RSF ride to Shap

At the start of the Roman Road

A beautiful morning greeted us as we met near the Old Schoolhouse Cafe in Tebay, this morning. 7 folk had turned up for the ride. After a visit for Tea and toasted teacakes in the cafe, a plan was hatched, our ride today would take us to Shap and back. This doesn't look far on the map, but our route would be circuitous. We rode on minor roads via Gaisgill, before crossing the A685 at Kelleth and using an old track, crossing the River Lune. We doubled back using a byway passing Fawcett Mill ( now a house) before riding another minor lane over Coalflatt Bridge. A short way along the road to Orton a bridleway took us across fields passing the isolated house of Martinagap. A little bit of roadwork, and we reached the open fell and rode the bridleway, which follows the line of a roman road to Oddendale. The track was very slippery the sun was thawing the frozen mud producing a tricky to say the least consistency! Ambition got the better of ability on here and I was dumped upside down in the mud to much amusement of the group. We had lunch sat in the sun on here with a splendid view of the Howgill fells. After lunch we rode along Harberwain Rigg, again tricky in the cloying mud. At the end of the lane we turned left and headed into Shap, to visit the cafe, however it was shut! The return leg all on the road took us on the water board concrete road, before climbing over Hardendale Fell and crossing under the M6 to ride down into Orton and the Chocolate Shop cafe. Hot Chocolate and other treats were consumed, somehow we managed to empty the cafe! Don't know how or why! From here its only a short way back to Tebay and the cars. A great ride today, I used my full suspension bike today, rather harder work I'd say.

Well behaved Hedgehogs in the Chocolate Shop Cafe