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The Climb over Shap. / Anyone for Kendal Mint Cake.
Rosie caught the 11.05 train back to Nottingham. I walked with her to the Station and left her waiting for the
train at about 10.30. The A6 which was my new route for the day went past the station anyway. The plan was to
take the A6 all the way to Kendal over the famous Shap summit.
I had my new TomTom Rider which was a big improvement on the old one in terms of mountings and fixings. I guess they
have had alot of problems with TomTom's jumping out of the cradle and being boken. We had spent half an hour changing over the
old cradle and fitting the new one. Anyway I wasn't planning on using today since the route was fairly clear, but it was available
when I needed it.
The day was going to be in two halves; The 19 mile cycle to Penrith, followed by 38 mile acsent and then
descent of Shap, a very famous and high summit. I was in two minds on how hard it was going to be. After doing the
Scottish highlands it couldn't be that bad, just a steady climb and I would be there. But everyone along the route
had mentioned it, and it had a bit of a reputation. I would just have to wait and see....
Anyway it was another beautiful day, very sunny, but cool with a cold wind. Because it was a weekend the day
had a different flavour, no lorries, but lots of cars, caravans and especially motorbikes.
Anyway, it was a steady climb out of Kendal along the A6, the road undulated but gently climbed all the way to
Penrith. It was a nice day, and I took it steady. I cycled through Penrith, and stopped at a KFC for dinner on
the A66,A6 roundabout. Everything looks different when you arrive at 10mph. I had a coke and a burger!!
Once across the roundabout the long climb started with a comedy hump back bridge. It was very steep and had traffic
lights on either side. I could see where this was going, I would he half way up, when the lights changed and the oncoming
cars would meet me at the top. Anyway I took a run at it, and just about got away with it.
The road continued on and up, with the road signs indicating that Shap village was 12 miles away. I had got it into my
head that the hill was before the village, so once I reached the village I would be in the clear.....
Anyway the climb to Shap continued without any dramas, it was a steady climb, but I could keep up a good
pace and was pleased when I reached the top half a mile before the town. I took a few pictures and free wheeled into the village.
I thought I had cracked it, and looked forward to a steady cycle into Kendal. Unfortunately a mile after the village the road
started to climb again. I new that I was expecting a second hill and I assumed that this was it. I kept going and up and up it
went. I came to a sign telling me about the Shap summit at 1600 feet, and warning me about ice!! Again I thought I had cracked it,
and sure enough the path started to descend again. I went down for half a mile when you guessed it, the road started to climb again.
This time it was getting serious, the climb got steeper and pine forests appeared either side of the road. It was very cold...
A couple of miles later I thought I had cracked it again. The road went round a blind corner and looked like it went down.
I stopped and took more pictures. You've guessed it, it wasn't the top, it carried on going up and up.
Finally, finally I reached the top. It had to be the top, any higher and I would have been in heaven. I had been cycling uphill
for 17 miles!!
The descent was awesome, I free wheeled down for 2 miles, at 25 mph. But then you've guessed it, it went up hill again!!
There was a short up hill section before it finally went down hill for real. I then free wheeled all the way into Kendal, 12 miles!!
I used my Sat Nav, which took me straight to the hostel. Being a Saturday the hostel was full, but Rosie had already pre-booked it for
me. It was a large hostel and very busy, but it had all the facilities...
I did my washing as usual, and the drying room in the cellar sucessfully dryed it all.
I went into town to hunt my tea. Kendal is lovely little town but it doesn't have enough restaurants. All the ones I
went into were fully booked. I eventually found a Chinese which was empty. As soon as I sat down 40 people turned up, and it
was full. I had my tea ( see the new entry above ) and went back to the hostel. I stayed up for a while and watched the telly before being
the first one to go to bed. Tomorrow I am off to Preston / Bolton / Wigan.
Speak to you tomorrow Phil
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