Catching Up on the Recent Daily Cycling and Walking Exercise

I seem to have fallen behind on the documenting of my Daily Exercise outings since 28th April. My how time fly's! The amazing dry spell of weather has continued, we have only had half a days proper rain since 19th March. I have been out every day, although I haven't taken photographs on all of them...particularly when on the road bike! Below is a selection hopefully in chronological order...

The Lancaster Canal between Holme and Farleton looking North just before it is "cut"by the M6

Another view North across some truly rural land to the Lakes hills in the distance beyond the broad dome of Scout Scar.

A fore-shortened view of the conical shaped hill of Helm near Oxenholme, its Trig point catching the sun. 

The 2nd May I headed West on part of the "Limestone Link" (between Kirkby Lonsdale and Arnside) largely abandoned now by SLDC it would seem?
Here it crosses a significant area of limestone pavement named as "Marble Quarry" on the OS map...I have been unable to find any real quarry on my visits, so a bit of a mystery.

My real "target" for the day was a visit to the"Fairy Steps". Here we look down the narrow cleft. If you can either descend or ascend with out touching the sides you are granted a wish....but then "If wishes were horses, beggers would ride!"

I returned via Dallam Park, looking back another great view of the Lakes hills.

4th May and another walk up Farleton Knott, this perched limestone boulder caught my eye.

This larger perched boulder is heavily glaciated, Ingleborough away in the distance.

Hawthorn blossom in it's less common pink form.

The Bluebells are coming to the end of their season...they probably won't feature on the blog until next year now.

As the sign indicates...these lock gates were in use until 1942 here at Tewitfield.
Sadly there are no lock gates...or indeed locks here anymore due to construction of the M6 in the 1960's, although the canal still has water in it.

The River Keer as it passes under the Carnforth-Leeds railway

Anther day and another ride on the Giant Defy Advanced carbon...over to the Lyth Valley. This bridge is on the minor road across the valley...and the river is the curiously named River Pool!

Finally a photo from a stop on my regular circuit here at Arnside...different bike (obv's) a Giant Contend SL alloy. Not as fast as the Defy, but a more compliant ride for sure.
Back up to date then....the "lockdown" rules have been relaxed a little, enabling more scope for outside travel/exercise...whist still maintaining social/physical distancing...however I shall see what happens over the weekend before widening my area of activity to greatly.
Tek Care and Stay Safe.....Oh and Be Alert! 

Fatbike Today...Mixing It Up...Maintaining Enthusiasm

 Today is the 37th "lockdown" day for me, so in order to keep things fresh I decided to make today's daily exercise a Fatbike ride.
 Straight out on to the towpath and I headed South. This a section I rarely ride...but have walked many times over the last few weeks. Rain was forecast in the afternoon so I was out late morning, under overcast skies and with dampness in the air...a lot cooler as well. Again much of the terrain has been featured in previous posts, there's one or two new bits though (Sorry for all the Fatbike intrusions)....

The towpath is dryer than I've ever seen it, and this morning not a single person was seen.

I left the canal where the M6 cuts it near Cinderbarrow and after crossing the A6 I rode through Yealand. Then down onto Thrang Moss. This is a lovely quiet area, a real haven for flora and fauna. Years ago it used to boggy, but now the tracks have been improved...all weather proof infact.

The Bluebells through here are superb at the moment.

Dryad’s Saddle... I think? growing on a fallen and decaying tree trunk.

A bit of tarmac up to Slackhead, then the offroad descent of Dollywood Lane. Through Carr Bank and onto the old railway trackbed/sea defence on the coast.

Northwards along the sea defence and beach to Sandside.
Whitbarrow Scar the prominent hill across the estuary. 

Back home via Haverbrack Lane, I always like to stop here to see the Lakes hills beyond the tidal River Kent...so near yet so far.
Down to Beetham and back through Hangbridge, Elmsfield and Old Lanes to Holme.
Good to be back on the Fatbike....it make this 62 year old feel like he's 12 again!
Tek Care and Stay Safe 

A Change of Pace...29er On the Northern Reaches

 As per the title, a change of pace today. I've had an hour or so on the 29er mountain bike. An out and back basically on the towpath of the Lancaster Canals Northern Reaches. The weather is still excellent, although looking at the forecast today may have been the last good one for a few days.
 Much of this terrain has featured on recent posts, so there are only a few photographs from the ride...

The Ramin 29er on the towpath near Crooklands

One of a series of new milestones on the Northern Reaches, part of the renovation taking place to celebrate the 200th anniversary

Looking North from the Wakefield Wharf near Crooklands. Built to enable the gunpowder produced at Gatebeck to transported away.
As an aside the Wakefield family were also major shareholders in Castrol Oil.

This is an overhead view of the Stainton aquaduct. the work has being going on now for 12 months (halted at the moment due to Covid 19). The original damaged in 2015 in Storm Desmond. it is heartening to see such investment.

Only a couple of hundred metres further on the Lancaster Canal was derelict and filled in until a couple of years ago. As you can see in the image above it has been dug out and now contains water again. I wonder how long before the "earth plug"in the foreground is removed and thenext section can be used?
I returned home much the same way, a short but enjoyable ride in the sun..."change as good as a rest!"
Tek Care and Stay Safe

My Last 3 Daily Exercise Cycle Rides....Back Up to Date!

These are from Wednesday, Friday and today. All on the Elan with its wider tyres to deal with the off road/gravel sections. As mentioned yesterday the amazing weather continues, although it's always cooler on the bike even with a light wind. Much of the terrain has been traversed before and similar images have appeared in previous posts...there may be something of interest.

On top of Bridge 159 looking North, on my way to ride the lanes below Lupton.

Lot of Ramson flowers now.

Friday and I was again heading North to ride basically a loop encircling Farleton Knott.
I stopped here only a couple of hundred metres from home to take this picture. This pair haven't nested here for a couple of years...I think the increased traffic on the towpath (due to Covid 19) may frighten them off....we'll see.

This junction is called 19 Trees by the locals...I wonder why?

Back home along the canal towpath above Hilderstone Lane.

Today with all the metalled lanes traversed within my 5k limit I was free to do a bit of  "Gravel Grinding". This is on Dollywood Lane near Slackhead. the elan is quite capable as long as you take it slowly and show a bit of mechanical sympathy!

I linked a few bridleways and minor lanes together, then rode South back home on the canal.
Farleton Knott omnipresent as always!
Take Care and Stay Safe

Solo Social Distance Ride 001

A change of tack today....or at least transport. I've walked all the footpaths and bridleways at least once within a distance/time acceptable under the current restrictions. So today I decided it was time to do some easy rides from home.
 I have had a good look at the OS maps, and have imposed a distance limit (from home as the crow flies) of 5km. this still gives me lots of options, very little if any I haven't been ridden before. But some of these lanes and bridleways only an odd time or two. I intend to try and traverse all of them as a project on my daily exercise during the lockdown.
It was overcast and cool today....we are promised sun and a much warmer day tomorrow. Anyway lets not get ahead of ourselves....here's a few images from today's ride.

I used my Titanium Elan with its optional lighter wheels and wider mixed terrain tyres. Ideal for the rough potholed, gravel strewn lanes today.
This is Nook Bridge.

A wider view of Nook Bridge and Farleton Beck.

Road Closed the sign said...and indeed it would have been for anything other than a bike.
This is just along the lane from Nook to Whetstone, the old limestone culvert (beautifully constructed) overwhelmed in the floods earlier this year.

I turned off before Whetstone to descend via Black Yeats to Crooklands.
I took the opportunity to take this photo of the Lakeland hills before I dropped down though.

The basin just West of the M6 on the Lancaster Canal. The boat/barge (not sure) is the Water Witch and belongs to the Lancaster Canal Trust. It takes folk for trips along this section of the canal in Summer...although maybe not this year 😨
I don't take as many photo's when I'm riding, so I must try harder!
From here I made my way back home by Ackenthwaite. Only a short ride (trying not to take the Mick) but a pleasant change from the walking over the past 14 days.
Tek Care and Stay Safe

Midweek Fat BIke Fun Day....Kentmere

Coldest morning of this Winter here in the South Lakes! Sunny tho....so off I drove to Staveley (its so handy for me, and no traffic). I parked near Barley Bridge and got the bike out of the car. In the few minutes it took to get sorted I was pretty chilled...it was -7c so no wonder! Little wind as I pedalled off and took the bridleway through Scroggs Farm. Then it was up through Elf Howe....as is almost always the case, here's some pics to give a flavour of the day

 I didn't have a proper plan at this point above Elf Howe on Hall Lane, but thought I'd see how icy the tracks were with a possibility of heading up to Nan Bield after Green Quarter Fell.

The first section almost over here above Skeggles Water.
The snow very dry and powdery, providing lots of giggles, on the fatbike you just can't help it...like being a kid on a BMX again :-)

Not total snow cover on the descent to Green Quarter, the sun had a fair bit of power in it...although not enough to melt the large ice patches.
The Coniston Fells are in the background.

A little further down and the head of Kentmere fills the view. My mind was mainly on avoiding the ice! Lots of it here as you can see.

I made the decision to head towards Nan Bield, but time seemed to be running away. To much playing about I think. I stopped here beside Ullstone Gill for a snack on the way back down.

As I headed back down the valley I took a diversion up to Kentmere Park and down "The Three Rivers" to Ullthwite Bridge
The sun had gone replaced by cloud, colder as well.
It was back down the road to the car from Ullthwaite....still below freezing when I got in the car!
The Strava track is here should anyone wish to see my route in more detail.
A great fun day, this bike always puts a smile on my face...makes me feel 16 not 60!!

Kentmere and Garburn.....Skinny Mountain Bike!

A late start today so a minimum drive to get to some good trails found me at Staveley, only 20min drive so just the job. A rather dull overcast sort of day, so the plan when I set off was to stay low down. The bridleways and tracks were quiet today....excellent!
A few photos of the ride below, rather a lot of my bike....but its bright colour did brighten the day!

I rode up Hall Lane and past Park House, the track has been improved recently here partly as flood prevention I think.

I then dropped down by HP plantation, and climbed up into Kentmere Park. The low cloud mist had perhaps lifted a little.

As you can see!? on this photo, the top of Garburn looked to be clear of mist,,,,its a long climb from here to the top of the pass.....

....but of course the top arrives eventually, and the top was clear. No view though, downhill from here past Dubbs Reservoir to Moor Howe Road.

Back to Kentmere Park via High Borrans, then down into the Kentmere Valley and back along the road to the car in Staveley.
Sorry for out of focus pic...I was probably on my last legs at this point!!
A good ride, I'd made the best of the weather.
The strava route of the day is here should anyone wish to follow the route.

Don't Be Fattist.....Call Me Omniterra!

Back to Langdale today, but on the Fatbike.....say it quietly (don't want to hurt its feelings! :-)) not walking. It wasn't a day to be up high, misty barely describes it. I did a loop up Great Langdale and back down Little Langdale, with an out and back up Mickleden. Lots of gratuitous pictures of my bike I'm afraid

Leaving Elterwater and climbng up through the quarry (which seems to be having a resurgence, excellent!) Then the minor road to Baysbrown Farm to join the bridleway to Oak Howe.

Looking back from near Oak Howe the fields were covered with a layer of mist. Then it was bridleways to the head of Mickleden.

I turned round at the foot of the Stake Pass and road back to the ODG....surprising how downhill it feels. Always good.

Then up the Blea Tarn road and into the mist. Nothing to see here...except the handy bike stand!

I dropped down into Little Langdale, crossing the valley at Fellfoot Bridge and climbing up towards Atkinson Coppice. There was a lot of ice on this section, and on the drop down to the ford.

Through the bottom of Tilbirthwaite, followed by the climb over to Oxen Fell. The climbing continued on Arnside Intake and Iron Keld.
This photo is at the highpoint of this bridleway, it was downhill more or less to Skelwith Bridge.
The multi user track beside the River Brathey took me back to the car in Elterwater.
A great day, not many miles, but the fatbike always makes me smile :-)