The Lake District Weekend

Thursday evening (20th April) and the Met Office had put a curse on the weekend weather and by the time I had got home from work Tom had already phoned to cancel as he hadn’t fancied floating off to Brotherswater in his tent. So it was at 06:30 hours the following day that Fran & John, Gina & Len1 Dine and myself set off for the Lake District under an overcast sky.
The agreement was to break the journey down into three fairly equal pieces and our first stop was at Cherwell services on the M40 where a hearty breakfast was consumed. Some eating heartier than others!!! So with stomachs full and bums rested we set forth again. All went without incident except for the inevitable delays at Stafford, (possibly designed to enable RAC employees watch their members cars boil over in front of their offices.) But of course the intrepid three were able to filter through most of it, especially as the car drivers were most polite in pulling over for us. Up until This time the weather had been fairly kind to us, but obviously not to the bit of motorway that we then had to share with dozens of speeding lorries. In their eagerness to deliver their goods they were oblivious to three motorbikes being enveloped in their dirty spray. Oh well that is what it is all about!!! Isn’t it? So another stop to relieve those bits that even Heineken might have had a job to ease then on to junction 36 and into them hills.
By 18:30 we were settled on site at Sykeside and after a quick wash and tidy up we climbed the hill to the pub for dinner. It would have come as no surprise given the remote location of the site that the owners might have taken the P*ss when it came to price etc but no, the evening meal was great on taste, quality and price. (and for some - quantity)
The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly. There were obviously some people who came back year after year and there was one particular family who had the whole weekend down to a fine art. One evening they had a decorated egg competition which was judged by feflow campers, and the next evening we were treated to a monologue by a non PC Teletubbie. The other campers were very friendly, especially towards Len!! And the staff were very welcoming and helpful.
Saturday morning we woke to birdsong and no rain. We all voted for a walk around the lake, Brotherswater, followed by lunch in the pub. Then it was off for a ride. We took the A592 up to Troutbeck passing Ullswater on the way. Then on to Threlkeld and turning south to Thirlmere and Rydal. We passed slowly through Arnbleside where half the population was busy doing the tourist bit and onto Windermere where the other half were. A breathtaking ride through Klrkstone Pass brought us back to Sykeside, food and beer. All most welcome after some fifty miles of bums on seats.
Sunday. So where was all the bad weather? The sun was out and the hills were calling. We set off towards Coniston looking for the famous Wrynose Pass. Just before you enter the signs warn you about taking care, but it is all worth it. As we went up the first hill a BMW rider came down shouting This is the easy bit' Undaunted we rode on and it was worth it with spectacular scenery and challenging roads. The Wrynose develops in to the Hardknott Pass which is just as much fun, if not more and provided us with the chance for one of Len's special photo shoots. Gina (it was her turn to drive this time) took Len halfway up the pass, dropping him off and returning to the rest of us. Then duly spaced out Len takes us all on the move. Once again the car drivers were very polite in pulling over so that we could roar on ahead? At he end of the pass we joined the A595 coast mad and headed towards lunch. Everyone agreed that this was an excellent piece of road with good bends, good surfaces and no speed cameras.
We arrived at Walney Island and rode along the coast to Biggar Village and a rendezvous with yet another plateful of good grub. The portions are probably double of what you get in Dorset yet the price remains the same, and the service is impeccable, and nothing is too much trouble. Due to a total lack of rain we ate out in the beer garden and watched the locale ponder over the three bikes: (Gina voted the sticky toffee pudding the best yet) We finally set off for the campsite at about 16.30 hours having had a good laugh with staff and locals alike and finally got back at about 20.00 hours.
Naturally having already eaten most of us kept to a light supper but the this last evening in the pub was as entertaining as ever, with Brent the Aussie barman full of his usual good humour, despite having to do battle with a less than happy chef.
On Monday morning we had an excellent cooked breakfast at the lnn, yet again served by smiling staff, despite admitting to various stages of hangover, and we left at about 10.00. The journey back was brisk although with 800+ miles behind us the tolerance levels were becoming shorter!! We finally encountered that rain which had been forecast at Sutton Scotney about an hour from home, and it came down with a vengeance, but we had the gear so it didn't really matter.
The weekend has seen us cover some 900 miles, given us good biking, provided some wonderful scenery, excellent food and drink, and an abundance of happy memories.

Will we do it again? What date is Easter next year?

Nick Downs