And We Thought There Were a Lot of Hills in Lancashire!

That was until we started bicycling in Yorkshire! Started yesterday heading out of Settle going up hill. As we left town, we passed an old man working in his garden who shouted after us, "You've a long way to go and it's all up hill. Four miles ALL UP HILL!". Then we saw the sign, 1 in 5 grade (you climb 1 foot for every 5 feet you travel). Oh goodie...

I'd love to say we perservered, dug in and heroically made it to the top, but that would be stretching things a bit (or a lot). We actually went about a quarter mile further and then had to get off and push! We didn't have to push the entire way up, but there were two steep bits that we'll save for another time.

Stark, barren, lonely and beautiful is how I think of the Yorkshire Dales. When we got to the top, we could see for miles. It's one of those places where you feel like you've reached the top of the world and the whole thing is spread out before you. There was no one up there but us. All we could hear was the wind whipping through the grass. It's a very alone place and very beautiful.

We continued on with bits of downhill and a very nice headwind. The wind keeps you cool, but if if you're pedaling into it it slows you down. We were pedaling right into it!

After a lovely and fast dowhill run, we dropped back into the valleys. We pootled around the lanes going through Kirkby Malham and stopping for tea, a scone and a bacon buttie in Malham. Some children were there on a field trip and walked by looking at and photographing the tandem. Their teacher said it was the most interesting thing they'd seen so far (nice, but did they not have their eyes open?!).

We had a picnic lunch on the edge of a new mown field. Our view, hills rolling into the distance covered with fields lined with stone walls. The houses in the country parts of Yorkshire are mainly stone, small cottages and bigger houses, many covered with climbing roses or ivy. This time of year the gardens are in full bloom. We admired the view and had a doze in the sunshine.

A bicyclist in an orange beanie hat stopped by for a chat, where have you come from, where are you going type of stuff.

We finished the day by pedaling to Grassington, having a drink and a wander through the shops. We bumped into another couple on a tandem, very serious tandemists - in training for the Lands End to John O'Groats trip (top of the UK to the bottom) planning on doing a hundred miles a day and camping on the way. This means that they will have to carry the camping gear on their bike. I'll ask the more experienced bikers in the group, is it possible to do 100 miles a day for 10 days loaded up with all that gear? Also there are hills, lots of hills!

Steve and I would like to do that trip, but we'll pass on the camping.

Because we hadn't had enough exercise already, we walked to Linton where there was a great pub, The Fountaine, gastro rather than pub grub. Tried their 'beat the clock' special where what you pay is the time you order. A very, very nice meal for 6 something each!

Our B&B is on the banks of the river that winds slowly through Grassington and our room in this old stone farmhouse overlooks the river and the gardens. Breakfast is sharp at 8:45! (We'll need it because it's 40 miles home!)