The 3 day trip started last Saturday from a crisp and freezing Morecambe (well, Lancaster for me but don't tell anyone) and ended on Monday in the teeth of gales and pounding rain on the East Coast at Bridlington.
The "Way of the Roses" comprises minor roads, byways and the odd ploughed field to keep you well away from traffic and is highly recommended as an adventure.
Memorable bits this year were:
1. Cycling through white frost on the bridge at Crook of Lune.
2. Being kept up half the night at the Red Lion, Burnsall by a drunken wedding party who kept hammering on doors declaring that the hotel was on fire. I think they assumed we'd all find this absolutely hilarious.
3. The 2 mile white-knuckle descent into Pateley Bridge which started above the clouds.
4. Becoming unsettled in Settle (ie falling off my bike). Also being expertly repaired by the 3 Peaks Bike Shop in Settle Market Place free of charge. Saints.
5. Racing towards York at the end of day 2 with massive black clouds approaching.
6. Having to pedal down the downhill bits of the Yorkshire Wolds due to prevailing gale.
7. Limping in to Bridlington wet through with no brakes and gears not working.
8. Madcap return in a transit van across the flooded Pennines desperate for dry clothes and some good food, only to be thwarted 10 miles from Morecambe when the van broke down after going through 3 feet of water. Bugger.
I'm taking names for next year's extravaganza ......
13 comments:
Point 5: racing towards York?
Rog, I am lost in admiration of your achievement. Last year a friend of ours celebrated his seventieth birthday by cycling from Land's End to John o'Groats for charity. Don't know where you blokes get your energy.
Warm regards, Mike and Ann.
You are indeed an adventurous man. Great photos.
Will be with you in spirit. Looked great fun! Pleased my ride from the Isle of Man to Newcastle all those years ago was done in great weather!
Ps. And with only two punctures and two broken spokes......
Lovely photos - especially the misty one.
Blimey that's a lot of miles in three days. And you look as fresh as a daisy if a bit wet!
Al: It's all relative.
Mike & Ann: Right, you've laid down a gauntlet there! Coast to Coast in a vertical direction.
Liz: A really adventurous person would have camped.
Jon: I read about the press release of your trip. It was put out by a deflated spokesperson.
Mig: It depends how you define "fresh" !
That looks a hoot!
Looks wonderful rain 'n' all..something I'd love to do
Well done for surviving the truly atrocious weather we had in these parts!
Very impressed with your adventure!
Looks like you had the usual weather mix. Hats off!
Very impressive. If I thought I'd be capable, I'd volunteer. Sadly, it's way beyond me.
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