Day 5, Wednesday 21st June 2000
Have You Ever Seen The Rain
As I packed my bags ready for the big off I gazed out of my window. The
stair rods were virtually horizontal. For once I was hoping Dave
would hold us up, that way we might miss the shower. I dressed for the
deluge in my rubberised "dry" socks and cagoule.
While settling the bill I heard about the proprietor's Uncle who, at
the age of 60, cycled E2E. As the big girlie nonce had a backup vehicle
and did not carry his luggage I was far from impressed.
The rain had stopped by the time we set off the wind, however, had
increased to near gale force. As we cycled down from Caton to Lancaster it
was hard work to maintain 10mph downhill.
Once we hit the A6 and turned north the wind was directly behind us and
we were getting 20mph hardly turning the pedals. No rain so far.
The Legend of Shap
As a boy I was used to hearing yarns of the lorry drivers' struggles
over the road between Kendal and Shap. I suppose this left me with an
irrational fear of this pass. The reality is rather unimpressive. The
gradients are not great and the altitude at the summit is less the 1000ft.
We steamed up to the top and sailed (on a broad reach) down into
Penrith. Still no rain.
Penrith to Carlisle was another wind assisted run and arriving at 3pm
it seemed like time for a burger. Burger King this time.
We crossed into the land of the transvestites at Gretna where the road
turned to the west. For the next 15 miles the wind was not helping one
jot.
Road Rage Jock Style
The M74 replaced the A74 several years ago. As there was no alternative
road for non-motorway traffic they left the old road in place and
renamed it the B7076. This road has hardly any motorised vehicles on it.
This is an ideal road for cyclists - or was. A, possibly well meaning,
scheme has created completely unnecessary cycle paths alongside this road.
The cost of this scheme must run into millions but the worth of it is
less than zero.
Dave and I were cycling along minding our own business when a white
"motorway maintenance" van came up behind us blaring his horn. The driver
was gesticulating wildly towards yet another part of the cycle path
that we had not even noticed. I gesticulated back. The van drew into the
side of the road. The driver's door was thrown open and out stepped a
6ft 5in shaven headed thug. The driver stepped menacingly towards me but
as Dave drew near he shrunk back towards the cocoon of his van. He
believed that since they had gone to the trouble of building the cycle
paths we ought to use them.
We refuted his argument and the matter was dropped.
The Auchen Castle Hotel
Victorian industrialists knew the game when it came to ostentation.
Younger, of beer fame, built the Auchen Castle as his country house in
the 1850s. It is massive has glorious gardens and has been turned into a
wonderful hotel. If you are ever near Beattock give it a whirl. We had
an excellent dinner with a very passable bottle of pinotage before
passing out.
Stats
Dave 115.59 miles 8hrs 7mins 14.2mph Average 39.0mph Max
Will 111.63 miles 7hrs 47mins 14.3mph average 38.4mph max