Day 1 The ride to Hesket Newmarket
20th June started with a warm sunny day and when I arrived at Auction Eats at 09:45 there were a few sad faces as the cafe was closed and they hadn’t been able to get a breakfast! We need to get the opening hours recorded so we know for future runs. By 10:25 all the riders had arrived so we set off for Kirkby Lonsdale so the starving riders could get a bacon butty and a drink.
When we arrived at Devils Bridge the weather was still very sunny and whilst eating and drinking we walked over the bridge to see teenagers swimming in the river. Was the water really that warm or are the kids super tough in Kirkby Lonsdale? After a good rest and feeding session we set off again up towards Sedburgh and took the scenic route alongside the old Sedburgh to Ingleton rail line up to Tebay where we stopped at the Cross Keys which had a note on the door apologising that it would be closed until 3pm! Not a very auspicious start to the day, two refreshment breaks disrupted! Some had brought some sandwiches and drinks so it was not a total disaster and we set off again hoping to find a pub or cafe open in Orton. No luck there either so on we travelled over the moors to Shap village where we called in at the Greyhound pub and had a drinks and food as required. This was actually a nice stop and one to be recommended.
From Shap the journey was straightforward up to Eamont Bridge and the boring run west along the A66 to the Mungrisdale turn off and thence on to Hesket Newmarket where we arrived at around 3:15pm. After unpacking and settling into our rooms we spent time in the sunshine or under the Linden tree outside the hotel passing time until the Old Crown opened at 5pm where we went for a drink and had our meal. The trip had been lovely in the warm sunny weather, the welcome at the hotel and the was pub was very good as was the meal. A lovely day to start our rideout with the miles from Garstang being about 90 miles it was a similar ride length to our normal runs.
Day 2 Five Lakes Run
The day started with warm breezes and broken sunshine and after breakfast one rider was presenting with very heavy cold symptoms so he set off for Keswick to find a chemist for some relief and, just in case, a Covid test and agreed to meet us at our first rest stop in Rosthwaite. Our leader for the day had to go home due to a family issue so we would be a rider short and would have to follow our leader’s notes for the Five Lakes Run. We set off for Keswick across the moor to Longlands and Orthwaite past the bottom of Bassenthwaite and then down the A591 to Keswick where we re-fueled at the petrol station. After a quick consultation with the map and instructions for the next stage we set off on very quiet roads through the Newlands valley and past the outdoor activity centre to Swinside Inn and then down the side of Derwent Water on the narrow road under the side of Cat Bells to Grange and then Rosthwaite where we met up with our poorly rider who had got some cold medication but no Covid test. After a refreshment break and a chat he decided to go back and rest for the day and would see us at the pub in the evening.
8 riders now set off up the Honister Pass where a local service bus had broken down on a bend and the driver was directing traffic to avoid an accident. What a place to break down! We travelled on up the pass and then down past the slate works, round Buttermere, past Crummock Water to Brackenthwaite and then down to Loweswater. From here we headed west out of the Lake District to Mockerin and on to Branthwaite where we we pulled in to the Wild Duck Pub for our lunch stop. After a rest in the sunshine we had headed over to the bikes when a couple on push bikes came over to see us. I think they were German and were very interested in the bikes and our tour. They were real cyclists, camping at night not YHA types!
We resumed our ride by heading to Brandlingill and on to the Lortons and the Whinlatter pass to Braithwaite where we joined the A66 and headed North Stopping at The Pheasant Inn at Bassenthwaite for a short consultation with the map and a rest. After the rest stop we crossed the A66 and headed to Castle Inn and through Uldale home to Hesket Newmarket.
Our Poorly rider turned up at the pub was worried that he might spread Covid but when we mentioned this at the pub the landlady said “I have some test kits” and brought one out for our member to test himself. Half an hour later he declared himself Covid negative from the test results so he joined us in the pub which was having a musical evening with local players bringing their whistles, harmoniums and guitars to entertain the guests with folk music. It was a lovely, enjoyable and friendly evening.
About 82 miles today
Day 3 Run to Solway, Silloth and Maryport
The day dawned partly sunny with 9/10ths cloud appearing as we set off but nice and warm. Someone fell behind early on and the lead group stopped to wait for them, after a little search and backtrack they were found and we set off again. Not sure what happened though! We took a long straight (Roman) road Down into Wigton And crossed over the A596 to head for Kirkbride. Our leader seemed to miss a turn somewhere near Kirkbride and we did an interesting detour almost into Carlisle before turning back to Bowness on Solway where we stopped in a layby on the coast for a rest. The day was brightening up and lots of pictures were taken of the sea shore the bikes, riders and the estuary and Scotland. Rested we set off for Silloth round the old airport with its huge radio masts. Apparently one is a time beacon and the whole place is a nature refuge. We followed the coast road alongside the river to Silloth where we parked up by the Lifeboat station and walked to the cafe at the park for lunch. When we arrived back at the bikes a deaf chap came over to the bikes and started talking about them and asked if we knew of the classic bike rally at Hesket Newmarket. Of course we did and apparently he was the chap who started the rally many years ago and lived in the village for years. When we got back to the pub we mentioned the guy to the landlord and he was well known in the village. Small world!
From Silloth we travelled down the coast through Allonby where the police had stopped an overloaded scrap metal lorry. It did look very overloaded so we were not surprised! We stopped at a garage outside Maryport to refuel after which we made our final stop on the quayside at the marina where we partook of their ice cream selection and sat outside in the now sunny afternoon talking to the interested folk passing down the quay.
From Maryport we headed back towards Allonby and along the road we passed the overloaded lorry, now not so loaded, heading for Maryport. No doubt a fine is in the post! Just before Allonby we turned off to Aspatria and home to Hesket Newmarket.
The “B” road surfaces around Wigton, Kirkbride and Maryport were notable for their poor maintenance and potholes. Many potholes were a danger to bikes and would probably damage cars if hit at speed. Many were outlined in fading white paint so the dangers are known to the council. I bet the locals are impressed! Another enjoyable night was spent in the Old Crown where, by special request, crumble and custard was served!
117 miles today.
Day 4 Run to Alston
A beautiful sunny day greeted us for the Alston run. With very little traffic on the roads we had a clear run through Lazonby, Kirkoswald and up to Armathwaite where we crossed Eden River and turned right up towards Wetheral following the Settle Carlisle Railway to the Oaktree Animal Sanctuary where we stopped for refreshments.
We stopped here to give a donation to the charity as they were doing good work for distressed animals and were a very nice group of welcoming staff. Their Fund manager was contacted and he came out to meet us to accept the donation and take a photo for his magazine and records.
We then set off to Wetheral where we took a diversion to pass by the 12th century priory gateway which is a very impressive gateway to the priory that was dissolved by Henry V111. A short run down to the river and along a narrow road under the viaduct of the Carlisle-Newcastle railway brought us back to the road to Warwick Bridge where we turned right for Castle Carrock. From here we branched off to Talkin where we did a detour to Forest Head to admire the view back down the Eden valley. The intention was to carry on to Hallbankgate to join the road to Alston but the road was closed by the Water company who had dug a big trench across the road to install some large water mains. So we turned round and admired the view again as we went back to Talkin and turned right onto the road to Hallbankgate and Alston. We were actually lucky as this road was also to be closed the following day, presumably for resurfacing. When we arrived in Alston it felt very quiet and we parked up and talked to some bikers from Teesdale. As nearly everything was shut we decided to call into the garage to fill up and run on up to Hartside Head where we stopped at the viewpoint. The view from here stretched from Penrith to Carlisle, the Lake District and the Scottish hills across the Solway. We then set off down the steep road with hairpin bends to Melmerby and the bakery there that reputably supplied good home made food. This was a great stop with good savouries and cakes which we ate in the sunshine on the benches outside.
We arrived back at the hotel at around 4:15pm and as arranged we all paid our dues to help Susan as she had a huge event happening on Friday for which she was to do the catering. We found out that her sister-in-law had recently died of breast cancer and she had set up a fundraising group in the district to raise funds for research and to help those affected. She had already raised a large sum of money through village events and we thought that we would donate to help out. She was very grateful for our donation and I am sure it will be put to good use. We had dinner in the old crown again and a good evening outside in the sunshine until the skies darkened and a heavy shower sent us back inside.
Miles today 97
Day5 The run home
All up for breakfast at 08:30 as usual and all were ready by the bikes at 10:15 to ride home. Susan was busy with her catering duties but I managed to get her to come and have her photo taken with us before we left. Fortuitously there was an Australian bloke just about to leave the car park in his camper van and he offered to take the photo so I could be on it. He was about to set off round the Lake District in his camper van and we wished him luck as it was a wide one! So a little before 10:30 we set off and almost immediately came on to the end of a sheep herding farmer on his quad with dogs, a few yards later he turned off into his farm and I tried to accelerate up a slight hill but the bike didn’t want to go. A couple more tries and it stopped. Perhaps the fuel vent in the tank was blocked. Opened the cap, tickled the carb and the bike came reluctantly back to life so off we went and I had no more problems all day. Perhaps it was dirty fuel and muck in a jet. Looking back on previous days two other bikes developed possible fuel problems after our re-fuel at Maryport. Must flush the fuel system when I get home. We travelled down the valley through Mungrisdale and through a ford that has appeared after the rain in the night. We reached the A66 and travelled the 10 miles to the M6 roundabout and then a further boring 12miles to the Appleby turn off. Through Appleby behind a cement mixing lorry and luckily he turned off to allow us a clear run over the moors for a further 10 miles to stop at Orton. The cafe was closed but the chocolate factory was open and served drinks so we sat in the village community area and refreshed ourselves. An elderly chap and his wife were interested in the bikes and when I asked the lady if she had been on one she responded that she used to ride a German Zundap scooter on which she rode down and toured round Devon and Cornwall. Obviously an outgoing young lady in the 1950’s.
Refreshed we continued down through Tebay where I noticed that the Cross Keys was open! We then retraced our route down to Kirkby Lonsdale where the stopping place was filled with cars and tractors so we carried on through Hornby to the Bull Beck picnic stop outside of Caton. Here the skies were getting darker by the minute and just as we decided to leave the heavens opened and a short delay ensued as some of us donned our waterproofs. So we set off in quite a heavy downpour into Caton and left up to Quernmore and down to Bay Horse. Riders had now started to peel off to find their separate ways home and the rain abated by the time we got to Churchtown so I had a dry ride back home from there.
Thus ended a lovely week of riding and camaraderie with rides and sights to remember in great weather.
Miles today 89 (to Garstang.)