Monday 6th August, 2007. Leg 8: Lancaster – Lazonby.
Full English breakfast in hotel before checking out. Collected bikes from the 'cellar' where the drinks are kept cool. Condensation on the bikes as soon as they hit the outside world. Didn't have time to use the spa or the pool: another frustration of our demanding schedule. Three pints of beer were some compensation last night, though.
Today is going to be a bit hard as we head towards the Fells. Am kind of looking forward to it, as I feel like we're on home turf, in t'North Country. Wind seems good, southerly, some cloud cover, giving cooler conditions than yesterday.
Got off at 9:50, and headed for Hornby up the Lune valley. RAF jets active overhead. Then Ingleborough appeared. We cycled in its presence for the next 10 miles, till we reached Kirby Lonsdale. Lunch was wraps from Booths, eaten by the bottom bridge in K.L.
Ice cream in Sedbegh, where we met up with Jacky at 2 o'clock. Departed 2.20, after another RAF fly-past over the town.
An hour later, spirits still high as we ate a few wild raspberries from the hedge alongside the B6257. Georgina amazed that two old railway viaducts are passed without so much as a photo-stop. Got a busy schedule.
Crossing underneath the West Coast Mainline and the M6, followed by a long climb and steep descent into Tebay for a toilet stop, sandwiches, and an enforced sojourn in the bus-shelter waiting for a very heavy shower to abate. Set off again, nearly 5 p.m. and still a long way from Lazonby.
Big pull up the hill out of Orton to traverse from the Lune gorge to the Eden Valley, wondering if the ominous clouds behind would catch us up (they didn't).
Celebratory half pint and coke in the White Horse, King's Meaburn, near enough our half way point (495 miles).
Very unpleasant short stretch of A66 to negotiate, lorries bearing down on us, with no room to get past.
More short steep hills, including the one up to Culgaith where "Woah, Nelly" a RAF Tornado (fast and raucous!) passed directly overhead. 19:20 hours, sir! Didn't know they flew so late (or quite so low).
Georgina's knees hurt. My knees hurt.
Arriving at Lazonby at ten to nine, we're both done for - quite a contrast from yesterday's easy time of it. There's a swimming pool, but that shut at 7.
More 'fine tuning' of the route for tomorrow. (to use more 'A' roads, of course).
Distance covered: 65.2 miles
Moving time: 08:05
Average speed: 8.1 mph
Maximum speed: 26.1 mph.
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