Back to Waterpark but the other way this time.

The weather was looking a bit hit and miss so we took the bikes out for a ride instead of climbing! With a friend tagging along with us who is just getting back into biking we thought we would show him some good trails.  Also Fi wanted to do Parkamoor due to us choosing the enduro trails last time we were here.  Waterpark was the staring point from here we went up onto Three Foot Oak (Nasty road climb to wake the legs and lungs up) we met a couple of 4x4s en route.  We doubled back so we could go through Big Plantation where  the Blue Bells were out.  Great time of year to be riding through a blanket of blue bells.
Next we headed along the road to Thwaite Moss up and over to Force Forge Farm.  More fun in Grizedale with force Knott then Breasty Haw, we then descended to the road and made an easyish climb back (no hill is easy!) to the fox via Tarn Intake. Dans legs were beginning to feel the burn but we persuaded him to add in Hawkshead to the ride so a quick blast down the 4x4 which he agreed was worth the climb out of Hawkshead later.  From the bottom of the 4x4  we went along Esthwaite Water to Hawkshead and a quick glance at the cakes before the climb back up into Grizedale.  Yeah, we were now on the home straight so we contoured along the top of Grizedale to Low Parkamoor, then undulated along the tops with more than breezy conditions before a great descent down to Waterpark.
Glad our friend Dan agreed the leg burn was worth the great descents and views.

Stat 24.1 miles 3045ft

Getting ready

Blue Bells galore

Some fun roots and rocks.

"Hello master!"

Enjoying the boardwalks through Grizedale

Dan enjoying the trails.

Rolling

Rolling

Yeah

Parkamoor

Rocky Thrills

Dan mastering the downhills 

Change of Rubber

We had a friend up for the weekend and headed over to Wallabarrow with some members of KMC. The wind was strong and cold so only 3 routes climbed: West Wall, Thomas, Digitation, still a great day out  and good to be on some rock.

Thomas - first climb of the day

Shaw belaying Judith

Fi 

Dan wrapped up

Smiles on second pitch of digitation

Fellow KMC members 

Dan pitch 1 on West Wall

Ready to lead second pitch on West Wall

Getting ready

Onwards to the top!

Tour of coniston

We managed to get the Friday off work so we asked a friend if he fancied a ride round the lake plus some hills.  We started in the normal spot Waterpark. From this point we set off on the road to Water Yeat then the climbing started (Woodland Fell).  We rejoined the tarmac at Haveriggholme then the road went on until Torver where we headed up from here to the Walna Scar Road.  From the road we had a cracking descent to Spoon Hall, we headed round the top of Coniston with a brief stop for lunch at the end of the lake.(A tad windy but great to watch the boat)  A tricky climb awaited us up into grizedale followed  by some of the Northface trail and thrills on the new enduro trails. We made a quick visit to the Visitor Centre before  climbing to the top of Carron crag which gave us a great view  of the lake.  A hurtle down here and onto some more enduro trails that lead to the lake road which we took back to water park.

State  25.8 miles 3476 ft climbing

Fi Crossing a Stream 

Fi having fun in the grass 

Fast and flowing 

Walna Scar

Grizedale 

Carron Crag

Carron Crag 

Enduro 

Blue Bells are coming 

High Street.

The weather was set to come in by mid afternoon so we decided to set off early ish and do the normal High Street ride.  We parked up at Low Hartsop setting off on the biggest climb of the day.  Rideable to begin with but soon turned into a pushing and carrying hill.  The rideable bit is from Low Hartsop to Hayeswater from here we carried and pushed the bikes up to The Knott.  Then along the undulating ridge of High street gradually passing under Rampsgill Head, up to High Raise and then rode on above the top of Red Crag.  We took five here to take in the views then trudged along to Loadpot Hill where the ground started to get wet as we climbed up to Arthur's Pike.   Next we bog hopped dropping down to the main track and contoured over to Howtown before heading up to St Peter's Church.  We only had the best part of the ride left the BW along the side of Ullswater and then back to the van. Not too busy on BW along Ullswater today and with friendly walkers too.

Stats -  Distance: 20.8 miles   Climb: 3447ft

Getting ready

Heading up from Hayeswater

Hayeswater

Start of the carry

Looking back down from where we had come from

Push

Carry

Carry

Ride - Yeah

Time to appreciate the view

Enjoying the views

Descent - wet grass!

Up,down, up, down the stream crossings

Rocky fun begins

Seat down

Ullswater -clouds creeping in

Up and over

Steps

Waterfall as we head back

Selfie