Four, Forty and Four Thousand - Mike Codd 6 May 2020

The ride started at 7a.m, fine sunny day, cold and a force 5 south-easterly when I set out from Nether Scotforth. All was quiet up Procter Moss Lane; just one or two delivery vans.

I turned right at the end, heading towards Abbeystead but decided to take the next left, a long but gentle climb, to the Jubilee Tower road where I turned right, towards Tarnbrook. It was a lovely descent, slightly marred by the stiff headwind, needing some pedalling to keep things going (and stay warm). I’d not done this route for some time, paralleling the gorge of the River Grizedale, which I crossed before entering the hamlet of Lower Lee. The road took me across the Tarnbrook Wyre at Lee Bridge, followed by a stiff, but not very long climb up to the junction by the little chapel, where the Abbeystead road joins from the right. It was much easier than the (usual?) climb out of Abbeystead.

I continued  past the chapel, ascending past Marshaw Farm and towards the Trough of Bowland. Traffic from the other direction was now waking up.

I stopped for a break alongside the river on my right, sitting on oak tree roots, out of the breeze and in sunshine. Drinking coffee and eating oatmeal biscuits, I heard my first cuckoo of 2020.

Sitting contemplating, I mused that many of our rides later this year will feature picnics because of closed or closed down cafes.

After I set out again, I was relieved to see a large lorry with a trailer careering down on the opposite side of the road before I got to the narrow winding part approaching the Trough Summit. Not something to meet there!

There was no more traffic until I reached the Dunsop Bridge junction where I overtook a stationary cyclist who was taking a break in the middle of the road. I was now running alongside the Hodder, as far as Burholme bridge.  I turned right to climb up onto the limestone reef, coming down again to turn left near the lone phone-box where the road goes to pass the wild boar farm.

I continued into Chipping, turning at the war memorial to sit outside Saint Bartholomew’s church in the bright sunshine to eat my “midmorning” sardine sandwiches (It was 9:25).

Shoppers and dog walkers, In small numbers, 2m apart, passed on the other side and I got a cheery “good morning” from a lady who was watering the flower tubs around the church.

I followed the familiar route back, sign-posted Garstang, and got off to push up the little hill out of Bleasdale, when I’d forgotten to change onto my smaller ring  – embarrassing!

When I’d got past Tootle Hall and the “Equitation” centre, I turned right, up Delph Lane, reminded (It’s on the route) that I’d not been able to run the Caldervale 10 this year.

 I descended to Oakenclough, where I was overtaken by a young man on a bike. I’d been taking it easy on the descent, so I tucked in behind him. Shortly after the cattle-grid before the ascent to Harris End. I whizzed past him and didn’t see him again (perhaps he’d stopped for a picnic).

I won’t detail the remainder of the ride. It was the standard Route 6. Coming through Ellel, I passed Dave Butterfield going the other way. We swopped “Hi!” and continued on our ways. Then I was through the Uni. and back to Scotforth for 11.               4 hours, 40 miles 4000feet.

Mike Codd