JOGLE route - Shap to Lancaster
Day 12 of my end to end cycle ride
More LEJOG cyclists climbing up towards Shap
I was feeling pretty perky when I cycled away from Shap. I knew there was to be a climb but was not expecting the climb it was; long, slow and again with it being high up, quite cold as well.
After what seemed an eternity, it was all downhill to Kendal, but even upon reaching there I was pretty tired, so took a rest in the Town Centre. I got talking to a local Cyclist who said it was a good idea to follow Cycle Route 6 to Lancaster, a nice flat route he said. Well to a Kentish man, flat means the Romney Marshes, but to a Cumbrian, it means like cycling over the north downs from Ashford to Canterbury via Crundale!
After just a couple of miles I was really finding things difficult. A Road Racing Cyclist came alongside me for about a mile and had a chat. Upon reaching what seemed a fairly simple hill I told him to carry on as I'd have to walk.
About 18 miles further on and although going along some extremely pretty Lanes, I saw him again. It turned out that he'd been a bit worried about me and had zig zagged the route and came up behind me on 4 occasions, hadn't made himself known, but was just checking. That indeed furthered my confirmation that the human race isn't all bad and there are a few 'Guardian Angels' about as well.
He showed me the final route through and suggested I joined the Canal before Morecombe and if I followed the Cycle / Footpath, this would lead me straight into Lancaster City, which it did and so did I !
I visited the Tourist Information Centre there and just asked "Where's the nearest B&B, I can't cycle another mile!". As luck would have it, there was one no more than 300 meters away, close to the City Centre, so handy to go for a Meal as well.
I have to admit that this was one of only two occasions where I had serious doubts about continuing, the fact it was right next to the Railway Station made the feeling even worse.
It had been a very difficult day, I felt very little energy left in me, but I knew that if the good fortune were to continue, I would be OK.
I went for a Meal and on returning, sat down and planned a route for the following day. There was no way I would be cycling down the A6, so decided upon the continuation of the National Route 6 with fingers crossed about it not being so hilly as this day had been.
As the next day was Day 13., I was worried!
Tweet