Stage sixteen: Cockermouth to Cartmel…’Up The Hill Backwards’

I made the understandable but school-boy error of peeking out the curtains at 0600 hrs and frankly wished I wasn’t going out there. Driving winds and consequently ‘orrible ‘orizontal rain. Non bueno.

Er, can we just hang on un peu?

My main worry about today’s route was how many A-roads that I’d use: the conditions were anything but conducive to that, and it only took 9 miles to convince me that I’d rather go to Plan B…which meant an early turn to the interesting terrain, i.e. the moors, but losing almost 20 miles into the bargain.

Basically, the roads were too narrow...too busy...and with all the surface water around, you were just asking for trouble. So there was no difficult decision!

I was a sh*tload happier on these kinda roads….

Wot- you’ve missed off ‘Farm’ too!

I make zero apologies for the slew of samey-samey photos that follow- I *heart* this landscape and even in these conditions, it’s a tonic. Oughta be available to all!

“You want some?”

Posted t-i-c, as obvs Moonbase Alpha was the only choice!

The only drama with the scenic option is the absence of Co-ops or the like…but a dodgy pop-up near Grizedale sorted me with an alleged Cottage Pie. Whatevs, it didn’t touch the sides! From there it was another scenic route to my acco in lovely Cartmel…and let me assure you, The Royal Oak was a sight for done-in legs!

I didn’t care- it was warmer than I was, hah-hah!

A Lakes re-working of The Shining!

There was a brief skirmish again with some A-roads which only reinforced how unsuited they are to bikes…the moors are ace, of course. It’s just how you get your bike there that is the issue.

Jams like this happen to even ‘regular’ road users. Rubbish, innit?

Behold tonight’s superb hosts!

It was literally a delight to be welcomed into your accommodation which was super-warm and well-used to outdoors travellers. Their local ale was fantastic too! An old (alright, similar vintage ex-attendance colleague) insisted on joining me for dinner and her choice of The Cavendish Arms was stellar, to be fair!

STP originally came from Cartmel, apparently. Madonna source hers from here too. I could write any old balls and you’d buy it, right? Word, though!

Now they either know one of my favourite geetahrists or my favourite solo artist. Or used a C instead of an R, hah-hah!

So just the two standard items remaining…

Still a good dig in those conditions!

And the tune? Well, you’ve probably heard of Dave Bowie…yes? Well, here he is back in 1980 with some stellar players and I’ve no idea what he’s on about, but it doesn’t matter- it’s music. Keep on!