Club Ride to Grange Sunday 13th September

This was one of two rides offered to our full contact list as a reintroduction to Club riding. It also almost co-incided with the reintroduction of the  tighter regulations on social distancing !

Four riders ( Patience, Nigel, Adam and myself ) assembled at Beaumont. It was Adam’s first ride with us. Welcome !

With a strong southerly at our backs, we made very rapid progress via the Kellets, Burton and Holme  to the River Bela Café at Milnthorpe, where we had arranged to meet up with Tony and Ian W. After an extended elevenses,our wheels retraced to Ackenthwaite and then to Heversham, Levens and Witherslack deviating from the usual route to visit Millside. Taking to the inland route to seek shelter from the wind, we continued this strategy at Lindale and went up School Hill to join the back road to Grange.

We then made use of Ian’s local knowledge to go along the busy prom.  to the sorry-looking lido. Maybe it will have a new lease of life now that staycationing is in fashion ( or maybe not!). Next to the derelict lido is a large shelter where we partook of our picnics, and it was but a a few strides from there to the café with outdoor seating and fine view across the bay. Thus far there had been a slight hint of moisture in the air, prompting the donning of waterproofs for some, but it didn’t come to much and we even enjoyed some half-hearted sun in the late afternoon.

Our return was via Meathop, and the gated road through Sampool, followed by Heversham Moss, Dallam Park and Leighton Moss. Ian said his farewells and went to get the train back to Grange from Arnside.

A good day awheel for dipping our toes into Club rides for the first time since March, a a total of about 60 miles. Fingers crossed we can continue Sunday rides on this more limited basis from now on.

Len Howard