North Lakes Spring Break - 19-20th March

[boxelder]

Filling Station is closed. We're at Kat's, next door to Keswick Bikes

[thenorthwind]

Filling Station is closed. We're at Kat's, next door to Keswick Bikes

Just on our way from the Filling Station

[boxelder]

Well that was sunny. And windy. Apologies first of all:
Ton/asposium - We missed you - we were in the Sun Inn from 2 to 2.40ish, then were too late for Whinlatter cafe, bypassed Lorton to get to the Kirkstile Inn, which was full and not serving anyone else. Which left us in the Comms black hole of Crummock; self catering. Ton - that was no pubs from early Saturday afternoon onwards
Ledburner - Great to meet and ride with you. We stopped at Grange tea rooms and thought we would see you there ??
Woodsmith - shitty luck. Hope your weekend 'firmed up'
John - good to meet you, hope you returned to good news.
Dave, Paul, Meg, Mornay - bring the sunshine again next time

[Asposium]

Well that was sunny. And windy. Apologies first of all:
Ton/asposium - We missed you - we were in the Sun Inn from 2 to 2.40ish, then were too late for Whinlatter cafe, bypassed Lorton to get to the Kirkstile Inn, which was full and not serving anyone else. Which left us in the Comms black hole of Crummock; self catering. Ton - that was no pubs from early Saturday afternoon onwards
Ledburner - Great to meet and ride with you. We stopped at Grange tea rooms and thought we would see you there ??
Woodsmith - shitty luck. Hope your weekend 'firmed up'
John - good to meet you, hope you returned to good news.
Dave, Paul, Meg, Mornay - bring the sunshine again next time

Moving house and lots of driving took more of me than I appreciated.
Still, was nice to visit the Bothy with the new camera.
The people using the Bothies for parties not quite so much, don't expect will stay in a bothy again, well, not in the lakes.
Next time no camera gear, and the lightweight tent / bivvi bag

I fixed the front tyre then rode direct back to Keswick. with the view to drive to camp somewhere
Got verbally abused by a local for parking on the street.
Was planning to return to Buttermere to camp in the woods; however, on driving out of Keswick thought "f it" and drove back to Soton
Arrived back in Soton at 1am.

Today I am avoiding unpacking boxes by playing with photos in Lightroom.

[ton]

Andy, sorry mate, i didnt make it in the end. i had no transport.

[woodsmith]

Sorry i didn't ride with you all yesterday. I had a fairly miserable ride back towards Appleby ( no trains north of there-engineering works) and camped for the night at Dufton whereI barely slept due to the terific wind. ( not from me, I was still not risking a fart.). Followed by the train journey from hell today. Over 6 hours from Appleby to doncaster.

[Holgateeng]

Aka John , yes got back all sorted with my Mum but too late to rejoin you lot so headed home . Think I might return on Friday and do the route . Thanks for organising it Andy .

[Sussex Paul]

Thanks for organising Andy, great route, great weather and great company. Nice to meet everyone, and put faces and real names to forum members.

[boxelder]

Today I am avoiding unpacking boxes by playing with photos in Lightroom.

Hope yours 'come out' better than mine.........bl00dy GoPro

[ledburner]

thanks for a great weekend BoxElder.
thanks guys for welcoming and putting up with me....
Sorry it didn't work out Ton. My fault...

[thenorthwind]

Wow, what a week - the weekend being the highlight Nice to meet all of you (that made it to the start, another time the rest of you), sadly some more briefly than others, but that's life. Andy pitched the route just right for the mix of scenery, resupply, technical riding and challenging climbs, for my money anyway. If only you'd chosen a less sunny weekend, we might have stood a fighting chance of getting in a pub Even the lack of pub Saturday night couldn't dampen spirits too much.

I was having such a good time and was so shocked by the continuing good weather that I forgot to take many photos, but here's a few...






Crummock Water, by our bivvy spot - we camped well back into the trees to get out of the wind (see waves for details).


The descent towards Eagle Crag, familiar to anyone who's done the classic Borrowdale Bash route:




And one from Morne:


Me and Morne bumped into a slightly shell-shocked looking Dan back in Keswick. It was only chatting to him later that I learnt he'd only done one previous bikepacking trip, so got to hand it to him for making it round, albeit it with a shortcut or two.

On Sunday night I headed up towards Blea Tarn for a spectacular, but spectacularly cold, bivvy near the aptly-named Shivery Knott. I was hoping to tick off at least a couple of the Wainwrights up there, but I preferred to retreat into the depths of my sleeping bag. My water had frozen over in the morning, and there was still ice in the bottle that was in the car at Watendlath when I got to Grasmere in the morning

[ledburner]

Wow, what a week - the weekend being the highlight Nice to meet all of you (that made it to the start, another time the rest of you), sadly some more briefly than others, but that's life. Andy pitched the route just right for the mix of scenery, resupply, technical riding and challenging climbs, for my money anyway. If only you'd chosen a less sunny weekend, we might have stood a fighting chance of getting in a pub Even the lack of pub Saturday night couldn't dampen spirits too much.

who needs sat pub night?
or real food?
but we have missed out on the:
- deyhrate wonder meals
- Megs sports bar & Haribos fest
- Paneer fondue fest
- Stu stove melt down fest [cold temperature use only]
(you must read instructions properly next time - the telepathic ones)
the camps site was tastefully 'decorated with moss/pine cones and lots of pre-placed little white paper decorations off to the side what the Andrex is that?

Me and Morne bumped into a slightly shell-shocked looking Dan back in Keswick.

I was shell shocked! I was eating a vegan Sunday roast at Kats kitchen
loverly fresh veg & nut roast? but Seitan was upcycled veg tan cardboard

It was only chatting to him later that I learnt he'd only done one previous bikepacking trip, so got to hand it to him for making it round, albeit it with a shortcut or two.

shortcut? , I went the direct route, when I lost you all in your dust trail. but missed the Honister tunnel shortcut [ poor observation /signage? any way couldn't afford toll. ] Had to go over it.

[Verena]

Looks a great weekend, so lucky with the weather!!

[boxelder]

Planning a 'South Lakes Spring Break', probably 25-26 March, probably with more 'gravel bikeable' options and definitely accessible by train.
Will post details once it's dark and cold and it's nice to put some dates on a calendar.

[ledburner]

iv'dbetter get some training in! the last one was great, but in at the deep end.. (bubble- bubble- glug)....

.... and buck the pub

[Asposium]

Planning a 'South Lakes Spring Break', probably 25-26 March, probably with more 'gravel bikeable' options and definitely accessible by train.
Will post details once it's dark and cold and it's nice to put some dates on a calendar.

I’d like to return.
Less stuff next time.
And hopefully less tired.

[thenorthwind]

Seems a long way off, but you're right about having something to look forward to in the winter. I'd be up for it. Can we have the same weather please?

[ledburner]

iv'dbetter get some training in! the last one was great, but in at the deep end.. (bubble- bubble- glug)....

.... and buck the pub

sorry sir,
[sp.] Book the pub

AGreed book the same weather as well!

[boxelder]

The weather’s always like that around here……..
There are many, many more hospitality and catering options in the new area.