C2C Day 1 - Whitehaven to Threlkeld

Down to breakfast after a fitful night's sleep. Still overcast with light rain and a wind from the north-east (ie a direct headwind). Not too encouraging.

A transfer to Whitehaven with the bikes where we were blipped by the reps before we got going. I was a bit bemused to see a folding bike among the group, but I haven't done one of these trips before, so what do I know? The rain has stopped and the sun is out but it's chilly; actually not bad weather for cycling.

The first ten miles was a steady climb up an old railway incline into the wind, and the morning break was very welcome. But the coffee, Tunnock's Caramel Wafer and banana worked wonders and I whizzed the next stretch to lunch by Loweswater, an impressive spread of salads, pork pies, breads and all kinds of other goodies.

Then we hit the hills - a tough four-mile climb from Lorton to the top of the Whinlatter Pass - three of us managed it without getting off and walking for stretches; and then a steep, fast descent to Braithwaite, followed by a coast to Keswick where we enjoyed a bit of sun by Derwent Water before the final four miles return to Threlkeld. 35 hard miles. Phew.

Got seriously stuffed on lasagne and beer tonight.

Left to right - Joan, BrB, Helen (yes, that is a Brompton folding bike), Jane, Julia, Jo, Lynn, Ron, Cheryl, Chris, Belinda.