Tent, check. Sleeping bags, check. Oh hello. I did tell you we were planning on cycling from coast to coast? I didn't? Oh, well, now you know, let's get started! Our journey began on the Thursday morning after only a small number of hours of sleep. Not to be dissuaded, we awoke at 06:00 sharp and began our final preparations. For me this involved not one, not two, but three breakfasts. In my defence I anticipated a tough day ahead pulling our bike trailer (nicknamed Bob) on a route with a fair few hills thrown in for good measure. For our coast to coast journey, we made the decision to cycle to the start point (Morecambe) and back from the end point (Bridlington) rather than to take public transport.
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| The journey was not without some excitement... |
Despite the weather being overcast, seemingly verging on the point of precipitation, the morning remained warm, dry and generally pleasant with the exception of some strong winds o'er on't moors. As we rolled into Gargrave, it was about time to find somewhere to refuel - and not a moment too soon. We'd encountered one climb in particular that had me straining with all my might in my lowest gear, but it was a futile attempt. As I could propel the bike forward no further and once I'd managed to unclip my shoe from the pedal to ground myself (that was a hairy moment indeed that almost had me flat on my face), I realised just how heavy the bike trailer was. It was an effort just to maintain a stationary position on the incline and to prevent Bob from rolling, myself and my steed included, backwards down the hill.
The rain started to fall as we found somewhere suitable to have our lunch. And it didn't stop. The second half of our journey from Gargrave to Morecambe was utterly and completely dreadful. Atrocious. Ghastly. Abominable. No word can accurately portray the suffering we endured. As we weren't expecting any adverse weather conditions, we were both dressed in clothing suitable for summer - short sleeve jerseys and shorts. Rain coats had been left at home where we thought they wouldn't be needed. Oh how wrong we were.
The highlight of our pain came as the predetermined route has us turn down a narrow farm track (Craven Ridge Lane, Settle). The lane was unsurfaced, uneven, wet and slippery and in places steep. It was both mentally and physically draining to stay upright. And then the inevitable happened. The bike slipped from under me and threw me down to the ground. I saw the trailer on its side and expected the worst; a bent frame or a damaged hitch point. Luckily it was neither. Onwards and upwards, as they say.
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| Certainly not 5* accommodation, but good enough for us |
We arrived at the (expensive and unimpressive) campsite in Morecambe not a moment too soon. Saturated from the rain and drained of energy it had been a tough day. With more rain expected over the following 24 hours, morale was low. Would we have to suffer as much on day #2?
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