CTC LANCASTER & SOUTH LAKES RIDE REPORT Sunday 26th June 2022.

It must have been the strong wind from the south and thoughts of the struggle to get home!  Thus only four riders from the Cyclists Touring Club turned up at Beaumont for the late June Sunday outing to Arnside and on to Farleton View tea rooms for lunch.

It’s not often that you can feel the wind pushing you uphill, but we made the most of it, climbing up Kellet Lane at twice our usual speed. Not fast enough though to avoid being overtaken by Hugh Carthy, winding down after the Giro. Our fleet-of-wheel progress continued through the Kellets, along Borwick Lane to Warton, and beneath the swaying tree canopies to the Yealands ( by now we were searching for hills to be pushed up ! ). A  side wind for a while across to Leighton Moss, before gaining the shelter of The Row and Silverdale Village, bedecked with bunting for the annual Arts and Crafts Festival. Another encounter with Mr Carthy along the coastal lane ( this time he was going  a bit slower than us than us as we were descending the steep hill near Holgates and he was going up!)

We rolled into New Barns ,to be greeted by the fine sight of five machines belonging to Club regulars who had gone straight to the Bob-in café. We chatted and revelled in the holiday atmosphere created by the caravaners enjoying late breakfasts. We delayed our departure, observing our bikes in danger of being blown into the bay.

Eventually just three of us remounted and became reaccustomed to being pushed along, dodging the skittish pedestrians on the promenade doing the rounds of the Festival venues. The rising tide at Sandside was an impressive sight, with lots of white water, and Milnthorpe came upon us quickly, as did Ackenthwaite and Farleton View.

The forecast was now saying a good chance of heavy showers, to add to the expected strong headwind. It was decided to head for home, the leader tucking in behind the two electric-assists.The protection of one was lost at Priest Hutton, and the second at Nether Kellet, which just left one mile to push into the wind. The moral of this tale could be to make sure that you go riding with some electrics if a strong wind is blowing.

The CTC welcomes new riders. Our Rides Diary can be found on our website www.ctclancaster.org.uk