LEJOG DAY 8

King of the Mountains

Today follows much of the route of the tour of britain last year as they headed through the lakes from keswick to kendal and boy does it involve some proper hills. Hills that definitely dont help my knee.

After a lay in and lovely breakfast at my B&B, I set off just before 9 along the breezy Morecambe promenade.  I pass a sign proclaiming the start of one of the coast to coast cycle routes running from Morecambe to somewhere on the East coast. The guest house owner says they regularly get people staying who are cycling the route. At 170 miles some folk bash it out in a day but most take 3-5. I think 3 would work nicely, make a nice long weekend ride at some point.

The first 20 miles into kendal (in hindsight) are a gentle introduction but still have some decent climbs since we're on the fringes of the lakes. I have to call into Kendal rail station to book my tickets home for tomorrow and get a bike reservation. The attendant didnt seem too impressed I wanted to take my bike and less so when I told him the specific train I wanted. Instead trying to sell me a flexible ticket until I pointed out this would be vastly more expensive. Eventually got booked on the 1620 out of Penrith.

There were about 3 decent passes to cross between Kendal and Windermere, each properly burning my legs. I  walked up one to give my knee a break but soon descended to Bowness on windermere and the crowds who have come out to play on this fine weekend.  It turns out bikes are allowed on windermere ferries so I take my second boat ride of the trip, a leisurely 30 minute ride up the lake to Ambleside. A definite trip highlight so far with clear blue skies above.

After a milkshake and cake stop in Grasmere,  I take on the highest pass of the trip so far over Dunmail Raise and the descent to Brothers Water. A 30 minute ride later im able to tag a tow on another  cyclist up the final ascent before a massive descent into Keswick.  The freewheeling makes up for the hard work and the 45mph run gets the adrenaline pumping and a massive thumbs up :D

The following day is mostly at my leisure. Because of having to book specific trains to take my bike home on, I dont leave Penrith until late afternoon which is only 20 hilly miles away. That in mind I can afford to have a relaxed breakfast and head off late morning. Hopefully somewhere in Penrith will be open to have a look around for a few hours. I get to penrith at lunchtime, the ride was much more hilly than I thought.  I find a pub for a Sunday lunch with possibly the worlds noisiest landlady, I dont care what people the other end of the pub order but we all heard it. Penrith is a nice place though and a great point to pause my journey before the last leg through Scotland later in the year.