Silecroft

7/4/15

The low lying mist persisted for most of the morning but we paused for a snack as it cleared and looked back across the Duddon estuary in a warm sun.

It is a shame that the railway that carries trains up the Cumbrian coast couldn't follow the Welsh way and also host a cycle track, it would avoid main roads, dipping inland to cross rivers and a few hills!

There were stretches of unavoidable main road with no cycle way so the trucks that thundered up behind us rather spoiled a beautiful afternoon.

We arrived at Boots and Boards B&B and after a tea and a shower strolled the kilometre or so to the beach to see the Cumbrian coast to come and the eerie heads of the wind turbines above a remnant mist. The Miner's Arms had good fresh pub food as well as good beer.

Figures:

Distance:- 37.8 km

Cycle Time:- 2 hours 59 minutes

Average speed:- 12.8kph

Total Distance:- 1306 km

Barrow-in-Furness

6/4/15

We left Oxen Park in a cool mist which did not really clear but it added to the atmosphere of the Lakeland lanes.

After a few climbs we arrived in Ulverston and watched the finishing stages of a traditional Easter Mummers play with Morris and Sword dancing.

We never really located a NCN route but stopped at Windymiller cafe at the water mill near Gleaston before getting back on the coast and around to Roa island where a small ferry goes out to Piel Island. On a clear day we may have been able to see Blackpool tower and somewhere out there is one of the world's largest off-shore wind farms, but not today!

From there we had a cycle track which took us along the sea front past the power station and sewage works to Barrow.

This track started well but finished in a dubious zone of burnt out buildings and cars.

By contrast, Abbey House Hotel was a grand place to stay, once home to the chair of the ship building giant Vickers, and which hosted royal visitors coming to launch ships. It is now a popular place for weddings. Oscar's restaurant in the hotel had a good menu so we enjoyed 2 starters each - which seem to cause a bit of confusion given the Lake District appetites that they are used to!

Figures:

Distance:- 40.5 km

Cycle Time:- 3 hours 8 minutes

Average speed:- 12.9 kph

Total Distance:- 1267 km

Rest Day 6

5/4/15

After a 'small' breakfast which turned out to be just as large as dinner the night before we did some planning, relaxing and dipping into back-to-back Carry On films on Easter TV!

A high pressure system left a mist over the hills for most of the day but it then cleared when we strolled out and spent an hour soaking up a fantastic scene from a bench just outside of the village.

More big plates of food consumed in the evening and a good chat with Lorraine and Terry.

Oxen Park near Penny Bridge

4/4/15

This morning we were joined by Peter who did not seem to like the idea of swapping his weightless mountain bike for my 40kg monster!

On entering Cumbria yesterday we were a little concerned that there were crops of daffodils that were yet to open- a sign that spring was in it's infancy up here. However, with the temperature forecast finally in double figures for the next few days and some blossom appearing, we were reassured that we were not going to be in perpetual winter.

We continued on NCN 70 on quiet lanes with many cyclists out enjoying the warmer weather. Grange-Over-Sands was busy, we paused on a bench by the duck pond where our bikes and journey attracted some attention and interest from other bikers.

We climbed out of Grange and quickly left the bank holiday traffic behind. Cartmel, famed for its sticky toffee pudding, was bedlam, we bought a coffee and watched the jostling cars before heading off again.

Leaving Peter to head east over Newton Fell we continued over the hills with familiar drystone walls, sheep filled fields and fell top farms. After our final climb to the Manor House in Oxen Park, with a room with views of the Old Man of Coniston, we were greeted with a warm welcome from Lorraine and served the most enormous plates of food prepared by Terry

Figures:

Distance:- 27.4 km

Cycle Time:- 2 hours 17 minutes

Average speed:- 11.9 kph

Total Distance:- 1227 km

Witherslack- Cumbria

4/4/15

We left Morecambe in drizzle and a heavy cloud over the view to the north.

Finishing off the Lancashire promenade we then got on to the tow path along the Lancaster canal which carved a nice route to Carnforth and is reminiscent of the Brecon canal

The roads through Silverdale were not as quiet as hoped and there were early scenes of Bank Holiday mayhem with caravans struggling on a muddy camp site. I wonder when we should start camping? Perhaps we will wait until after Easter!

We arrived at the Derby Arms nice and early and the bikes were given their second night in the cellar. We had a nice evening in the company of friends: Peter, June and Aiden who came over to see us from Staveley.

Figures:

Distance:- 39 km

Cycle Time:- 2 hours 54 minutes

Average speed:- 13.4 kph

Total Distance:- 1200 km

Morcambe

2/4/15

We left Lytham St Anne's in sunshine and a much calmer wind but the diggers were out dealing with the damage from the dunes in the last couple of days.

I am not sure what Blackpool Tower architects, Maxwell and Tuke, would have made of the addition of the Pepsi Max Big One roller coaster to the skyline of Blackpool. The tower remains iconic and the development of the promenade made cycling a pleasure.

The Tidal Organ that plays it's harmonic series in response to the ebb and flow of the sea is an intriguing addition to the prom.

We continued to Cleveley which had a very nice refurbished sea front and great views of the snow capped fells of the Lakes to the north.

On to Fleetwood where the sea defences are being developed so the prom route was closed but the little ferry to Knott End still takes foot and cycle passengers across the Wyre estuary saving a big detour.

Once we had finished another bowl of pea and ham soup in the Knott End cafe we enjoyed quiet and efficient roads all the way to Glasson Dock on the River Lune. We then got on the NCN 6 which took us all the way to the new footbridge across the Lune and then on to Morecambe on excellent cycle paths.

Our bikes seem to have had luxurious storage so far - from garages, offices, a hotel room of their own and now in Morcambe they were treated to a sweet shop next to our hotel!

On the eve before we leave Lancashire, it occurred to me that we nearly missed the last few days as our original plan was to take a ferry from the Wirral to the Isle of Mann and then return to Hesham, close to Morcambe. I'm glad we didn't. We had dinner in the Thai Rose (once called McThai!) the glass noodle salad was excellent.

Figures:

Distance:- 60 km

Cycle Time:- 4 hours 19 minutes

Average speed:- 14 kph

Total Distance:- 1160 km

Lytham St Anne's

1/4/15

Today was a day to make progress rather than enjoy the journey. With the forecast suggesting continued strong gale force winds we opted to follow main roads into and out of Preston to reduce distance travelled and keep as close to 50km as possible. In spite of spending the day in the presence of noise and vehicle vibrations we had good surfaced cycle track pretty much all the way with sunny spells and no rain. Signage was a bit vague in to Preston but we finally crossed the Ribble on an old bridge and had a great pea and ham soup at the Beach Hut cafe in Preston Marina.

After a morning of tailwind heading back west on the north side of the estuary was never going to be easy.

It was a relief to see the sea again at Lytham after a day of traffic and satisfying to see the Southport bridge in the distance across the estuary.

In 1805 Richard Cookson obtained a lease from the Squire for a plot of land on which to build a ‘windy milne’. The posh houses that were later built behind it regarded this structure as industrial nuisance, an echo of the NIMBY attitude towards the wind farms that are appearing in our countryside.

With the wind more northerly we battled on to St Anne's and we pleased to finally see Mode Hotel right on the front and a stone's throw from the pier.

An earlybird meal seems to be a regular event in the 6 - 7 pm slot, so for under £10 we had 2 courses and a coffee at the Greek Flame Taverna.

Figures:

Distance:- 53 km

Cycle Time:- 4 hours 17 minutes

Average speed:- 12.2 kph

Total Distance:- 1100 km