Day 9

I know I’ve been slack with my blog. Rod hasn’t found any time and I’m struggling with really poor internet connection pretty much all the time so that it takes forever to download pictures etc.

Our usual routine for the day is up at 6ish, get ready and pack and down for breakfast at 7.30am, out to the support van by 8.30am ready with bikes and bags, then head off after instructions and the giving out of the freshly charged Garmins by 9am.

We ride for about 30kms and meet the van for a morning tea stop, then head off again until around 1pm where we either meet the van again for a picnic lunch or we head into a pub or cafe for lunch.  We ride the afternoon sometimes stopping again for a cuppa depending on how long the day is.

We’ve been arriving at the night’s accommodation about 5 – 5.30pm. Sometimes the whole group of 19 (including 3 leaders) is in the same place, some times we are in a couple of different B&Bs.  We shower, handwash our clothes and string them up around the room, then meet up with everyone for a drink about 6.30pm and then have dinner at about 7 or 7.30pm usually.  By the time we finish eating, the briefing for the next day etc it is about 9.30pm so we stagger up to our rooms and I try to connect to internet to keep up with what is going on in the world of emails etc.

The riding is slower over here due to rough road surfaces and many many hills.  We also had a strong headwind for the first 5 days. We are pretty tired but enjoying it immensely.  Really varied countryside and town and city scapes.

We are starting into the hills of the edge of the Lakes District and Yorkshire Dales today so a lot more climbing on the cards.  Great! NOT 🙂

Well must rush of to breakfast. We hope everyone is well.

Larmas or Alpacas (I never know which is which) in England??

Larmas or Alpacas (I never know which is which) in England??

Crossing a canal with a lock

Crossing a canal with a lock

Rod and Col from a viewpoint looking out to the Yorkshire Dales to come

Rod and Col from a viewpoint looking out to the Yorkshire Dales to come