Ride Report 30.01.22

Perhaps it was the promise of the lengthening days which prompted a fair gathering of Cyclist Touring Club members at Beaumont College gates for a short but challenging ride to Casterton Golf Club. A group of six became eight at Halton where we teamed up with two of our girl members.

The climbing soon began, Green Lane raising body temperatures to help to thaw out toes and fingers, and continued over the watershed to Nether and Over Kellet, presiding over the Keer Valley.The winter sun lit up the pared down pastoral landscape of small fields, hedges and stone walls as we climbed back over the hills via Capernwray and Docker Park  to Newton and the Lune.

We then felt the tug of coffee aromas and made good progress to Devil’s Bridge  and Casterton, to meet up with four more Club members for a natter.

After a productive 45 minutes of partying five of us turned our wheels towards home, trepidatiously steering a course through the hordes of day trippers in Kirkby Lonsdale, and exiting the town at Low Biggins. Further’collar work’ ensued to gain the main road to Burton, with the source of the Keer to our left on Docker Moor.

Then there were four, when one rider dropped out at Burton after the others came up with the genesis  of an idea to slightly extend the ride. Thus we continued to Cinderbarrow,, Yealand Redmayne and the final ascent of the day at Yealand Conyers. The long freewheel into Warton was accompanied by a dampening of the air, which five hours later blossomed into storm ‘Corrie’.

A short Sunday excursion of about 40 miles for most, in splendid company and enjoying the best that the day could offer before the onset of the tempest.

You can visit  the Club website to find out about our range of rides   www.ctclancaster.org.uk