I went exploring Loch Ard forest paths, following a mountain bike trail. Another 16 mile run but this time with much less stopping time as the route was easier to find, and I ended up with a total movement time of 2 hrs 57 of which, Im proud to say, I didnt walk any. After a lovely Saturday evening reminiscing with friends Ive not seen since yesteryear, Beth did me the huge favour of abandoning me in Penrith on the Sunday so that I could do a bike ride to Kendal where she would pick me up. The distance looked perfect and on the road map it looked a little hilly but I was totally unprepared for the mammoth ascent that awaited me. It was what I would describe as 'upwardly flat' on the 10 miles from Penrith to Shap, and from there it seemed like there was a never ending up for about the next 10 miles. In true hidden top style I would round a corner to see the road continue upwards for what seemed to stretch on for miles. I swear that if i hadnt reached the top at the 20 mile mark on the odometer then I would probably have got off and called for back up! However the downhill did arrive and I managed to coast into Kendal practically falling off the bike as I found the car.. I guess Im not a likely candidate for Tour de France then. With moaning murmurs of 'who put that there hill in the lake district?' I was gently chauffured to a lovely Kendal pub where the landlady fed us Sunday dinner and got me back into a state I could drive home. A great weekend, much thanks to Beth for her patience, and to Andrew & Dunja who I will be visiting in Calgary as soon as they have themselves settled into their new home!
Monday, 4 June 2007
Who put that there hill there in the lake district... ?!
What a cracking weekend it has been. Some friends of mine are emigrating to Canada so I headed to Glasgow for their leaving party with my very good friend Beth. With the Trossachs on their doorstep I was really looking forward to my weekly long run. Apart from the fact that it was incredibly humid, Saturday was beautifully still and 
I went exploring Loch Ard forest paths, following a mountain bike trail. Another 16 mile run but this time with much less stopping time as the route was easier to find, and I ended up with a total movement time of 2 hrs 57 of which, Im proud to say, I didnt walk any. After a lovely Saturday evening reminiscing with friends Ive not seen since yesteryear, Beth did me the huge favour of abandoning me in Penrith on the Sunday so that I could do a bike ride to Kendal where she would pick me up. The distance looked perfect and on the road map it looked a little hilly but I was totally unprepared for the mammoth ascent that awaited me. It was what I would describe as 'upwardly flat' on the 10 miles from Penrith to Shap, and from there it seemed like there was a never ending up for about the next 10 miles. In true hidden top style I would round a corner to see the road continue upwards for what seemed to stretch on for miles. I swear that if i hadnt reached the top at the 20 mile mark on the odometer then I would probably have got off and called for back up! However the downhill did arrive and I managed to coast into Kendal practically falling off the bike as I found the car.. I guess Im not a likely candidate for Tour de France then. With moaning murmurs of 'who put that there hill in the lake district?' I was gently chauffured to a lovely Kendal pub where the landlady fed us Sunday dinner and got me back into a state I could drive home. A great weekend, much thanks to Beth for her patience, and to Andrew & Dunja who I will be visiting in Calgary as soon as they have themselves settled into their new home!
I went exploring Loch Ard forest paths, following a mountain bike trail. Another 16 mile run but this time with much less stopping time as the route was easier to find, and I ended up with a total movement time of 2 hrs 57 of which, Im proud to say, I didnt walk any. After a lovely Saturday evening reminiscing with friends Ive not seen since yesteryear, Beth did me the huge favour of abandoning me in Penrith on the Sunday so that I could do a bike ride to Kendal where she would pick me up. The distance looked perfect and on the road map it looked a little hilly but I was totally unprepared for the mammoth ascent that awaited me. It was what I would describe as 'upwardly flat' on the 10 miles from Penrith to Shap, and from there it seemed like there was a never ending up for about the next 10 miles. In true hidden top style I would round a corner to see the road continue upwards for what seemed to stretch on for miles. I swear that if i hadnt reached the top at the 20 mile mark on the odometer then I would probably have got off and called for back up! However the downhill did arrive and I managed to coast into Kendal practically falling off the bike as I found the car.. I guess Im not a likely candidate for Tour de France then. With moaning murmurs of 'who put that there hill in the lake district?' I was gently chauffured to a lovely Kendal pub where the landlady fed us Sunday dinner and got me back into a state I could drive home. A great weekend, much thanks to Beth for her patience, and to Andrew & Dunja who I will be visiting in Calgary as soon as they have themselves settled into their new home!
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1 comment:
And 3 months ago if someone had suggested that you cycle over Shap what would you have said??!! Very well done.
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