DAY 6 - NEW LANARK TO ESKDALE

I‘m surprised I’ve got the energy to write anything today. I spent 12 hours in the saddle, minus a number of quick breaks and about half an hour for lunch. I’m cream crackered!

I rode just shy of 134 miles and, it certainly feels like that!

I was up and out for 8:00 this morning, tackling the monster hill just to get up and out of New Lanark. The first hour was really quite painful on the knee but, the longer I rode, the more it started to give. It’s still really painful.

I changed my route slightly and stayed on the B-roads that followed alongside the motorway, taking me down to Gretna. After that, before I knew it, I was in ENGLAND!

I followed the ring-road around Carlisle and got on the A595 to Cockermouth. From there, I came inland through Ennerdale Bridge to Calder Bridge where, I had the first hill that really tested me to my limits. So many times I was going to call it quits and walk my bike up but, I somehow managed to make it to the top.

By now, it was starting to get dark and, I was still a fair bit away from Eskdale Youth Hostel. I finally made it at about 20:00, in the dark.

I’m still seeing plenty of road kill and now I’m back in England, the rabbits are top of the leader board. Two cats and a badger were the other ones of note. You’ll do anything to take your mind off the pain!!!

My mate, Dave will be here in the morning for 8:00 in order to accompany me up Scafell Pike tomorrow, on my second of three mountain climbs. Then, I have a short but, extremely difficult ride over Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass which I am certain will see me walking the bike up many hills!

DAILY MILEAGE – 133.9 MILES