Originally uploaded by Dawnriser
Despite the cliff face out of Settle, the ride to Malham has to be one
of the highlights of this tour. No rain, a back wind and all that
limestone scenery. In the village a cream tea at this cafe.
Now I’m on the home run – about 15 miles to Grassington. Then home by
car.
Originally uploaded by Dawnriser
No not me discarding my wet cycling kit in public, just another tea
house along the way. I’m in Settle. The rain eased after Ingleton,
where I changed my inner layers of wet clothes for dry ones. At
Clapham I changed my socks and lined sodden trainers with plastic
bags. The outer layers had dried out by the time I reached Settle and
now – it’s raining again.
By my reckoning there’s another 30 miles left starting with a vertical
climb away from here!
Despite the weather I’m riding through spectacular country. Snipe and
lapwing screech in the fields, sheep scatter alarmed as a streak of
yellow flies past on a silver machine, and motorists make way with
sympathetic looks from the warmth of their cars. I’ve met only two
other cyclists today – both cheerful, both wet! Now I’m heading for
Malham.
Originally uploaded by Dawnriser
It’s cold and bleak up here. The rain’s coming down in torrents with
just a short respite every now and then.
I can feel the damp through to my skin and I’m thinking “what am I doing
up here on this bleak moor?”
I look forward to reaching Ingleton for a break.
