Ride Report 09.01.22 CTC Lancaster & South Lakes

The January club rides of Lancaster Cyclists Touring Club have settled into a pattern of short rides of about 40 miles ,getting home for a late lunch. Which fits well into the current weather pattern of rain arriving in  mid afternoon. It also helps to keep the bikes clean .

On Sunday 9th January the forecast suggested a continuation of the pattern, which suited those congregating at Halton Station for a one-stop ride to Ingleton. The reduced mileage was made up for by searching out some hills, and the hills rewarded us with less traffic and great views. Soon after  we started out we were enchanted by the surreal lighting effects of the mid winter sun reflecting off the Bowland Fells as we cycled up the Kirkby Lonsdale road and around the Aughton- Gressingham loop.

The main road up the valley wasn’t much busier than the upland lanes, and decent progress was made to Melling and Cantsfield, and onwards via the sharply undulating road-less-travelled by us through Burton in Lonsdale and on to Ingleton.

Our arrival tripled the customer base at Inglesport café, where tea, coffee and cakes were enthusiastically devoured; some even indulged in bacon butties. The weak winter sun illumined our chatter at a south facing window until it was to move on, whereupon it disappeared and left us hoping for some hills to warm us up. These were delivered along Tatterthorn Lane on the way to High Bentham.

The consensus was in favour of a direct rout home via Wennington and Wray, and we were outpaced by the racing waters of the Wenning, greatly swollen by recent rains. At Halton Station we dispersed to enjoy a late lunch at home, after 45 miles completed in the dry.

The CTC welcomes new riders, and our rides diary can be found on the website www.ctclancaster.org.uk.

Len Howard