Day training Bike carrying

We had a day off with a great forecast so we thought it would make for a good ride to nip over into Longsleddale up Gatescarth pass down into Haweswater then the hike a bike of Nan Bield pass.  After that into Kentmere over Green Quarter down HP over to Browfoot and finally pick up the three rivers descent.

Green Quarter Fell Track

The Sun is out to play

Dropping down into Haweswater via Gatescarth

That's the way up to Nan Bield

Looking back from where we had come from 

Fi pratising bike carrying 

Nearly made it to the top 

My bike at the top of Nan Bield just waiting for the descent 

Fi carrying her bike -  nearly at the top 

Short video how to put your bike down (Not!)

Kentmere Reservoir

Kentmere valley

Looking back from Smalithwaite Knott

Near the disused lead mines

Yorkshire

We had a couple of days so the plan was to head over to Reeth and do a two day bike tour from there. This was a warm down from the previous weeks Lakeland 200km. The route started off in Reeth and headed up a nice tarmac climb towards Gibbon hill then down past a shooting hut which was open with a flushing toilet!  Then we head up and over the next hill to Askrigg.  From Askrigg we took a long track over the tops past Stake Moss via Gilbert Lane, turning right to head towards Hubberholme then the carrying started up and over Horse Head to Halton Gill.  This was the only bit of carrying we had to do but there was more pushing to come.  From Foxup we headed past Plover Hill and down to Horton in Ribblesdale where we had to make a tough decision whether to keep going or stop and wait for a pub tea. (To get to Askrigg for pub food would be about another 22 miles away with a couple of hills in the way).  Foolishly we manned up and went for the extra miles by starting off on the Pennine Way over to Greenfield to meet some tarmac miles until we got to the old Roman Road.  The night was staring to close in so we made a new plan to put the tent up and cook some tea.(It was getting chilly and a bit late for pub food)
      The following morning we got up to another great day weather wise so we set off to Bainbridge where the draw of a cafe got the better of us and we stopped for sausage sandwiches and proper cups of tea.  After the quick refill we set off for Reeth via Whitaside Moor and Cat Scar we got to Grinton and the day was still young and legs still had something left so Fremington Edge was calling.  A nice steady climb and a great descent to a lovely little pub in Langthwaite. A quick loop over to Gunnerside Gill before it was back alongside the river to Reeth.

The Stats
2 Days
Day 1 49.1 miles 6671 ft climbing  10h 31m total time

Day 2 41.3 miles 5386 ft climbing 9h 20 total time

The start of the road climb and the sun is out 

Bolton Castle

Bone dry trails 

Video of Fi enjoying the bumps

Askrigg here we come 

Let's take 5 and refuel 

A bit of pushing 

Dropping down into Horton in Ribblesdale

                                                         Legs starting to feel it

Last climb of the day 

Waking up to the sun 

Camping near Roman Road 

Could't get camera out fastest enough  

Sorting out bag 

Down hill at last 

Nice green track 

Grouse come to say hello 

The moon or Fremington Edge

Checking GPS to see if we are still on track 

Shooters Butt

Here come's Fi

Rocky gully

Photo hit nail on the head!

New Year trip to Scotland

We just had time for a quick trip up to Scotland before we had to get back to work after the Christmas break.   Packed up with a quick decision from web camera watching we went up to the Cairn Gorm ski center, making it up there for just after lunch unfortunately to find that the web camera had lied! There was very little in the way of snow, still keen to enjoy what there was we went for a quick skin up next to the lifts and down 3 times before we lost the sun.  The next day we made our way to Lurcher's gully and crag making the most of what snow there was.  From the top of Lurcher's we could see some hills in the distance that looked covered in snow so when we got back to the van we headed off in search of the snow.  We parked up just outside Kingussie, went for a walk meeting a fellow tourer who highlighted the snow he had skied on during that day, back to the van, filled up on food and waited with bated breath for the morning.  The sun was out and the snow looked good. Along walk in and a skin up past a bothy resulted in a day playing between Geal Charn & A Chailleach  (One super descent which we just had to do twice).  Eager for another day skiing we drove to Creag Meagaidh and were soon dream of more ski touring.  However, the following day did not go to plan when we woke up in a warm van and poked our heads out to see that most of the snow had gone and rain was starting to set it.  A wonder up to the loch to view the crags, lunch and the decision to drive back was made.

Coming down off A Chailleach

Views from the top 

Looking down onto Newtonmore

Snowy hills in the distance 

Layering up for the descent 

Skinning back up for another go 

Fi making the most of the snow 

Fi playing in the half pipe! 

Sun Set over Newtonmore