DAY 7 - CLIMBING SCAFELL PIKE & CYCLING FROM ESKDALE TO HAWKSHEAD

I had an awful night’s sleep last night. I think there was a snoring competition between two older blokes. The pain in my knee kept waking me up through the night and, then having to put up with the snore-a-thon all night meant I was knackered this morning…… nothing new there then!!!

Dave arrived just after 8:00 all set and ready for our climb up Scafell Pike, England’s biggest ‘hill’ according to Dave’s wife.

After getting my stuff together we drove from Eskdale Youth Hostel to Wasdale Head where, we parked for our climb.

The weather was a mix of a bit of cloud and sunshine with a huge cloud covering the top half of the mountains.

We managed to get up to the top much quicker than either of us expected in an hour and fifty minutes. There was nothing to see due to the cloud, so we grabbed some lunch and headed back down after about half an hour. We made it down after four hours on the mountain, much quicker than I envisaged.

We drove back to Eskdale where I changed in to my cycle gear and picked up my bike. I then cycled over Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass, up hills with gradients of 30%. They were definitely the most testing roads I’ve tackled so far but, thankfully today was only a short ride. I had to walk about 20 metres up a hill on Hardknott Pass as it was just impossible for me. Other than that, I cycled the all the way which, I was not only proud of, but also amazed by.

After arriving at Hawkshead Youth Hostel soon after 16:00, I did my usual routine of showering, washing and chilling.

Dave treated me to a pub tea. It was very much welcome and probably needed. All in all, it was a good day today.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow when I will see my girlfriend, Jenni, and our 8 month old baby daughter when I have a stop-over at home. Very much looking forward to it! I really can’t wait!

END MILEAGE – 18.7 MILES