2022

Ian and Glen had gone round on the Sunday to collect all the bikes and overnight bags in the hire van, so getting sorted on Monday morning was relatively easy.
Just needed to carry our day stuff and meet as arranged.

The day dawned, all the plans coming together despite the last minute hitch of Colin N not going. We had all arranged to meet at the Bishop Auckland football ground for 7.50am.

This would give us time to be in the vehicles and over at the start for around 10am.

All boarded and sorted, goodbyes said our loved ones that had dropped us off and we were on our way bang on schedule.

About half an hour into the journey Karen messaged. I had left my wallet at home. As I was looking at my phone I realised it had not charged up last night so was almost out of power. Not a great start to the ride. Karen offered to bring my wallet to the Premier Inn at Penrith as that was our first nights stay, but I said it was OK I would manage.

When I told the others of my plight all I got was Oh right that old chestnut. Oh well I wont let it spoil the holiday.

Almost ready for the off
Peter, Glen, Conner, Dave, Bob, Colin, Trevor, Ian

Dipping the wheels in the Irish sea.
Keeping the tradition

Might as well start with wet feet,

It was a cold and windy start, but we still stuck to the tradition and dipped our wheels in the Irish sea before starting the ride.

The wind was that strong that it blew my new bike over and broke the stand. Guess I was not having the best of starts to this ride.

Then we started the ride across to the other side of the country.
Heading away from Tesco we cross a road and then we are on a traffic free cycle path, the old railway lines are great for this. There is a tricky bit where we have to leave one line to go up and over a bridge before settling on the route proper. As usual the signage could be better, thankfully we have maps as well as my sat nav so we quickly have it sorted.

After a few nice easy miles we leave the traffic free cycle path to join the back roads towards Cockermouth, as usual we find an interesting sign to amuse us.

Eventually the roads lead us into Cockermouth where the route goes through a car park, over a bridge and down the main street, before turning off to start a climb. we miss the next turn and are a few yards along the road before we realise, turn back and recheck, there was no sign pointing for the route so easy to go wrong without maps and sat navs. We turn into a narrow street that looks wrong and is a steep climb but we persevere and at the top find another sign so we are definitely on the right route. The route climbs and climbs out of Cockermouth along winding minor back roads. We keep checking the maps as we dont want to go wrong on these roads.

We leave the roads and still climbing are now on rough tracks, Naturally because we are so high the cloud cover comes down and the rain starts.

The we have the long descent on rough loose ground that is now running with water and very slippery

Browed it, now the long descent	Yes its definitely the route so we send Peter on first
Very narrow track	some prefer to push down.

Eventually the track levels out, the rain stops and the whole day brightens up. Just at a spot that is perfect for a great view down over the lake.

Posing for pictures	Great views over the lake
Keswick in the distance, Lunch stop.	Glad the sun was shining.

After the scenic stop it was downhill again, as we were heading down through a forest and the trees the track was very wet and muddy,
very slippy on the bends so care had to be taken.

All arrived at the bottom safe and sound but very mud spattered.
Very glad we had no punctures or breakdowns

Trevor pleased he made it safley to the bottom of the hill

Another great location for photos.

Peter realises he is splattered with mud

Conner and Bob laughing at Peters face

Then Conner realises he is splattered the same

Time for a quick clean up

Onwards to Keswick where the route takes us over the busy A66 then back over so we can go into Keswick. Why Sustrans think this is a safe idea I have no clue.
However we all negotiate the road safely and decide to have lunch at Wetherspoons as it has has a nice large beer garden.

As soon as we got settled the rain started, any one who has ever been to the lakes knows when it rains in Keswick its not a shower but a downpour.
We decide to lock the bikes up and go inside.
This worked out well for me as I could plug my phone in and get some charge into it.
Although it meant sitting away from the main group, who thought they must have upset me in some way.
Nope, as I explained just needed some power in my phone.

Its a great route out of Keswick along an old railway line so its very flat and scenic and traffic free for the first few miles.

Leaving Keswick, Sustrans sign for Penrith and Sunderland.

Route goes under the A66, much better than coming into Keswick from the otherside.

After we leave the railway line the route goes alongside the A66 on the footpath, we are not cycling on the road but the traffic thunders past. The route undulates and sometimes goes away from the A66 before coming back along side it as it gradually climbs towards Penrith.

Then we come into Penrith, just a little behind schedule to see Ian has the van parked in the car park, so we put the bikes in the back of the van for safety and go to try and check in as Ian tells me about the problems he has had,

Although I had reserved the rooms with my credit card they had not taken payment. Ian had had to pay for a room on his card as he knew I didn't have my wallet with me.
Premier Inn would not take payment against my card they would only do this if we failed to turn up! Makes no sense to me but that's the rules. Karen had already been onto them trying to pay over the phone, they had no facility for that. Karen had phoned head office, they stated they were unable to take payment over the phone, and payment would only be taken if we didn't take the room. Crazy world, I had no choice but to ask Dave to pay for the rooms on his credit card. He was happy to do this but Premier Inn would not take payment for all the rooms together and had to process every transaction separately. By the time we had all got checked in there was a queue out the door waiting to check in.
Classic case of the rules working against common sense and efficiency.

After the hard day we had had, we decided to just walk round the corner and have our evening in Wetherspoons, this suited me as it meant I could order on their app which payment card was saved.
At least that was the plan, but to cap off my day the app was not working and Dave had to buy me my meal.
Thanks Dave.

So now I am having to keep a record of the spending anyone makes on my behalf, so I can reimburse them after the ride.