LEJOG Cyle 2008 - Daily Diary Day 6

DAY 6
Longridge to Longtown

the plan:

105 miles mostly following the A6 today - through Lancaster and then on - and up - skirting the eastern side of the Lake District, through Kendal, Shap, Penrith and Carlisle, before reaching Longtown, which lies just South of the Scottish border.

the reality:

Fast and flat was promised for the first part of the route - and it delivered, with Steve B, the day leader, driving us hard from the front. Then we rolled into Cumbria, and of course what you gain in terms of beautiful scenery, you lose in terms of plenty of hills! Steve had done a good job building up the climb to Shap - definitely the longest climb so far, at around 8 miles all in (with a few bits of relief along the way) - so whilst it was long and hard, everyone managed it without too much problem. Then we enjoyed 5 miles or so down to our lunch stop, kindly provided by Harriet's parents. The rain came in after lunch, but not too hard, and it inspired us to continue the morning's pace so we rolled into Longtown at a very respectable time and our fastest average speed so far.

Distance travelled: 100 miles (cumulative 545 miles)
Total time taken Day 5: 8 hours 57 minutes
Cumulative time: 54 hours 49 minutes
Ride Time: 6 hours 18 minutes
Day Leader: Steve (B)

Achievement of the Day: climbing Shap Hill - particularly Steve B, who did it in a monkey suit (because people at work gave lots of money to Macmillan if he'd do it)

Quote of the day: "my shorts feel as though there's a hedgehog down them" - Tom

Thank you's of the day:
- to Wendy and Graham Mitchell for our lovely lunch

go to daily diary index

	DAY 6 Longridge to Longtown the plan: 105 miles mostly following the A6 today - through Lancaster and then on - and up - skirting the eastern side of the Lake District, through Kendal, Shap, Penrith and Carlisle, before reaching Longtown, which lies just South of the Scottish border. the reality: Fast and flat was promised for the first part of the route - and it delivered, with Steve B, the day leader, driving us hard from the front. Then we rolled into Cumbria, and of course what you gain in terms of beautiful scenery, you lose in terms of plenty of hills! Steve had done a good job building up the climb to Shap - definitely the longest climb so far, at around 8 miles all in (with a few bits of relief along the way) - so whilst it was long and hard, everyone managed it without too much problem. Then we enjoyed 5 miles or so down to our lunch stop, kindly provided by Harriet's parents. The rain came in after lunch, but not too hard, and it inspired us to continue the morning's pace so we rolled into Longtown at a very respectable time and our fastest average speed so far. Distance travelled: 100 miles (cumulative 545 miles) Total time taken Day 5: 8 hours 57 minutes Cumulative time: 54 hours 49 minutes Ride Time: 6 hours 18 minutes Day Leader: Steve (B) Achievement of the Day: climbing Shap Hill - particularly Steve B, who did it in a monkey suit (because people at work gave lots of money to Macmillan if he'd do it) Quote of the day: "my shorts feel as though there's a hedgehog down them" - Tom Thank you's of the day: - to Wendy and Graham Mitchell for our lovely lunch go to daily diary index