Dad's next week

Monday 5th March

Looking for Cur-loos

Yesterday went up to see daughter Georgina in Lancaster as part of Jacky's birthday celebrations. As we left Oxenhope, a curlew flew overhead. First one we've seen this year.

Weather foul, but we took the opportunity to drive up to Arnside for pub lunch, then sussed out possible LEJoG routes in the Windermere direction. The book I bought (Land’s End to John O’Groats the Great British Bike Adventure - Phil Horsley) suggests getting the ferry across from Bowness-on-Windermere to Far Sawrey. Well, the A5074 looks rather uppy-downy, so I wonder if there's an easier way. Since nothing is booked yet, I think I need to take a closer look at the route in detail. There are loads of blue signs for cycleways, but maybe they're just good for country-lane-pootling?

Going to work, icy Blast as I leave the house, but many birds singing.

While on the "Big Hill" it becomes apparent yesterday's sighting was no flash in the pan; the curlews are definitely back. Yippee! But a shower of cold rain starts up, gradually turning to sleet and snow as more contours are crossed.
It's the icy-needle acupuncture treatment on my cheekbones. Pass me my Sou'wester and a Fisherman's Friend, dear boy. It's absolutely perishing on the tops, and to add insult to injury, as I have set off a little late this morning,
there are more cars passing. (Up to maybe 20 of ‘em. Too much, man!)

On top of all that, I don't feel 100%, so a most unpleasant journey.

Coming back, it was obvious that this morning's headwind had become a tailwind - nice. Still, plugging away at 7 mph up the last hill on the A629, it's a bit ignominious to be overtaken by an empty crisp packet doing at least 10mph more than me.

Time out. 1:11 (not bad, considering)
Return. 0:56

(N.B. Bike computer re-set today)

Tuesday 6th March

Ooh, that Smarts!

Like yesterday, I get buffeted as I leave the village, and like yesterday, I get rained on as I go up "T'Big Hill". But there's a silver lining, because yesterday's clip on the cheekbone with a frozen brillo pad has become today's
slap round the ribs with a damp towel. The wind has come around a bit and it's a strong side-sometimes-tail one.

Coming down off the moors at speed, I ponder who would come off worse if that Smart car on the left decided to pull out on me. In the blue corner, Carrera Subway 8 and rider weighing in at 12 stone 40 lbs, and in the red corner Smart car and driver, weighing slghtly less.

That reminds me of the time I did a somersault coming off the bike after hitting a child who stepped off the pavement without looking. By some miracle I landed on my feet, and the little girl was not too badly hurt. (She'd have been killed if I'd been driving a car.) That was a long time ago, and I wouldn't want to repeat the exercise.

Where are Smart Cars in the highways food chain? Just above the Sinclair C5, I should say. Wait a minute – why am I bitching about Smart Cars? They’re the good guys – small is beautiful! And in a parallel universe, everybody might be driving round in Sinclair C5s. Wow, Sci-Fi!

Current iPod playlist (stuck on repeat) "Read My Mind" by the Killers.

Time out. 1:01
Return. 1:07 (slight detour)

In the evening, continued to re-plan the Lancaster northward leg of the LEJoG. Think we may go up to Tebay, and then Orton, and then over the hill into the Eden Valley skirting Appleby-in-Westmorland (how's that for a beautiful placename?) towards a campsite slightly further North.

Wednesday 7th March

Sheldon Brown, texture like sun.

Weather better than yesterday. Cool, breeze, slightly behind me. Do penance up the big-a-misty hill (She's a hard mistress) at a steady 2.6 mph.

Sheldon Brown - heroic figure - comes to mind out of nowhere. Passionate about bikes, and proud to be different. Just think; in the days before the internet, we might never even have heard of him! Just wish he would spell derailleur correctly - but he's on a somewhat humorous campaign to anglicise (well Americanise actually) the spelling to derailer. (The cheeky scamp). Check out www.sheldonbrown.com - he's the guru.

Now for the (heard) bird scores
Woodpeckers 1 - Curlews 22.
Pipits 2 - Wagtails 2
Geese A GAGGLE - Ducks NIL (quack, quaaack!)

Time out. 0:57
Return. 1:10 (via Flappit pub, but sadly only the exterior)
Average speed over last 2 days 10.1 mph.
Fuel economy 7 miles per energy bar. (Actually I made that bit up).