28th March 2013 - Far Sawrey

It was a nice day and I decided to cycle over the ferry, sadly I ran out of time to cycle from home ;) so I had to park somewhere east of the ferry and ended up on the Crook road, so it's a quick blast down to the ferry, of course it would mean a little climb back up later....So over the ferry, then along the shore and up the first climb at the bottom of Belt Ash Coppice, this is a steady climb but was dry and grippy and would act as a warm up, some ice near the top and then some snow, before the drop into Far Sawrey, it was just after 6pm so I sat on a bench near the church and soaked up the last rays of the sunshine whilst waiting for the others. Charlie, Jamie and Stephen turned up, Stephen is a friend of Neil's, who had encouraged him to come out on a Thursday, but then Neil had  taken a duvet day:) (it's a joke!). We set of for a fairly traditional route back down the climb to enjoy the descent down to the lake, along the shore line and keep going to High Wray Bay and up to Wray, watch out as the shore route is now surfaced but there are bollards in the centre to stop vehicles. Here go along the road a little and tee of left to pick up the bridleway past Blelham Tarn and up snakebite alley to Outgate, along to Hawkshead but take the cut through to Colthouse and head up Colthouse plantation, not sure but this route felt uphill, but them don't all MTB route feel that way! Steady away up the climb, now it was dark so lights were on, good start keep moving up, until Charlie's free-hub body froze and spun round, so a walk for her until someone could wee on the hub to warm it up and fee the ice! Yes it was cold with the sun gone, say about -2 and further up the climb ice and snow appeared. Part way up Charlie was peddling again so keep going, right at the guide posts blast down the fire road to meet a pile of snow at the corner, sloooow down! Now usual route back over Claiffe to the cars, 8.50pm last ferry at 9 so I just kept peddling and shouted goodbyes, half-way down the hill my headlamp went off, not a good sign, keep going....make it with a couple of minutes to go, last ferry and only me on it. Headlamp was only the cable so plugged it back in and then a steady hill climb back to the car. A good ride, great conditions if a little icy with wind chill. Next ride is Staveley, at Barely Bridge.

View of snow capped hills from ferry

View from west shoreline

Last ferry, empty!