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

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 :-)

Out With Old Mate Tim For a Days Mountainbiking

Tim and I have been trying to get out for a day on the Mountain Bikes for almost 6 months. Today was the day! We parked near Force Mills, the weather almost perfect. We headed South on varius bridleways towards Rusland, visiting the ford at Rusland Pool. I didn't take many pics...we were to busy chatting about adventures we'd had 40 years ago on these same trails! Here's one or to anyway...

This is a vehicle trap!!  "Get me out says Fatty!"
The idea being that no vehicles should use the ford at this time of year to help the fish.
We had no intention of crossing anyway, and turned and continued our route.
We climbed up to High Ickenthwaite and over to Nibthwaite. The Parkamoor Road was next...

Here as we climbed up the old track the views over to the Coniston Fells was excellent.

After lunch just South of Parkamoor, we continued on the bridleway high above Coniston Water.
This is one of the best viewpoints I know of the Coniston Fells (its above Heald Brow)
From here we dropped down to Bank Ground, before climbing back over Grizedale Moor.
A bit of "North Face Trail" led us back to Grizedale, then more bridleways back to the car.  

Back at the car and bike washed...Fatty was tired I think, had to sit down!
We'd had a great day, in great weather!
Thanks Tim! :-))
Should anyone want to follow our route, the Strava track is here 

Fatty Rides Again...Tilbirthwaite from Skelwith Bridge

Its been a long time since I've had a day on the Fat Bike for various reasons. Today though was the day....cold, crisp and sunny. care was needed on the ice patches mind!

Still a lot of frost as I left Skelwith and headed for Elterwater

Great reflections in the Brathay

I rode/pushed over Owlets Nest and was greeted with the familiar view of Wetherlam and the Greenburn Fells

Once in little Langdale the next port of call was Slaters Bridge...Still frosty!

In the shade here....very chilly! As I headed back over to Tilbirthwaite

Gratuitous pic of the Fat Bike at my lunch spot in the sun. Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke in the distance

I had a good play round in the quarries of Hodge Close.
 Its a favourite area for me, the Silver Birch looked superb today.

On the bridleway through to Stang End.

Back to the car on the multiuse track to Skelwith.
The last of the days light shining on the Pikes and Silver How

Rough Stuff Fellowship Ride From Wilfs....Staveley

A really cold wind greeted us as the 3 of us left the warmth of Wilfs Cafe. We pedalled up Brow Foot Lane in Kentmere. The hills all round had a scattering of snow, but it would be a while before we were riding in it. First we tackled some bridleways above Ings before we headed over to Troutbeck and back...heres a few pictures of the day.

Adam on the way back over to Ings, Kentmere Fells in the background

The Coniston Fells from Brow Head Lane

The Langdale Fells from Moor Howe

The head of Troutbeck from Dubbs Road.
A great day, although my toes may disagree!!
The track of our route may be found here for those who use Strava! 

Last of the Summer Wine Ride.....

This was the first time Tim, Ian and I had met up for almost 15 years. Time we acted our ages rather than our shoe sizes!! A road, easy trail/bridleway was planned and  having met in Bowness we rode down to the ferry and crossed to the West side of Windermere....

The island of Crow Holme as the ferry reached the west side of Windermere

Heading up the side of the lake, the islands of "Lilies of the Valley" covered in Autumnal trees

Top of the first climb under Claife Heights....time for a breather

Having ridden past Blelham Tarn, and through Hawkshead. We climbed the bridleway past Walker Ground, and had a buttie stop just before we entered Grizedale Forest.

Leaving the forest, the new multi-use trail down to Monk Coniston gave us a great descent.

Gratuitous photo of my 29er in front of a log pile!

A bit of tarmac through Low Tilbirthwaite and Holme Ground and the beautiful colours of Hodge Close were revealed.

Another multiuse trail led us back to Wray Castle.

Followed by a return along the edge of Windermere, then back across the ferry to the cars in Bowness.
A great ride, good to be out with Tim and Ian on the bikes in such great weather :-))
A strava track can be found here for anyone who may want to see just exctly were we went!