It was a bizarre start to the day. I was in the breakfast room at 7.30am and I asked the young lady who was serving me if I could fetch my bike, which had been locked in the function room upstairs at the hotel. She said she would fetch it. I protested, saying I would collect it because the bike is quite heavy. She retorted “It’s alright I’m used to carrying beer kegs”. While I was tucking into my breakfast she returned but without the bike – only an embarrassed look. She was unable to access the function room as the chap who stored the bike the night before went home with the key for the function room and wasn’t due to start work until 9am.
It was an auspicious start to the day because I would cover 3 x counties today; Lancashire, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. In Kirkby, I reached my half way point.
On departure, there was a nasty climb out of Lancaster, I took a quiet country road to a small town called Caton.
There was some windy roads where I picked up some speed with corresponding descents.
However, there had been overnight rain and the road surface was quite greasy.
With the added weight of the pannier bags and handlebar bag on my bike, I had to be very careful controlling my bike as I swung round the downhill roads.
I was relieved to get onto the National Cycle Route 5 which was a lovely off-road bridleway in woodland running parallel to an old railway line.
My brother Neil had travelled from Leeds to meet me on today’s stage. We met at the Crook of Lune. After our initial greeting, Neil said “There’s a 14% gradient hill to climb in the first couple of miles!” It was great to have some company and our chat took my mind off some of the more challenging aspects of today’s journey. But we spoke about the importance of getting the right fuel for long distance endurance sports. This conversation made us hungry so we agreed to stop for lunch at The Black Bull pub in Sedbergh.
Neil kindly picked up the tab for lunch and said he would cycle with me for a little bit more before doing a U turn and heading back to Kirkby for his car. He passed me an assortment of biscuits, Kendal mint cake and nutrient tablets to ensure I had plenty fuel to get me to my destination of Penrith.
I have to say today has been the best day cycling so far. Not only did I get to spend an enjoyable 4 hours cycling with my brother, but the route was pleasant quiet roads with occasional sunshine.
It is incredible how the landscape changes from one day to the next. Yesterday I was riding through urban industrial towns such as Wigan and Preston, Whereas, today I was enjoying the fabulous scenery of the North Yorkshire Dales and Lake District.
After lunch, Neil and I climbed out of Sedbergh and enjoyed the wonderful views from Howgill Fells.
After climbing and descending Loups Fell I was rewarded with some stunning views.
I cut through the valley where the River Lune runs, which runs parallel with the M6 motorway and the main western rail line.
There was a gradual 8 mile climb on a pleasant quiet country road (I saw no cars and only 1 x tractor) up to a town called Shap. I stopped at a coffee shop and I was pleasantly surprise when the lady serving me told me Penrith was only 9 miles away and it was downhill all the way.
Unfortunately, I had left organising my overnight digs a little too late and struggled to get something in Penrith.
However, as I arrived at 5.20pm and I was feeling fresh, I set my sites on the next major town, Carlisle, as it was only 20 miles away, and this would give me an advantage of having a head start tomorrow.
I managed to book a hotel in the north of Carlisle, but my sat-nav took me through a farm steading and I had to take of my pannier bags and lift my bike over a fence to negotiate and impossible stile.
I arrived at the Vallum guesthouse at 7.25pm. The receptionist informed me the kitchen closes at 7.30pm. I ordered a scrummy lasagne before I checked into my room.
Today’s trivial facts
NO. OF MILES CYCLED TODAY : 92
MOMENT OF THE DAY: Meeting up and cycling part of the stage with my brother
WEATHER: Dry, sunny & cloudy intervals, 13 degrees
FUEL: I ‘fuelled up’ and ate well for breakfast and relied on the 2 x bananas, energy bars, pub lunch (a superb chicken and smoked pancetta pie) Snickers bars + sports drinks and lots of water.
SONG OF THE DAY: Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdFe3evXpk
% of FUNDRAISING TARGET REACHED: 63% (Thank U for sponsoring me)
TOMORROW’S STAGE 7 DESITINATION: Biggar, South Lanarkshire (70 miles)
Scotty Boy's Bicycle Across Britain 
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