Derek: cycling trips: Borwick to Penrith - Day 15

I thought that the official route today went too far east before heading north and so instead I went west to Windermere and then over the Kirkstone Pass, a truly stupid idea. The offical route had one climbing up above 300m or about 1,000 feet but my route was 400 feet higher. What was I thinking. Luckily I didn't realise I had started the massive climb until I was well into it, I just thought I was on a hilly approach but then after a good half hour of climbing I found myself facying a brutal 16% and my legs are not good enough for that yet. I walked until the slope was merely hard and then cycled in sections to catch my breath and go again. This sort of climb keeps looking like it is over, you crest a rise and then it goes again or it rounds a bend and upwards and onwards you go. With about 400m to go a cyclist came past and said 'nearly there' so with one final hard cycle, I was on the true top.

An early view of the obstacles.

I stopped as I left the outskirts of Kendal to check my directions and then saw the books in the bus stop (a book stop?) and opened the other lower store thinking it might be plants or similar and it was sanitary towels, well I did look and it is a useful initiative.

Just lovely countryside, my first view of a lake.

Early in the climb.

You know you are in for a tough day but what a view.

The top of the climb is within sight. Let me tell you that it was also a struggle behind me.

Going down the other side part of the slope was at 20% and with the extra weight of 2 full panniers I was absolutely rocketing downhill, no cars passed me until the bottom, but the weight of the panniers on the rear wheel do make steering a bit wayward. 2 hours to get up the slope and about 2 minutes to get down.

I recklessly had a half of Kirkstone Pass Inn beer as I felt I had earnt it.