Day 2

The day started early.... Really early. The choirs if the seagulls had both of us up and about for 6am. The Day 1 blog had taken until 2:30am to up load at which point the phone battery upped and died so it was not published until the sun had pumped enough juice in to the phone this morning. AH the solar pannel is working well.

Bobby had to park his car in another car park to leave it for the week but to our surprise there was a classic Citroen 3 wheeler car rally taking place. They are the oddest looking cars.

We peddled out through St Bees and, guided by the sat nav, on to the country B roads. We passed through a wee town called Nethertton which appears on the maps but you can not do Google street view through it. The place was covered in CCTV cameras. We were expecting someone to rush out saying they were a person not a number ;-)

We trundled on through the lovely countryside, all of a sudden there was Sellafield Nuclear power station like a blot on the landscape. We did not get to close to it.
On we went in the blistering sun (no joke, we were getting baked) and soon we were on to the Eskdale road. This road wanders through the valleys with a few testing hills to keep the muscles hot.
Eventually we saw the HardKnott pass and the monumental climb.
We came across the warning sign to tell drivers to not bother it's to steep. It was a sight to run away from ;-).

While tootling along the valley bottom we were treated to the Eskdale valley railway. It was a lovely sight.

To soon we were at the bottom if the big climb. WE PUSHED!!! (most if it)

The photos just don't do it justice. About halfway up a motorcyclist came round a hair pin and exclaimed "My god!!!! Good luck!!!" he was going downhill.
We did try cycling the parts of the climb that were near flat but they are very few.
Two thirds if the way up there is an old Roman fort. We had intended to eat there but. The top seemed so close, so we carried on ..... Pushing.

Once at the top we chose to have lunch on the down hill side out of the wind. This is when I broke the news to Bobby that the downhill lead to a valley and the valley had another climb (though not so bad) at the other end. He took it well (ish)

While sat on the down hill side of the top we saw a cycle club coming up. We cheered them on and offered a brew. None took the brew but one did say he was impressed we were there with all our luggage :o)
It was pleasing to see road cyclist pushing there bikes ;-)

After lunch we tackled the downhill which turned out to be a real challenge. The breaks worked very  hard. The next valley and climb were also tough but we pushed on... "pushed" being the operative word as our legs were very tired by this point.

What's to come

Where we have been.

By the time we arrived at the campsite we had been on the road for more than 6 hours and to be honest its been the hardest days pushing/cycling either of us has ever done.

The campsite is fantastic. We are finally getting the 5 star facilities we deserved. We both decided a campsite lives and dies by the equality of the toilet block. These are amazing.

We put up the tents (bit quicker today) and enjoyed the showers.

We wandered in to a the lovely Hawkshead village and watched some footie over a cold beer. Then to the Queens Head for a smashing fish and chips.

Well its getting late and we are tired so that's it for today B road fans.

Today's stats
Miles: 34.76
Average speed: 8.4mph
Max speed: 36.6mph
Peddle time: 4 hrs 6 mins
Trip time:5 hrs 45 mins