18th July 2013 – Sawrey (the ice cream ride)

3 turned up, it was practically a party after the past 3 weeks! Charlie caught the ferry and Grant and Joel took the lazy option and parked at the church. It was another very warm evening, 26 degrees at Sawrey so no long shorts required!

As it was hot Charlie suggested heading for an ice cream in Hawkshead so it was up to Moss Eccles, past Wise Een Tarn, then a brief respite of some cool air as we headed down through Hollin Band plantation. At Guide Posts Grant realized he had lost his water bottle so he headed back up the track to find it while Charlie and Joel chatted with a passing cyclist on a Santa Cruz 29er. Grant didn’t find his water bottle so we headed down the descent to Hawkshead in search of ice cream! The ground was very dry and any lose stone made the going tricky, it was like riding on marbles.

At Hawkshead we all stopped for an ice cream at the CO-OP (wall supplied by Rod of Tigers Eye, see picture) and then headed out towards Outgate, then snake bite alley, back to the road and on to Basecamp, back through Guide Posts for the final descent past the tarns where Grant was reunited with his water bottle.

A short ride but very warm, and still 22 degrees at 9pm.

Next week: Gisburn