day 13 Sunday 28th September 1/2 way to J O'Groats

 Long day on the bike with no sit down tea stop. Good breakfast to start with then 2.5 hours of solid riding using a set of directions that I wrote yesterday from Rachel & Lol's suggestions.

Glossop (A57) to A628 @ Hollingworth where Left along A628 and a right quickly after to ride thru' Stalybridge, Duckinfield and Ashton-Under-Lyne where A627 to Oldham, thru' Oldham and A671 to Royton, Rochdale, Whitworth and Bacup where I finally found somewhere to have a tea stop. A hall had a Guitar Fair and there were refreshments - they waived the £2-50 entry fee for me and I paid £1 for a bag of ready Salted Crisps and a cuppa. I was still hungry but made do. Very short stop but the Guitar Fair looked and sounded good. On up the A671 to Burnley then switching to the A682 to Brierfield, Nelson, Barrowford, Blacko, and Gisburn where right onto the A59 and left to resume on the A628 and leaving Lancashire and entering West Riding, Yorkshire and the Ribble Valley. A628 enters Long Preston and I turned left along the A65. Thru' Giggleswick but bypassing Settle. Took photo of Settle Junction. Continuing along the A65 thru' of past Lawkland, Austwick, Clapham, Newby, Ingleton, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Ireby, Lech, Cowan Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lupton and Nook. As we crossed over the M6 at Junction 36 the A65 became the A590, which was to take me the rest of the way to Ulverston. Though tired I am looking fwd to riding with Barrie and Sue tmw.

Barrie completed the 3 peaks of Whernside(736), Ingleborough Hill(723) and Pen-Y-Ghent(693)  today on his cyclo cross bike but at a cost - damaged his hand falling on the 2nd ascent. Sue, Rachel (Sue's sister) and Charlie the dog all supported Barrie and Sue and Rachels' dad who also completed. All very impressive.

Think Sue will acompany me at the start of tmw's ride - promises to be hilly again but with spectactular lake district riding. Maybe I'll make it to Penrith or Carlisle by the end of tmw's ride.