Ride from Boot & Shoe to Clapham

I was a bit late and there were six riders waiting so off we went. Over the hill via Newlands Road and then that nice descent towards Caton down the Quernmore Road. Up round the back of Brookhouse and then on to the A683. From then on we followed the same route as Nick (Wray, Wennington, Spout Lane, Burton-in-Lonsdale) to get to Ireby Green. They always have a good range of cakes… and our table included three Lancaster CTC riders who had arrived independently.

The wind seemed to have strengthened as we went back towards Burton to take a pretty side road up to the A65, then past the Marton Arms and up through Ingleton. Strange not to stop for a mug of tea and a piece of black gingerbread at Inglesport. But we pressed on, into the wind up the never ending hill to the top at Cold Cotes. It was cold and we were glad of coats as we enjoyed the view over the Wenning valley. The descent into Clapham wasn’t so speedy because that head wind was slowing our freewheel down - but still fun. Lunch was good and so was the chat out of the wind. Getting home was quick with the wind bowling us along Mewith Lane and into Wray where some of us had a last cup of tea (and I had a cake).

Tim