Ride to Cartmel via Beetham, Sunday 22nd April 2018
/Six CTC riders set off from Beaumont College into an increasingly soggy morning, heading for coffee at Beetham Garden Centre, and lunch at Cartmel. As usual, there were a number of other CTC bods who had beaten us to Beetham, and we stayed in the café until the rain subsided.
Four riders (Adrian, Brian, Len and Neil) continued on with the promise of fairer conditions awheel, and made good progress through Heversham, Witherslack, and (eschewing the Tow Top route!) turned right at the foot of the big climb and with the wind at our backs headed up the west side of the Winster Valley. This gave us a slightly easier but still demanding climb onto Newton Fell, via Thorphinsty , and at the top we imagined what the view would have been but for the atmospheric mist clothing the Bay area. A welcome drop into High Newton was succeeded by further downhill work to Cartmel, where a convivial lunch was partaken in the Mallard Café.
By this time, the day was improving as forecast, leading to the shedding of layers as we headed down valley to Cark. Then it was around the coast to Grange, where the pace thankfully slackened in consideration of the promenaders and their dogs.
The homeward leg was at first with the wind to Levens, then at an imposed sedate pace to Sandside, Storth, and Leighton Moss, where Adrian and Len benefitted from the forbearance of the volunteers in the café by staying till 5.00 pm!
A slightly longer and lumpier Sunday ride, at 63 miles, but a good preparation for next week’s Audax event.
Len.
