10th June 2019 Monday – The 3 A's & Franklin go walkabout and look what they find?

Hello Everybody!

Route: Chorley to Shap

For the non-mathematicians out there:

Distance: 77.7 miles (Total 528.0)	Average speed: 12.7 mph
Calories: 1,640	Cycling time: 6h07m
Average cadence: 69 rpm	Climb: 4,232ft, Descent: 3,707ft
Heart (yes I have one): max 147 aver 119	Aver Temp: 17C, Max temp 26C
Temperament: Lumpy but probably good training for later

Start of day was quite nice, sunny and gentle wind on my back, so what’s not to like. Yesterday I got talking to a cyclist who I now know is called Martin. Have I developed extra sensory perception? As a matter of fact I have, but that’s not the point. The point, and it’s a very sharp point, is that Martin donated £10 to Starlight based on a little chat we had and also my very professionally produced, at no great cost to me, business cards. Thank you Martin in case you are reading this and I will thank you via the donation site as well.

This sheep was defo giving me the evils from a field.

Today was fairly lumpy as you can see but some of the scenery was magnificent, as you can see from the photos. I followed the A6 for the most of the first half and then the A683 – this second road was a bit more lumpy but worth the effort.

Before we all set off, Arnold & Arnolda said that they wanted to find a bike made for two i.e. Tandem, instead of using their imagined carbon fibre pocket rockets. Franklin asked to go along and Arnie promised to look after him. They memorised the route and we agreed a location and time to meet back together. Well, guess what they ended up finding and bringing along for the ride. Not a Tandem but a real actual Tridem with a person thrown in for free. His name was Nigel and he's a very nice boy. The photos show Arnold at the back and Arnolda in the middle, with little Arnie, as always, on Nigel's head. They had a great time together and ended up playing large scale chess which is much harder to master than normal sized chess due to the effort of lifting the pieces. Nigel then left with just him on the bike and we all waved goodbye, but just for now. See Ruth for an explanation.

With the 3 A's onboard

Without the 3 A's onboard

I had lunch around lunch time and the café I picked was in a place called newton I think. It had a Dutch couple who were cycling from coast to coast and from what they said, they seemed to be enjoying their trip, although they were not so positive about the road conditions. They are spoilt given they live in Cycling Heaven AKA Holland.

About 7 miles from Shap I happened to come upon 2 “cyclists” – I used “ and ” to try to show that they were not REAL cyclists. Yes they were the electric brigade. This is not that bad as anything to get peeps out on a bike is good. However, let me delve further. We were going along a flat bit of road when we met. I was going goodly so I said hello as I passed, first the lady and then second, the gentleman. However, he was no gentleman. When the road went up he used his electric assist to pass me again. Oh dear! I tried as best I could to keep up but batteries won out for the time being. Once the road got level again I re-passed and then extended my lead. The chap kept trying to catch me but failed. It sounds pathetic and it is but Eddy Merckx once, or maybe even twice said, “if you get two people, each on a bike, you have a bike race”.

The hostel I’d booked in Shap was very nice indeed. They also did evening food so no need to go back out. Shap is on the Wainwright coast to coast route and the place was full of such walkers. There were some Brits, Aussies & Kiwis also. Some of them had got lost during the day so all was not well at the inn for some of them. I chatted to the Aussies and Kiwi of course and they even let me have my din dins with them. Nice.

OK I sense you are getting bored so I will say, good-bye - but just for now! Ruth will explain.

Kissy, Kissy

Nice photos from the day: