Ride from Halton Station to Grange over Sands, Thursday 12 March 2020

I thought it might be a dry day at last! Thursday 12th March was going to be windy instead:

“Irish Sea; South westerly, force 7 to 8 occasionally force 9, heavy squally showers”.

It was the weekly Thursday bike ride for the Lancaster & South Lakes CUK, meeting at Halton Bridge. It was still dry. With 12 hardy starters, Keith our leader took us across the Lune and immediately up the 1 in 3 Hill through Halton, then Arrow Lane and Over Kellet. Passing through Borwick and Priest Hutton we headed to Burton in Kendal.

We were flying! Followed by a force 7-8 gale we were whizzing along at 15-20 miles per hour without effort. We avoided the turn through Cinderbarrow (too muddy) and continued to Burton and the turn to Holme Mills and Holme. Turning left, we took the Milnthorpe road, crossing the raging River Bela and turning left to Beetham Garden Centre for coffee and cakes. Four other members who’d ridden independently, met us there.

After coffee, Keith asked if we were game to try for Grange, our intended lunch stop. Seven riders were game to go, although the wind was still rising and would make return difficult.

We crossed the mighty A6, through Beetham and over the hill through Dallam Park, crossing the Arnside road to go across the moss and back towards the A6. Leaning to the left, against the side wind, we made our way to the A6. Passing the (long-awaited) road surfacing works, we stopped to fix a puncture (It’s always the BACK wheel!).

Keith chose the route across the flats to Gilpin Bridge, straight into the wind for much of the route.

After crossing the A590, we stopped for a a conflab. We determined to stop at the Gilpin Bridge pub for tea and sandwiches/soup. Grange would have to wait for another day.

We didn’t go back across the flats, but chose to ride to Levens village, taking the route up to the north end of the village (smart move, following wind!) then back down to the A6 - against the wind but downhill.

Keith then took us through Leasgill and Heversham then sharp uphill, again with a helpful gale to bring us on the road to Ackenthwaite, where we doglegged down Smithy Lane and back towards and through Holme and Holme Mills, then turning uphill to Burton and retracing our outward route. This time we turned at Longlands towards home.

The wind had really tired us by this time. Some needed to get to homes north of the Lune; Keith and I wished them well and headed for Carnforth Station for a cosy chat and a cup of coffee at Brief Encounter while we awaited the Lancaster-bound train and back home, where we were at last welcomed by a “Squally heavy shower.”

We are tourers and almost without fail we meet, usually at 9:15 for a local ride of between 40 and 70 miles. Details on <ctclancaster.org.uk>.

Mike Codd (Rides co-ordinator)