Day 7: Garstang to Penrith

After the self-inflicted chaos of yesterday, it was great to have a gentle day rolling through the.. erm… famously flat Lake District. 

Re weather, it was a barbell kind of day; super heavy rain at the start and at the end. A difficult day though, but with great riding despite the weather. 

Good morning campers 

I was enjoying my Spanish omelette (thanks Mum… again!) while listing to the rain smash down onto the camper van. After everything that happened last night, I was a bit apprehensive to face the rain again but - after a bit of dithering - I was dressed, packed and ready to go.

The rain was heavy but that isn’t too much of a problem if you have the right gear… and I did. I was ready this time. I had waterproof shoe covers, leg warmers, a base layer, gloves and then my rain cape. It was just the right amount of layers, and after a while I was riding away through the lashing rain feeling perfectly happily about everything. 

Cumbrian Classic

After a few hours, I said goodbye to Lancashire and entered the always stunning Cumbria. There is nothing like the Lakes on a sunny summer’s day, but it is also amazing when the weather’s angry too. Whatever the weather, I’m always just impressed by its amazing and unique terrain… and I do think it’s cool when it’s moody. 

A day of lanes…  not a mud bath in sight

The route today was great. Yesterday had a variety of surfaces, and some were close to unridable due to the amount of rain (the muddy sections), and some were really slow (e.g. large chunks of gravel). None of that today; most of the riding was on lanes that were the width of one car, and the whole day was on tarmac.

The day was varied, but by surrounding. Sometimes there were high bushes on both sides, other times amazing old stone bridges (usually with views that make you go ‘wow’) and - my favourite - sometimes over the moors, wondering if the sheep would get out the way in time. There was also one point that I thought I was getting stared down by a ram, but luckily he bottled it just before I did and he ran off!

The small lanes did have one disadvantage though. The occasional car (and I didn’t see a single car for hours at certain points) meant that I would need to put my bike on the hedge, then stand next to it… and breathe in. On one occasion, I slipped fell backwards into the hedge, my flailing arms failing to keep me upright. The Mini driver opened her window and, killing herself laughingly, told me she wouldn’t tell anyone about what she had seen. I’m sure you won’t either!

Rain intensifying 

I got a sense of deja vu when the ferocity of the rain started to seriously ramp up with a couple of hours of riding to go. On one - short but very hard - climb, it was like something out of Kill Bill. It was as if the rain had been turned up for cinematic effect!

At one point I hid under a bridge for 15 minutes and scoffed a few snacks. I was starting to flag after all the climbing and was keen to get back before it got to day so I pressed on… and after what seemed like an age made it to Penrith in the pouring rain. I even shouted ‘yes’ when I rode past the Penrith sign… with hindsight like an absolute idiot.

PS Day 7 out of a targeted 14… half way there!!!

I started the day in the best possible way!

“Lord Vader - I’ve borrowed some 

of your stuff, hope that’s ok”

Hiding from the rain for a few minutes.

Very not flat!

This place was just amazing!! Coffee and food was great. 

The climbing was back-end loaded… and hard in the 

rain (you get so hot climbing in a rain coat!).

Just amazing views - everywhere. I stopped so often.

Another great river and old bridge.

A railway bridge. Very high up!

Just cool stuff everywhere.

Baa-vellous (had to get this one wearing a Welsh top!)

Up on the moors. Exposed and a bit chilly up here.

Water sloshing over rocks.

Hiding from the rain for a while.