(The place doesn't seem to be badly off for pubs either).
There was a near miss here when Gav swung his foot round to mount his bike and connected with somewhere soft about my person.
Fortunately not hard and it was more comical than anything.
Leaving Threlkeld you ride on an abandoned section of the old A66 before rejoining the new road and leaving it again at Scales to ride a gated lane and the start of some wild and wonderful looking country. Along this section Gav spotted a red squirrel and we saw sheep being driven off the fells.
We had a pause for drink and cake at Mungrisdale then continued northwards onto wide quiet lanes. There were more sheep up here but being driven along the road this time which caused a bit of a hold up.
These roads are obviously popular with cyclists as we saw plenty around and the towns of Hesket Newmarket and Caldbeck are pretty without being touristy.
We had our lunch by the bridge in Whelpo then climbed up onto the wild and epic looking Ellerbeck Common and Aughertree Fell before turing off towards Longlands and Orthwaite. The scenery round here reminds me a lot of the Scottish Highlands only smaller. Another visit will be called for I think.
On the way Gav commented on the broken bits of a car headlamp on the road and asked Doug if he thought the car had hit a sheep. "Must've been rammed" was Doug's response.
On the descent into Longlands, Gav lost one of his water bottles at speed (brand new and unused of course
). Fortunately Doug was able to retrieve it and it just suffered scuffs. I'd gone ahead at this point and realising that no one was catching me up had got worried that something bad had happened. Gav came into sight just as I'd decided to turn back.
We continued through Bassenthwaite and eventually had to join the A591 for a section. This wasn't too bad with the drivers behaving themselves pretty well. I had put both my rear lights on though so this may have helped. There was one guy who didn't seem to be paying attention though - he missed a couple of good chances to overtake, then missed his gears when he did go past. Are we bad for having sniggered at him?
The last bit of the suggested route took us off this road and through Applethwaite, which seemed to go up an awful long way but then seemed a disappointingly short descent the other side.
Gav reckons that this was the best ride he's done with Doug and I. It's certainly some of the most epic scenery I've been through with him. A good ride and I'd recommend it.
32.8 miles and 11 mph average. An improvement.
One of the Coast to Coast markers - we were following the route for part of the way.
Gav on one of the crossings of the River Greta.
Tunnel on the railway path.
Sheep being brought off the fells
And a few more being driven up the road. This could take a while.
Nice place for a lunch stop.
Roads that seem to just stretch on forever.
Farmhouse at Orthwaite.
Lots of mist over the mountains today.
On the way to Bassenthwaite this seemed a shocking contrast to the lush woodland we'd been riding through moments before.
)
) so have seen a pretty good selection of Lakeland weather 
, to frost and deep snow.
I shall get round to tackling Wrynose and Hardknott from that side some time. The other climbs are on the list too but I shall be doing them on my own I suspect.
Wandering around and you get M R T risking themselves getting these idiots of the tops
