Today I reached an all time low and then an all time high. I started out from Clitheroe at 7:45am towards Slaidburn 8 miles away. Along the way I kept telling myself if I can't find Nick from the tour group, I'll never make it to Keswick. The weight of my panniers would have been just too much. As luck would have it, I ran into Nick and he gladly took my panniers, and I was off. Nick Mitchell wrote the book I have been referencing for the journey and leads group bike tours on his route for LEJOG. You can contact him at www.pedalnation.co.uk. Having done several LEJOGs, Nick knows all there is about LEJOG. How about liking him on facebook. Luckily I picked the same 14 days that Nick was leading his tour. After leaving Nick I climbed 1,300 ft over 4 miles (did I say STEEP!) Then it was smooth sailing through High Bentham, Wray, Gressingham, Kendall down to Windermere. Stopped for lunch outside Kendall and had Tomato & Basil Soup and Ham & Tomato sandwiches with tea. Yummy! Onto the Lake District where the scenery was spectacular (reminding me of Yosemite). Rode along the lake valley floor from Windermere through Grasmere into Keswick. Many times today I felt like Sir Bradley Wiggins, England's Lance Armstrong, ( without the tarnished record). Today was in the mid 60's with the sun in and out, but mostly out.
View from the Inn at Whitwell in Clitheroe at 7:30 a.m.
YES, I came up this mountain. Had to walk part of the way. 1,300 ft...41/2 miles. Knackered by the end!
Beautiful garden in Grasmere.
Sunday afternoon flea market near Kendall.
Stopped for an ice-cream in Grasmere. Your right I cannot see a thing under that helmet.
On the valley floor between Keswick and Ambleside
Hard to concentrate on riding when you have these views to ponder.
Arrived in Keswick at 5:15 pm and had a nice dinner at Casa Bella with Nick and his tour group. Staying downtown off the square at the Inn at Keswick. Today climbed 4,258 ft and burned 4,190 calories. Tomorrow off to Moffat and will enter Scotland.
Commemorates the first stone laid to construct the lake in Thirlmere in 1890. This reservoir feeds Manchester water supply.
