A Navigationally Challenged Day = 50 Miles

An interesting day, if a bit navigationally challenged...

Started the day with breakfast at the B&B. This by itself is not unusual, but the setup of this breakfast was different than any we'd had before. At every other B&B we'd been to, the breakfast room consists of little individual tables where Steve and I and the other guests sit by ourselves and have a fairly quiet breakfast. We do say good morning and good day, but that's really the extent of the conversation. The design of last night's farmhouse B&B did not lend itself to that so instead everyone was seated the same big table in front of the fireplace in the very country dining room. It was the best breakfast we've had so far.

We had a very lively conversation with Jeremy, Eric and Sylvia of Toronto and Clearwater, with Bruce from Watford, and Joan and Arthur from Nottinghamshire. Travels, motorbikes, trains (UK and Canada), sailing, motorhomes, and spoons were all discussed. It was lively, interesting and a great way to start the day. It was so good, I'm surprised more B&Bs don't do it, but having read several books on running B&Bs, they all seem to recommend the separate table setup - too bad, one big table was lots more fun!

Today was our big day, 40 miles back home. If we could do this, then the chances are pretty good we'll be able to do our 45 mile days in France. We headed out back through Linton, just as pretty as the night before (no houses for sale though, not surprising) and then through Hetton. Our route took us through Gargreave where we stopped for tea in the Dalesman Cafe which is all decorated with antiques, has one room done up like the interior of a canal boat and is very much like an old time sweet shop. The hills were smaller, but the scenery was just as beautiful. We're quite enamoured of the very narrow roads with no traffic! After a nice wind through the country, we spotted Clitheroe in the distance and knew we were headed towards home.

But that's when things became a bit challenged. We turned onto a road which was supposed to lead us towards Downam, our lunch stop. As we were pedaling along, I noticed a house which I admire each time we go by it on the motorbike, I admire it as we are heading away from home and this was supposed to be a road I'd never been on before. Hmmm, after a map consult, we'd headed in the opposite direction. That was okay, because we could take an alternative route and after a restorative chocolate bar we headed off again. Actually we headed off into uncharted country (i.e., Steve had never been there before).

We wandered over hills, dropped into valleys, climbed back up hills! We went through several towns that were totally new to Steve which was interesting because we were back in Lancashire now and he's been all over on his bicycle and motorbike. We found a very good pub on the top of a hill with a gorgeous valley view - I wish I could tell you where it was!

After a restorative tea and cookie break, we encountered territory that Steve recognised and started to make some headway towards home. My first familiar sight was a Blackburn roundabout which was nice because then I could sort of picture how far it was to home. We came through town and pedaled up New Preston Road towards our street. As we turned the corner onto Billinge End Road, I wasn't sure if we'd make the sharp, steep hill that it starts with, but with much huffing and puffing we got up there. The freewheel from the top down to our house was one of the best ever - and so was the drink in the tub after!

Steve counted, we did 50 miles in hilly country fully loaded with luggage. I think we'll be okay in France.

(There may be a GPS in our future...but where's the fun in that?)