Day Three

Ambleside - Keld 53miles

After an entertaining evening in Ambleside the night before although somewhat wet and for myself a little maintenance of a new freewheel which Roger had got the day before, fitted with my new chain back on, we were confronted with one of our worst fears, wet weather. This put a damper on our faces as we fuelled ourselves ready for one of our longest days in the saddle with a planned early departure time. After a brief heavy shower we would set off at about half ten, not the start we were looking for and straight into some steep climbs. It was also a bit worrying that due to a couple of wrong turns we were actually going round in a big circle and so had wasted about an hour of valuable time. Although it wasn't as wet now we were soon back on track.

A wet start on leaving Ambleside Youth Hostel.

Somewhat disheartened, especially John, with the fact that we seemed to keep going upwards but not gaining much distance we hit the start of the first off-roading about midday. The route to take was up and over the Garburn pass with a biker telling us at the beginning that we were in for a tough climb. This didn't please John anymore and he was left to whinge, coupled with the fact that Dave was having doubts about making our next booked hostel. Once on the descent of Garburn Pass, though technical and with John in good spirits again we rested for a while in Kentmere before climbing again and over bouldering terrain before a sharp descent into Sadgill. It was here at the bridge across a river we had to stop to mend the second puncture of the day to Steve's rear, (I had a mysterious flat before we left Ambleside Youth Hostel) and was a timely stop for a brief rest and a chat to a young boy who was out on his mountain bike for the day.
After the rest we pushed on up and into the expanse of Mosedale.

If there were to be any low points on our trip this is where it happened. Crossing through Mosedale with a combination of cycle, walk, cycle, walk, you get the picture, over boggy terrain which at points brought on some laughter but morale was at a low point with persistant outbreaks of rain. We were to take what was to be our escape route or wet weather route as described in the book. This would eventually bring us to what we could call dry land again, a track which lead to the road and the third puncture of the day. This time it was Dave and what more interesting was the fact that, it was all well putting on a new tube, but to notice the tyre had a small split, oh dear. But quick thinking from Dan with the aid of a piece of plastic was placed between the inner tube and over the split in the tyre. Luckily this worked and onwards to civilization, well it felt like this, to a place called Keld but not the one we were staying at.

Withdrawn and somewhat fatigued and the time being about five o'clock, we stopped to have lunch, a late lunch at that, and a hot beverage at a nice country tea room, a place that a lot of coast 2 coasters stop at after travelling through what seemed endless wilderness. It was also decision time as Dave's thought early in the day became real and wondering how we were going to get to our next stop. Our only option was to make it to Kirkby Stephen Youth Hostel. So I phoned the hostel to see first if they had any beds, which luckily they did and booked in straight away for six. I was having trouble reaching Roger on his mobile phone so the next best thing was to phone Keld Youth Hostel to see if he was there and tell them of our situation. His whereabouts at the time was not known but after describing the mode of transport we had hired he had been there and checked in. So all I could do was leave a message for him to rendezvous with us at Kirkby Stephen.

After a good half hour stop and feed we were on our way again now heading for Kirkby, some sixteen miles sooner than our planned stop, but we still had some distance to cover but over what was to be more delightful terrain than we had incurred during the rest of the day of narrow country lanes and bridleways. The road that was to take us into Soulby was somewhat slow as we were held up for a mile or so by a herd of sheep. What with a light shower our thoughts of the day were talked about with a few laughs and with the finish for that day insight, morale was back to a more noticeable level.

Our arrival into Kirkby Stephen was greeted by Roger standing in the middle of the road outside a former Chapel converted to the hostel. At least he got the message after he had taken a shower after his own days riding at Keld.
This was to be our longest day of the challenge and a challenge it was, finishing not much before nine in the evening and all that was left for the day was a good hot shower and tucking into a chinese, and what was left of an early night.

Day Three Route.

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