12th July 2007 - Tebay for Borrowdale valley

4 turned out to meet south of Tebay, near Borrowdale wood, we set off west down the Borrowdale valley, following the bridleway to the farm at Low Borrowdale, stay on the low bridleway and run along the valley floor, keep going past High Borrowdale, but cross over the bridge to stay south of the Borrow Beck. At the end of the valley take the short steep climb to the A6 main road, head south for a few hundred yards and take a bridleway on the left hand side, here we waited while CT fitted new rear disc brake pads, ready for the downhill! Now downhill for 1km, with Charlie saying take it easy, so we did, but George still got a puncture! Carry on down to the lane and keep going south, follow this lane, after a farm gate, Jamie found a bit of metal sticking out of his rear tyre and a hissing sound escaping!! so another stop, a few jelly babies and off we went again. Take the first left junction and keep going until the next bridleway on the left which is the route to the masts at the top of the hill. From approx 170m the climb goes up to 400m and it is roughly 1.5 miles of track, Jamie set off to take the lead, the others followed, it was getting warmer by the minute, CT, CSC & GT followed, just like Le Tour! There are a few gates and cattle-grids, at the last cattle-grid, Jamie took some air and CT continued on for the polka-dot jersey. At the top we took a break and the mist rolled in, making it very quiet on the top, but the mist cleared so we could find the way down and soon we could see a great view down the Borrowdale valley, where we had just been. The route down has some boggy places, catching CT out in one place, grabbing a wheel up to the hub and not letting go! You drop down near to the wall and you are back to the original bridleway, hear we planned an extra route, but as it was 9.10pm CSC and GT headed back to the cars, CT and JB went back down the valley (the same way as before) and at the low borrowdale farm, take a right turn after the gate and head up the track past Belt Howe, this climb is rideable in places and a push in others, the view at the top is of Tebay ad then a downhill past Jeffrey's Mount, gets you back to the lane to take you back to the cars, we finished at 10pm, all very civilised and no rain! Next time it's Elterwater.