Ride to Arnside via Wray, Sunday 7th October

The Millenium Bridge was the meeting point for Nick's ride, with the grey morning skies enticing just six people out. Wray might have been only 10 miles away but they set off past the Town Hall, Williamson's Park, the Moor and across the M6 and were soon climbing up in the direction of Caton before descending Stock a Bank and steeply up to Baines Crag. This was no piece of cake!

A drop down into Littledale was followed by the rise up and past the wind turbines of Caton Moor then before the descent into Roeburndale the Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales appeared on the horizon. Various gates and a disintegrating road surface slowed progress for a while but the wild scenery more than made up for this. The Roeburn was crossed and various bends negotiated and then a final one in six gradient led to more open views of the Vale of Lune and beyond. It had taken two hours and apparently 2389 feet of ascent by the time they arrived for morning coffee at the Bridge House cafe in Wray. Miles and Ray had got there by a much easier route and unsurprisingly were just leaving as they arrived. 

Richard and Roy felt it was time to go home now, so after replenishing many lost calories only four were left to complete the day out. Hornby and Gressingham were the next villages past through and a few more hills and a slight threat of rain urged them on to Burton in Kendal via Borwick. Thrang Brow Lane was the last climb before easier roads to Arnside and sandwiches on the Quay. Another relaxed cafe break was taken before it was time to head for Crag Bank and the canal towpath. The group gradually went their own ways home and were back by mid afternoon, tired but satisfied by the challenging route and 45 miles completed. 

Nick Hall