Ride Report 26th Feb 2023

The cool  of the February morning probably selected the few who gathered at Beaumont for the CTC Sunday outing to Sizergh Castle, with Leighton Moss being the more immediate goal for a warming cup of coffee.

Kellet Lane was the preferred, if lumpier. route outwards. The sun reflected off the boarding house windows in Grange -over -the bay, taking minds off the leg-stretching pursuit of the turbo-powered tandem, with new rider Mark doing better than others to benefit from the slipstream.

Intermittent sunshine filtered through the general greyness to light up the high ground above Priest Hutton and Burton, and good time was made to Leighton Moss via Cinderbarrow and Yealand Storrs. Our numbers were doubled by members arriving independently, and it was only the promise of a less-fleeting appearance of the winter sun which stirred us into action.

Our sights now set on Sizergh, the expanded group increased the ‘electric’ contingent to almost half of the riders. At Sandside, the view was of majestic Whitbarrow , Levens church spire guarding the Lythe Valley, against a backdrop of Lakeland peaks. Most of us opted for the gradual climb over to Sizergh, but some chose to test out their  new electrics on the 1 in 6.

Sizergh café being relatively quiet, we reassembled within the hour for the return. Initially via Hincaster and Holme , but with a switch across the A6 via the parcelled squarescape of reclaimed mossland and tortuous progress around right-angled tarmac..

Skirting Hale Moss by the impressive tree-festooned  lumpy crags, we were led to the leg-aching climb through woodland to Yealand Storrs, followed by further legwork to Yealand Conyers village. The payback being the long descent beneath Hyning Woods into Warton, and the familiar return down the A6 with a following breeze to home and a welcome shower.

CTC welcomes new members. Why not join us ?  Details of our rides at www.ctclancaster.org.uk