A merry band of three intrepid cyclists (that's Trevor Calum and Arthur by the way) met at the Solo Cafe just in front of Carlisle railway station. The weather was looking good and after a cup of tea and an excellent bacon roll we set off south on the A6. Now that doesn't sound like a promising road number for a quiet cycle ride, but we were able to turn left on to Cumwhinton Road after only a couple of miles and before we left the relative safety of the thirty mph speed limit.
Now Cumwhinton Road unsurprisingly heads over to Cumwhinton so that's where we went. By this time the sun was out with a vengeance so we planned to head for Lazonby keeping close to the railway line. The thinking here was that the railway must be reasonably level, so the road near it must also be.......WRONG.
We stopped in the pretty village of Armathwaite for a rest and then went to Lazonby for lunch.
In Lazonby there was a handy bench seat near the cemetery near to the railway viaduct and by a lucky coincidence a steam train thundered over us as we sat there in the sunshine. This is the Carlisle to Settle railway which has survived closure over the years by the skin of it's teeth.
After lunch this was where the fun really began. By this time the weather was (to use a favourite phrase of mine) 'stinking hot'. We could see the hills to the east and knew about Hartside Pass, there was nothing else for it but to begin our assault. We got to Kirkoswald and then consulted a map. Now we usually approach the pass from the south and take the main road up but from Kirkoswald there is a shorter route, much quieter and better still, it's steeper.
Well of course we had to take the steeper route, it does join the main road near the summit but it is a splendid climb. This road also forms part of the C2C route and is waymarked by someone with a great sense of humour. As you climb up through a farm at five mph on a 16% there is a road side sign which advises cyclists to SLOW DOWN. I would have laughed but I didn't have any breath to spare at the time.
A welcome cuppa at the Hartside cafe was soon gone and we pedalled down to Alston. Pedalled you say? Yes, there was quite a wind blowing up there at 1900ft. We avoided the Bluebell Inn and then saw the narrow gauge engine in use before heading back up on to the moors. I don't remember this climb being as steep as this before, perhaps I'm getting old. It didn't take long to reach the excellent Youth Hostel at Ninebanks.
Bert came bouncing in at about 8.30 , he had driven up to join us cycling for the next few days.
Calum
Day one was to be a breeze. In fact, so easy that Arthur had suggested that we made the meal that night, because it would be an easy day to carry the provisions. Smart thinking. So off we set. I had my bike loaded up with a carefully planned load. Lightweight toothbrush, extra small bottles of shampoo and shower gel, my lightest selection of clothes, and even a lightweight camping towel. Then I crammed in loads of food and wine. All went well leaving Carlisle, and the pace was nice and gentle. The sun was out and it was a confidence inspiring start to the Holiday.
Then came Hartside Hill, by a new steeper route. I was starting to fear the worst as, very out of breath, and my bike angled in a steep upward direction, I recalled Arthur saying this was to be the easiest day. What could possibly be next? Well a strange downhill section with a headwind it seemed. Designed to tire out weary cyclists. I was so glad to get to the Ninebanks Youth Hostel, and lighten that catering load.
I had never really hostelled before so this was becoming a holiday of firsts. And so that was the night I first met Bertie. What can I say? A very individual personality? Charismatic? A bit bonkers? Loud? Cheerful? Anyway fortunately I'm not someone who judges people quickly, so I spent the next hour or so quietly ticking off a mental list of the things Arthur said Bertie would forget. Full marks to Arthur. After a while I found Bertie to be an amusing, genuine soul and he even told me he was very clever!
