Stats and GPX Tracks

GPX tracks of route

Day 1, Haworth to Bangor on Dee:https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29127887

Day 2, Bangor on Dee to LLangfadan:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351086

Day 3, LLangfadan to Aberaeron:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351087

Day 4, Aberaeron to Newgale:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351090

Day 5, Newgale to Llandovery:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351092

Day 6, Llandovery to Hereford:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351094

Day 7, Hereford to Great Bourton:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351099

Day 8, Great Bourton to St Neots:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351102

Day 9, St Neots to Wortham:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351106

Day 10, Wortham to Lowestoft to Wortham:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351110

Day 11, Wortham to Holbeach Fen:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351111

Day 12, Holbeach Fen to Market Rasen:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351115

Day 13, Market Rasen to Bardsey:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351128

Day 14, Bardsey to Haworth:http://www.bikemap.net/route/1351135

Day 14: Bardsley to Haworth

I set off before six after a mug of hot chocolate.

I was probably not much more than 25 miles from home so this would be a short day. When I did the same journey last year I'd meandered across bridle paths on the Harewood House estate and then gone through Otley, Ilkley, Silsden and Keighley. I decided to go a more direct route today so I headed north to the A659 and followed that through Otley. At Menston I took the B Road along the edges of Hawksworth Moor and Bingley Moor to Riddlesden and then Keighley. I was soon in sight of home; at least I would have been if the final ridge wasn't in the way.

A call from home asked me to pick up some toilet rolls from the supermarket - I got some funny looks.

Home and the auto focus chose the camera cord.

Distance: 43.89 k

Time: 2: 56: 03

Average: 15.0 k/hr

Height asc: 772 m

Day 13: Market Rasen to Bardsley

I was up at 4:50 and immediately put a Cornish pasty in the Bain Marie to heat up while I went about my ablutions. I was away just after 6.

To start with it was tough going; I even stopped the bike to check the wheels were spinning freely! I was on a slight incline which I didn't realise. Then that got quite steep. After a few more miles I warmed up and was going well. I left NCN 1 to cut the distance. I rejoined it before the Humber Bridge and used the signs to direct me, though I still needed my phone. I was on the Humber Bridge at 8:15.

I didn't come off the bridge quite where I expected so I made my way via a convoluted series of tracks and slip roads to the B Road to North Ferriby. As might be expected at this time, a fair bit of traffic about.  Over a dual carriageway via an elaborate shared path bridge. Nice views of the bridge against a brooding sky.

Then through Melton, Welton and just before Elloughton saw a sign at a garden centre saying "Walls" and stopped for a snack. I then headed down a gravel track to the estuary. Stopped at Weighton Lock and had a chat with a guy watching marsh harriers through binoculars. He'd lived there all his life. Apparently the canal had never been finished but had been used for the brickworks (taking in coal and taking out bricks).

The gravel track became a single track. I got back onto the road at Yokefleet. It had been very overcast all day. There were rain showers all around, some coming quite close. I could now see one which appeared to be on a collision course.

It poured down at Howden and I looked for shelter but NCN 65 seemed to take me round town but fortunately I found shelter under an archway entrance to a cemetery. I'd got pretty wet by that time.

I squelched my way on the NCN 65 which took me into Selby then let me down by taking me all around the town. Eventually arrived at the town centre, which was quite close to where I entered the town. Bought some fish and chips - the best on the whole trip and the cheapest (£4.28). Hit the spot! Sainsbury's for evening supplies and a butchers for some chops.

There was another downpour and I was dripping wet so I set about finding a campsite. The first one was full up so I had to go on to Bardsley. It turned out to be the same one I'd used last year when returning from my coast-to-coast. A thunderstorm before I arrived there left me drenched. I arrived shortly after five and when setting up my tent there was another thunderstorm; got even wetter. I walked in the rain to the shower block and by the time I'd showered and changed it had stopped. Back to the tent, listened to the radio, read the paper, another thunderstorm. Decided to cook in the tent but only one pan at a time. Braised lamb chops and onions, savoury rice followed by Tirimisu and hot chocolate.

Distance: 140.53 k

Time: 7: 33: 40

Average: 18.5 k/hr

Max: 45.0 k/hr

Height asc: 1185 m

Campsite: Moor Lodge Caravan Park, Blackmoor Lane, Bardsey, Leeds. Didn't make a note of price as notebook was soaked! Really a holiday park with statics but a separate area for tents. Excellent facilities but quite away from tent area (though probably woudn't have noticed if weather was better.

Day 12: Holbeach Fen to Market Rasen

A very windy night. I was up at 5:00. Heated a Ginsters pasty in my Bain Marie while I went about my ablutions. Ate the pasty with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. I got off at 6:25. THE WIND WAS BEHIND ME!! Because of all the twists and turns through the fens I decided to rely on the route on my phone and it worked superbly. Just occasionally I doubled back into the wind; reminded me how lucky I was.

More cabbage pickers and another group planting a field with seedlings. This planter had five on the back dropping in the seedlings. Reminded me of sitting on a potato planter when I was 13 dropping potatoes every time a bell rang. I think I earned one and thruppence (about 6P) an hour. I bet these guys weren't on much more than the minimum wage.

I was largely following NCN 1, now. I successfully used my phone mapping to take me through Boston (a test). Caffe Nero in Boston at 8:15 for a "free" loyalty card Americano, a Times, and an apricot pastry.

I deviated from NCN 1 to reduce the distance. There was a constantly changing sky with dark clouds then light clouds; one moment sun, then overcast. Planes from RAF Connorsley (probably). Occasional boats on the River Witham. I kept stopping to take photos.

I joined a disused railway line until Bardney. The track was fine; a few gates but an excellent surface. I stopped at a bench, overlooked by ferrous sheep, and had a brew sheltering the burner underneath the enclosed bench.

Had hot chocolate, Samozas, a banana and a Canadian maple syrup crunch bar. Another good ride today. I could easily get beyond Market Rasen but decided to stop at the campsite there then it will be two more days to home. I didn't see another soul on the whole length of the track. It became a dirt track (which would have been best avoided) round the sugar factory. Just before Market Rasen I rejoined NCN 1.

At Market Rasen I stopped at a Tesco for tonight's food and something for tomorrow morning. Then stopped at the butchers. Bought two huge lamb steaks for £2.90. The butcher reckoned Walesby Woodland would be the best bet for my campsite. Market Rasen seemed a nice place.

So I went to Walesby Woodland campsite. £12 but nice quiet site with good facilities and a place to pitch away from everyone else (not that I actually saw any other campers during my stay).

Showered, washed clothes and read the rest of the paper. Rushed back to tent to shelter from thunderstorm which didn't materialise but later another one did. Stayed in tent reading until it stopped then cooked. Lamb steak with onion gravy and Mexican rice, excellent; two glasses of wine; followed by steamed treacle pudding and custard plus an apple and banana. Radio 4 and the demise of the News of the World, too!

What an excellent days cycling. Wind behind me. Unexpectedly interesting terrain, though that may be the novelty value. Saw loads of showers but none reached me except one very light one, which only lasted for a few hundred metres.

Distance: 102.47 k

Time: 4: 45: 1 9

Average: 21.5 k/hr

Max: 34.0 k/hr

Height asc: 464m

Campsite: Walesby Woodland campsite, Walesby, Market Rasen £12 but nice quiet site with good facilities and a place to pitch away from everyone else (not that I actually saw any other campers during my stay).