Gretna to Little Salkeld - 55 miles approx
133 miles running total
A cold and frosty morning greeted us when we managed to get out of the very comfy beds at Surrone House and downstairs for a nice cooked breakfast. I suspect the cold weather and the fact we only had about 55 miles to do today, mainly on the flat, meant we were a little later getting away than was ideal. About 10.30pm actually. But at least no waterproofs were needed.
Cycling along with Ian, you learn that he's not one for stopping, so apologies for the lack of photos at this early stage of the day (or in fact later on as well... ahem)
We pressed on and reached Longtown in about an hour, which of course meant finding the public toilets for Mr McDonald. I'd have taken a picture to set the scene, but well, you know, I suspect there are laws and all that.
We stopped at the Gretna Bakery on the main street and got some nice Steak and Onion pies for later and then set off again.
First snag of the day as we missed a route 7 sign a few miles up the road and only twigged when we got to the busy A7, so we turned back and managed to get on the obscured cycle path. We did an extra mile by accident. Curses.
Blimey. Look. A picture!
Only about 2 hours into the day's cycling and on a stretch of old railway line near Westlington, we remembered to get out the camera. It's got to be packed away when cycling 'cos it's too big to go in a pocket and pedal comfortably. The next trip needs a slimmer camera.
Just past this point we found a rather confusing route 7 signpost and ended up deviating from our original planned route. Sustrans need to do a bit of work here. In fact, they need to do a lot of work.
So instead of heading south towards Carlisle, we were heading west towards the M6 for a while, though after crossing it, we did turn south and followed some incredibly straight roads past the Kingmoor railway yards. Not wildly exciting this stretch to be honest. The route 7 signs were ancient, so it was probably the original route.
And then we trundled through the suburbs of Carlisle, through a park, across a bridge, along a footpath / cyclepath or two and then the route 7 signs ran out and route 72 ones started. Arsebiscuits.
Ian's fancy SatNav meant we knew roughly where to go, but not quite how to get there because it wasn't fancy enough.
Anyway, for future reference, if you're on Bridge Street heading west, turn left onto Viaduct Estate Road, which is where we went wrong due to missing signs.
Of course, when we found Route 7 again, sod's law ensured it was closed and being dug up, so we had to find our own way across the river. Should have turned right over Nelson Bridge, but we went straight on and got very lost for ages before we found the riverside route again. We lost an hour in total which wasn't great. Looking back I should have had loads of photos of us looking flustered and lost. Oh well.
It was time for lunch.
You can click on this majestic panorama to get the full impact of Mr McDonald's fine physique.
Nice spot to eat though. Them pies from Longtown were excellent.
So, after the obligatory bog stop in a Dalston pub by you know who, nothing to do with the pies mind, we kept cycling along lots of minor country roads, with trees and grass and sheep and cows and stuff. And, er, not many pictures.
It did start to gradually go uphill all the time, and with the headwind it was harder going than expected.
Look at these two chancers.
We weren't as happy as the pictures show if I remember and it was after 5pm by this time, but we stopped for a snack and to ring ahead to the B&B at Little Salkeld just to let them know we were actually going to turn up at some point.
Penrith was still to come, but once we got to the next village of Skelton, it was mainly downhill for a good way.
Under the M6 and it was into Penrith and the delights of Fell Lane. Quite steep and half a mile long.
I got up there a few minutes before Ian. Here he comes. Slightly blurry, but it was getting quite gloomy and I was breathing hard.
(Due to the climb and not the subject matter)
It's quite a spectacular view from the road at the top though.
Look at that. Best click it to get the bigger one. We were quite lucky with the weather really.
6.15pm by now though, so it was darker than the pictures show. Bike lights were on.
We still had about 7 or 8 miles left to go, and there was a couple of nasty hills to get up, but the Bank House Farm B&B at Little Salkeld was reached about 7.15pm. Had the place to ourselves too.
Quick shower and we were very kindly driven to the Shepherds Inn pub at Langwathby. Great place it was, fantastic food, a good pint and lots of banter with the locals. They even called the B&B to pick us up at the end of the evening. We liked that.
He's a professional photgrapher you know.
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