24th July 2008 - Askham for High Street

7 turned out for a warm evening, Grant, John, Chris, Charlie, Jamie, Neil and Paul, the swimming pool was open and in use, it was very tempting. The route is basically a big climb followed by a downhill (still with climbing!!) and it goes something like this; out of the village heading south, through Helton and carry on until a fork in the road, go right, onto an unfenced road, look for a right turn near some buildings at Rough Hill Tarn. The bridleway starts climbing and heading in a south west direction. Follow this all the way up to Loadpot Hill, it's quite a climb Jamie lead the way, C&C following waiting for a chance to overtake!!! but no, we needed a pause and so walked a bit, back on bikes near the top the track diverges and some wanted to go up and others to take a track on the left (the actual bridleway as it happens) and so the group got split up for the final assent, Charlie and Jamie on the bridleway, C,G & N half way along before teeing off and climbing straight up and P&J going the steady way up. Any how we all made it in the end and had snack time by the trig point. From this point down it's High Street, although you can divert to the west and check out the view point at Arthur's Pike, we stayed on High St, and headed down to the Cockpit before carrying on down to Askham, with a little downhill racing, at one point seeing who could brake the latest, Grant left it a little too late, especially as Charlie did not have the gate open, and guess what, Grant crashed into the gate with his new fork/wheel set up!!! So we all made it back in one piece and had time for a little drink in the pub afterwards. Next ride Sedbergh for Dent.