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Fancied getting a few miles in the legs and the sunny forecast made me think it would be nice to load up my Genesis Tour de Fer and ride up to the Lake District. Set off early doors on Saturday on a route that used canal paths and sustrans trails wherever possible - slow going but traffic free. To make things a bit harder I'd booked a campsite on the Northern side of Kirkstone Pass. That's a tough climb fully loaded with almost 130km in my legs! Made it without dying though 🙂
Camped at Sykeside (handy for the lovely Brotherswater Inn!) and on Sunday had a gentle pedal out to Pooley Bridge for lunch and then a second lunch on the shore of Ullswater. Very pleasant. Bit of a storm in the evening so decided on pub grub and a few beers rather than cooking in the rain. Sometimes it's nice to have a treat!
I wasn't out to set any long distance touring records so after breakfast I packed up and headed up over Kirkstone (an even harder climb from this side!) and down to Windermere where I got a train to Preston then pedalled the last few kilometres home to end a lovely trip 🙂
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7678/27447764936_6e3ac3923e_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7678/27447764936_6e3ac3923e_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HPsYfu ]Perfect day for a little ride up to the Lake District[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7704/27429649911_7a36988048_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7704/27429649911_7a36988048_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HMS8ht ]Croissant stop[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7206/26892233314_ef75802172_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7206/26892233314_ef75802172_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GYnJ45 ]Kendal[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7294/27383107492_c5dbebe41b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7294/27383107492_c5dbebe41b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HHKzQY ]Tough climb fully loaded![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7142/27410475231_b2441897c7_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7142/27410475231_b2441897c7_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HLaRjx ]Nice place to wake up :)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7452/26893825733_c60470219e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7452/26893825733_c60470219e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GYvTqz ]Helvellyn cane wait for another trip[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7623/27224809060_1de8a769a8_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7623/27224809060_1de8a769a8_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HtLgeE ]Chilling out on the shores of Ullswater[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7413/27467294286_beb7e08e8a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7413/27467294286_beb7e08e8a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HRc4Dq ]Very heavy downpour approaching[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7229/27224860920_481a30a9f2_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7229/27224860920_481a30a9f2_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HtLwDN ]It rained so the pub called[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7034/26892454144_5260d6df41_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7034/26892454144_5260d6df41_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GYoRGu ]Campsite panorama[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7666/26894049043_ec54460201_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7666/26894049043_ec54460201_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GYx2NK ]Made it![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7340/27467394806_3e0086998a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7340/27467394806_3e0086998a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HRczww ]Another fine day[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7298/26892536734_d99dbf20a3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7298/26892536734_d99dbf20a3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GYphfs ]Ice cream![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7522/27225051210_4c7604edf8_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7522/27225051210_4c7604edf8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HtMvdE ]Cheating ;-)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
lovely stuff.
Oh if anybody finds a pink camelbak podium chill bottle on Oxenholme station platform it's mine 🙁
Surprised you got rain on Sunday, it must have been very localised. Over the western side there was nothing but sunshine! In fact it was so hot I had to find a stream to sit in for a bit.
Nice to see you on Saturday. 🙂
It showered for a bit then absolutely chucked it down for an hour before clearing. Was a bit disappointed there was no thunder & lightning. At least I now know than my little touring tent doesn't leak 🙂
Good work! I was at a wedding in Troutbeck. I wonder if we passed?
Lovely impromptu trip Op, very nice. Please tell me you went for a dip in Ullswater, I would have been straight in.
I sat at that 'made it' bench with a cold one a few weeks hence.
Please tell me you went for a dip in Ullswater, I would have been straight in.
I had a bit of a paddle 🙂
Good work! I was at a wedding in Troutbeck. I wonder if we passed?
Maybe Steve!
I sat at that 'made it' bench with a cold one a few weeks hence.
I'm ashamed to say that after reaching the summit on Saturday I was forced to have a pint of Coke with lots of ice and some peanuts. Made up for it when I got to the Brotherswater Inn though 😉
Will pop unto the station in an hour 🙂
Lovely stuff.
Platform 1 Rich 😉
Looked ace Simon.
2nd lunch - that's what touring is all about!
Nice beer in the brothers water inn & nice to swim in too
That looks ace Simon. Thanks for posting (-:
Excellent Simon, inspirational.
(And on the bike I'm probably about to buy) 🙂
Properly lovely that, Robdob knows his onions as well!
😀
gone and no lost property office!
"slurp"
Inspiring as always!
That looks amazing! I am very jealous!
Some nice pics in there. Following from the phone camera pics thread....were they taken with a 'proper' camera or a phone jobbie?
gone and no lost property office!
🙁
Following from the phone camera pics thread....were they taken with a 'proper' camera or a phone jobbie?
Phone. Figured I was already carrying enough without adding a proper camera 🙂
Thanks for sharing 🙂