Sunday 15th March Allonby Cafe. by Roy Jackson
On a fine but very windy morning, Roy and Tom cycled from the Melbreck, crossing the A66 and up the hill to Great Clifton. Then onto Camerton, Seaton and Siddick with a strong tail wind. It was then onto Flimby where they found the underpass still flooded, to avoid wet feet Roy and Tom rode up the main road into Maryport.
Here they joined the promenade and cycle track to Allonby cafe, where they were first to arrive, closely followed by Tracy, Baca and Anita.Anita parked her car at Barepot, cycled to Allonby, arriving just as Tracy and Baca were taking their bikes out of the van. So Anita joined them for a circular ride, going to Westnewton, Tarns, Mawbray and back to Allonby. After lunch Tracy and Baca gave Anita a lift back to Barepot.Roy and Tom left with Roy making good use of his e-bike riding against the very strong headwind, as Tom tucked in behind, (a very unusual occurrence).They returned to the Melbreak by the same route. 31 miles.
Wednesday 11th March Scarfell Hotel Rosthwaite by Dianne Moyes
Maggie and Stewart arrived at Roy’s first, followed by Tom and Dianne. The sky was grey and rain was falling so no one was very keen to get going. Then Sue Murphy arrived on foot and said John was on his way, also on foot. So more tea and biscuits were served while we discussed the world situation while keeping apart from each other. Then we realised the rain had stopped and it was drying up so, encouraged by Maggie, we decided to head down to Stonethwaite then return to the Scafell Hotel for lunch. John dashed off to get changed and collect a bike, it took him ages to choose which one. Then we all set off into Keswick and onto the Borrowdale road. There was quite a bit of traffic on the first section but it gradually got quieter. Stopping at Grange Bridge to get together, Roy told us John had punctured but had said to carry on. It turns out he punctured on a very narrow section near Lodore and wheeled his bike to the Borrowdale Hotel where he could find some shelter from the wind before effecting repairs. After that he returned home. The five of us carried on through Rosthwaite and down to Stonethwaite. There was water everywhere, on the road, in the fields and gushing down the myriad streams that go under the road, beautiful clear water.
Returning from Stonethwaite we stopped at the Scafell Hotel where at first there was only one other customer and four members of staff. Trade picked up a little later on. The bar is called the Riverside Bar because just behind it runs the Stonethwaite Beck, quite a large beck which meets the Derwent just north of Rosthwaite. I had to check my map for this. After lunch we headed back to Braithwaite via Grange and the road under Catbells with more water gurgling and a bit of a rain shower too. I think we were all pleased that we had managed to get a ride in.
Sunday 8th March Club Run Craggs Bothel
One of the usual start venues the Brewers Fayre, so ten members gathered round the table, they were Dianne, John, Maggie, Stewart, Janet, Ivan, Maurice, Tom, Roy and John.
Dianne, Maggie and Stewart had cycled there while the rest had arrived by car.
Maurice and John Moyes both left first, leaving the rest to sort out a route to the Craggs. Dianne proposed a route that everyone seemed ok with, rather than the usual route via Isel Bridge.
Leaving the Brewers Fayre with Dianne on the front they headed across the A66 into Cockermouth to join the Low road to Brigham.
It was again across the A66 towards Little Broughton where they took the road past Broughton Craggs to Tallentire but not before a few ups and downs.
The descent from Tallentire was most welcome as they made their way to Greengill where they turned right to Gilcrux with a following wind.
It was now mostly flat and with the strong tail wind they made up for any lost time to Threapland, it was now mostly uphill to Bothel and the A595.
After crossing A595 to join the A591 half the group could be seen disappearing up the road, with the wind now coming from the right as they approached the Craggs.
Already seated were Tracy, Catherine, Brian and Maurice taking the total to twelve for lunch all sat together in a busy venue.
Catherine when she was small used to join the Solway on the back of Brian's tandem trike, now she rides about on a scooter.
After a good lunch it was back out into the cold wind, Maggie and Stewart heading back home via the Castle Inn, while the rest headed for Sunderland and Isel Bridge.
A brief stop on Isel Bridge overlooking the river, to find it flowing quite high, before facing the short steep climb to join the road back to Cockermouth.
This was straight into the wind, even having to pedal downhill, on reaching outskirts of Cockermouth the group split, leaving Tom, Roy and John to make their way back to the Brewers Fayre, while Dianne, Janet and Ivan made for home.
Wednesday 4th March Croft Farm Cafe Buttermere.
On a much calmer morning but cold, ten members made it to the Brewers Fayre for the pre ride chat and coffee. They were Maurice, Tom, Dianne, John, Brian, Roy, Janet, Ivan, Maggie, Stewart and John.
Just as everyone was ready to leave Sue and Paul appeared, with half the group outside and the rest making their way out Sue and Paul made a quick u-turn.
After a brief chat Sue announced it was Paul's birthday so everybody sang happy birthday.
Finally everyone made a move with Stewart on the front headed up the road to Paddle School where they turned left to Lorton.
After a reshuffle in the group Maurice found himself on the front and the speed increased as they made their way toward Rodgerscales.
On reaching the bridge over the Cocker Maurice stopped for the rest to catch up, he said he was going straight down the valley, while the rest opted to go via Hope Beck.
Tom under his own power stormed away as the road climbed steadily to Hope Beck, stopping for the rest to regroup before joining the valley road.
Maurice doing his own thing was waiting at the junction that leads to Buttermere to wave the group goodbye.
He was going on to Scale Hill, turning right after crossing the River Cocker to Thackthwaite and back to his car at the Brewers Fayre.
The rest started the climb to Lanthwaite this caused the group to split, for them to regroup at the cattle grid with a splendid view down the valley.
It was now all downhill to Rannerdale followed by a flat section along Crummock before reaching Buttermere for lunch.
With not many visitors about the cafe was rather quiet as the group tucked into a verity of meals off the menu, joining them were Pat and Johnny, having ridden from home.
After being fed and watered eleven members left together but soon split on the short climb out of Buttermere, (must mention six were on e-bikes)
Regrouping at the cattle grid at Lanthwaite the group would split again on the descent,
Dianne taking eight of them via Scale Hill and Thackthwaite back to Cockermouth.
That left Maggie, Stewart and John to find their way back home via Lorton, Hundith and Embleton, while John opting to go via Wythop Mill to join the A66.
Sunday 1st March Wheatsheaf Lorton by Dianne Moyes
Very strong winds put most people off cycling but Tom decided to park at Brewer’s Fayre and head down the Lorton Valley. He went through Cockermouth first which was a bit more sheltered then through Lorton to Scale Hill. He turned round to return by Thackthwaite with the wind behind. Dianne went to Lorton by Paddle School and Rogerscale and the climb up the main road to the school was rather too exposed. After that it was fine. At the Wheatsheaf ten of us sat down to lunch, Bacca, Tracy, Roy, Dianne and Anita on one table, and Steve, Maurice, Tom, Maggie and Stewart on another. After a good natter Tom and Dianne rode back together to Cockermouth via Lorton Bridge and Rogerscale through a lot of surface water. Everyone else returned home by car.
On a fine but very windy morning, Roy and Tom cycled from the Melbreck, crossing the A66 and up the hill to Great Clifton. Then onto Camerton, Seaton and Siddick with a strong tail wind. It was then onto Flimby where they found the underpass still flooded, to avoid wet feet Roy and Tom rode up the main road into Maryport.
Here they joined the promenade and cycle track to Allonby cafe, where they were first to arrive, closely followed by Tracy, Baca and Anita.Anita parked her car at Barepot, cycled to Allonby, arriving just as Tracy and Baca were taking their bikes out of the van. So Anita joined them for a circular ride, going to Westnewton, Tarns, Mawbray and back to Allonby. After lunch Tracy and Baca gave Anita a lift back to Barepot.Roy and Tom left with Roy making good use of his e-bike riding against the very strong headwind, as Tom tucked in behind, (a very unusual occurrence).They returned to the Melbreak by the same route. 31 miles.
Wednesday 11th March Scarfell Hotel Rosthwaite by Dianne Moyes
Maggie and Stewart arrived at Roy’s first, followed by Tom and Dianne. The sky was grey and rain was falling so no one was very keen to get going. Then Sue Murphy arrived on foot and said John was on his way, also on foot. So more tea and biscuits were served while we discussed the world situation while keeping apart from each other. Then we realised the rain had stopped and it was drying up so, encouraged by Maggie, we decided to head down to Stonethwaite then return to the Scafell Hotel for lunch. John dashed off to get changed and collect a bike, it took him ages to choose which one. Then we all set off into Keswick and onto the Borrowdale road. There was quite a bit of traffic on the first section but it gradually got quieter. Stopping at Grange Bridge to get together, Roy told us John had punctured but had said to carry on. It turns out he punctured on a very narrow section near Lodore and wheeled his bike to the Borrowdale Hotel where he could find some shelter from the wind before effecting repairs. After that he returned home. The five of us carried on through Rosthwaite and down to Stonethwaite. There was water everywhere, on the road, in the fields and gushing down the myriad streams that go under the road, beautiful clear water.
Returning from Stonethwaite we stopped at the Scafell Hotel where at first there was only one other customer and four members of staff. Trade picked up a little later on. The bar is called the Riverside Bar because just behind it runs the Stonethwaite Beck, quite a large beck which meets the Derwent just north of Rosthwaite. I had to check my map for this. After lunch we headed back to Braithwaite via Grange and the road under Catbells with more water gurgling and a bit of a rain shower too. I think we were all pleased that we had managed to get a ride in.
Sunday 8th March Club Run Craggs Bothel
One of the usual start venues the Brewers Fayre, so ten members gathered round the table, they were Dianne, John, Maggie, Stewart, Janet, Ivan, Maurice, Tom, Roy and John.
Dianne, Maggie and Stewart had cycled there while the rest had arrived by car.
Maurice and John Moyes both left first, leaving the rest to sort out a route to the Craggs. Dianne proposed a route that everyone seemed ok with, rather than the usual route via Isel Bridge.
Leaving the Brewers Fayre with Dianne on the front they headed across the A66 into Cockermouth to join the Low road to Brigham.
It was again across the A66 towards Little Broughton where they took the road past Broughton Craggs to Tallentire but not before a few ups and downs.
The descent from Tallentire was most welcome as they made their way to Greengill where they turned right to Gilcrux with a following wind.
It was now mostly flat and with the strong tail wind they made up for any lost time to Threapland, it was now mostly uphill to Bothel and the A595.
After crossing A595 to join the A591 half the group could be seen disappearing up the road, with the wind now coming from the right as they approached the Craggs.
Already seated were Tracy, Catherine, Brian and Maurice taking the total to twelve for lunch all sat together in a busy venue.
Catherine when she was small used to join the Solway on the back of Brian's tandem trike, now she rides about on a scooter.
After a good lunch it was back out into the cold wind, Maggie and Stewart heading back home via the Castle Inn, while the rest headed for Sunderland and Isel Bridge.
A brief stop on Isel Bridge overlooking the river, to find it flowing quite high, before facing the short steep climb to join the road back to Cockermouth.
This was straight into the wind, even having to pedal downhill, on reaching outskirts of Cockermouth the group split, leaving Tom, Roy and John to make their way back to the Brewers Fayre, while Dianne, Janet and Ivan made for home.
Wednesday 4th March Croft Farm Cafe Buttermere.
On a much calmer morning but cold, ten members made it to the Brewers Fayre for the pre ride chat and coffee. They were Maurice, Tom, Dianne, John, Brian, Roy, Janet, Ivan, Maggie, Stewart and John.
Just as everyone was ready to leave Sue and Paul appeared, with half the group outside and the rest making their way out Sue and Paul made a quick u-turn.
After a brief chat Sue announced it was Paul's birthday so everybody sang happy birthday.
Finally everyone made a move with Stewart on the front headed up the road to Paddle School where they turned left to Lorton.
After a reshuffle in the group Maurice found himself on the front and the speed increased as they made their way toward Rodgerscales.
On reaching the bridge over the Cocker Maurice stopped for the rest to catch up, he said he was going straight down the valley, while the rest opted to go via Hope Beck.
Tom under his own power stormed away as the road climbed steadily to Hope Beck, stopping for the rest to regroup before joining the valley road.
Maurice doing his own thing was waiting at the junction that leads to Buttermere to wave the group goodbye.
He was going on to Scale Hill, turning right after crossing the River Cocker to Thackthwaite and back to his car at the Brewers Fayre.
The rest started the climb to Lanthwaite this caused the group to split, for them to regroup at the cattle grid with a splendid view down the valley.
It was now all downhill to Rannerdale followed by a flat section along Crummock before reaching Buttermere for lunch.
With not many visitors about the cafe was rather quiet as the group tucked into a verity of meals off the menu, joining them were Pat and Johnny, having ridden from home.
After being fed and watered eleven members left together but soon split on the short climb out of Buttermere, (must mention six were on e-bikes)
Regrouping at the cattle grid at Lanthwaite the group would split again on the descent,
Dianne taking eight of them via Scale Hill and Thackthwaite back to Cockermouth.
That left Maggie, Stewart and John to find their way back home via Lorton, Hundith and Embleton, while John opting to go via Wythop Mill to join the A66.
Sunday 1st March Wheatsheaf Lorton by Dianne Moyes
Very strong winds put most people off cycling but Tom decided to park at Brewer’s Fayre and head down the Lorton Valley. He went through Cockermouth first which was a bit more sheltered then through Lorton to Scale Hill. He turned round to return by Thackthwaite with the wind behind. Dianne went to Lorton by Paddle School and Rogerscale and the climb up the main road to the school was rather too exposed. After that it was fine. At the Wheatsheaf ten of us sat down to lunch, Bacca, Tracy, Roy, Dianne and Anita on one table, and Steve, Maurice, Tom, Maggie and Stewart on another. After a good natter Tom and Dianne rode back together to Cockermouth via Lorton Bridge and Rogerscale through a lot of surface water. Everyone else returned home by car.