Ride Report Sunday 21 November 2021

The long-continuing mild precursor to winter riding was greeted by a strong showing on Sunday’s outing to Kirkby Lonsdale. Cyclist Touring Club members anticipated crystal-clear views , brilliant autumnal colours and a landscape brought to vibrant life by the low-lying sun. They were not disappointed.

Twelve riders gazed across to Clougha Fell from the hillside at Four Lane Ends, eager to get warm on the climb up Kellet Lane. There was a slight delay occasioned by an animated discussion on taps and dies, but we knew that morning coffee was not too far away.

The café at Leighton Moss offered a sanctuary until the frosted fields returned to their green patchwork. On the way we picked up another three riders ,at Kellet and Borwick, and a further three were waiting for a chat at the café. Fortune favoured us on the thorn-strewn lane near Cinderbarrow; no punctures to impede progress.

Lethargy over coffee and cakes was finally overcome, and eleven of us continued through Waterslack, skirting Hale Moss to reach Burton, and thence to Dalton and Biggins to get to our favourite lunch stop at Casterton Golf Club.

After an hour spent putting the world to rights it was thought expedient to reclaim our bikes and head for home,with some opting for the Melling and Hornby route whilst most chose the west bank of the Lune, turning off at Newton and climbing up to Docker Park and down to Capernwray and the Kellets. The setting sun troubled those without peaked caps, but late afternoon cloud came to our rescue.

The verdict ?  Another splendid autumnal ride. Details of our range of rides, mid-week and Sundays, can be found on our website   www.ctclancaster.org.uk.  Information on taps and dies can also be found on the internet, or at your local library !

Len Howard