Day 12 - Kirby in Lonsdale to Appleby in Westmorland

 It appears I have created a route taking in as many National Parks as possible!! So today I enjoyed a fabulous and very hilly cycle through the Yorkshire Dales and Westmorland Dales.

We started the day in civilsed fashion enjoying an espresso at a cafe in Kirby; the one aspect of European cycling I miss in the ease of obtaining a strong coffee in the smallest of hamlets! 


And so I started cycling up Northwards, running parallel to the M6 but fortuately sufficeintly far away as not to hear it; instead I heard Curlews, and also the first cuckoo of the year, appropriate for 1st May!

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/curlew/

By Beck Foot I happened upon the most impressive rail viaduct straddling a terribly deep valley, which I had just ventured down with brakes full on, and then enjoyed cycling back up!

Today's second highest summit was at the top of this c. 330m and commanding views across the Dales and also towards the Lake District peaks;

PLaces to refuel were rather few and far between today and so I was delighted to happen upon the Cross Keys pub in Tebay, which was perfectly situated for a cup of tea and a rest!

Onwards towards Appleby and of course with more ascent; I could not resist stopping at a chocolate shop in a tiny village en route, stocked up I continued the ascent to 350m from where more views were to be enjoyed, and also a weather watching opportunity as rain showers lashed down on various areas in the distance, I was hoping my route would be rain free!

Finally I arrived at Appleby, which was beautiful, complete with a castle and a stunning street with obelisks at each end sporting sundials, which I thought was rather optimsitic for somewhere not renowned for sunshine! Taking a stroll through the town I also came upon a cricket match in action, which was lovely to see!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pedalling Poole to Provence for Parkinson's

As someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s’ Disease aged 37, I was rather desperate to find any silver linings possible, and at the very least rays of hope to help me weather the storm that accompanies receiving a diagnosis of a progressive degenerative incurable neurological condition. Within weeks of receiving my diagnosis I discovered Cure Parkinson’s and subsequently attended their seminar on research they have funded.  There began my journey of equipping myself with the maximal knowledge I could on cutting edge research, to hopefully minimize the burden of this disease upon my future life. The research funded by Cure Parkinson’s is literally working to save lives, and selfishly I am rather keen that they do this apace! Having cycled Lands End to John O’Groats last year, I made a rather delightful discovery for myself; that if I cycled at least 50 miles a day I no longer felt that I had Parkinson’s. I was able to write a letter again, something I have not done for many years. And so, t
Read more

Day 1- Poole to Saint Mere Eglise

Image
It’s rather lovely to start a journey setting sail from your home port; for me this is Poole, Dorset. Setting sail from Poole on Brittany Ferries ship Barfleur is particularly significant for me, as it was almost five years ago on a sunny summer’s day that I was setting sail from Poole as I received a telephone call from my neurologist to impart the words I was dreading to hear. “Hi Claire, I’m afraid your DAT scan is abnormal; you have Parkinson’s Disease.” A few weeks previously my sister had driven me to Poole hospital, where the lovely team in Nuclear Medicine, gave me a radioactive isotope and asked me to return a few hours hence for the Radiographic DAT Scan. The news that I have received from my neurologist sank in as the Barfleur Ferry navigated its way through Poole Harbour, past the chain ferry and alongside Shell Bay. Summer holidays were in full swing and I could see families aplenty enjoying the sunshine, sand and sea. I wept. I was 37; single; a GP Partner, almost a Pub
Read more

Day 8 - Hereford to Ironbridge

Having enjoyed a delightful stay at an Airbnb in Kenchester at a stud farm, the cycle across Herefordshire began; beautiful countyside with lots of farming along the way, alas no spring lambs to share my lunch with! I took a mostly country lane route, first to Leominster. Feeling a little low in energy I took the opportunity of a little bakers to grab a doughnut, and whilst sitting on the bench outside a lady called Hazel asked me whether I was on holiday in the area; I suppose there are not many lycra clad cyclists with panniers frequenting Leominster! I mentioned my cycle for Cure PArkinson's Trust and she kindly donated £20 to CPT! Thank you HAzel! Onwards to Ludlow, and as I cycled into the town I spied my mother's VW van, and managed to bump into her on the street there, so we enjoyed a delicious al fresco lunch at Harp lane cafe, whilst a classical guitarist busked on the street! It was wonderful! https://harplane.com/ Onwards then across Herefordshire and into Shropshire
Read more