Cumbria & Scotland
The training continues…
It’s only six weeks before the scheduled start of my ride on the morning of Thursday September 8. I’ve been training as much as I can while also needing to work! I made a trip up to the north of England, staying with good friends at their wonderful rural farmhouse in Penruddock, Cumbria. Using that as my base I made two rides; the first a 70-mile loop through Windermere and across to Kendal, with about 6,400 feet of climbing.
Windermere Loop https://www.strava.com/activities/7419084955
The second day I tackled the amazing Honister Pass via Cockermouth (see picture above) which winds up from Buttermere, for an 80-mile ride with about 7,000 feet of climbing. The scenery is incredible and there were few cyclists out that day. I stopped at a small bakery in Cockermouth and a very nice young Italian man who served me recommended a place to stop for pie in Arizona; he had crossed the USA on almost the same route before the pandemic, but in the opposite direction.
Honister Pass https://www.strava.com/activities/7425014583
After leaving Cumbria it was up to the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland, reached by ferry from Ardrossan.
The western shore of the Isle of Arran near Machrie.
I had only one full day of cycling on Arran, so chose to cover the three main passes in a figure eight configuration, which you can see here, starting and ending at my hotel in Lamlash on the eastern shore overlooking Holy Island:
Isle of Arran Figure Eight https://www.strava.com/activities/7435200412
The ride was about 80 miles with 6,400 feet of climbing. Returning to the mainland after two nights in Arran, I headed down to the little town of Sanquhar in Dumfries & Galloway. I found a popular route to ride via Komoot, which started at Drumlanrig Castle. It was a very warm day (gettin up to over 70F) so the 76 miles and 7,500 feet of climbing felt a bit more arduous!
Galloway Loop https://www.strava.com/activities/7445845344
The rolling Scottish countryside near Thornhill.
This was a truly memorable trip. Thank you Dave & Paddy Palmer for being my hosts in Cumbria.
