Ramping up

It was beautifully peaceful here as I trundled through Swaledale. 

By the time I was on Buttertubs, there was a bit more going on with a snipe dashing furtively across the road ahead of me. 

By Fleet Moss, I'd say it was overly hectic as a barage of horseflies came in for the attack on my slow ascent up the hill in the still warmth of lunchtime. I had to fight them off all the way up which, on the upside, meant I barely noticed the effort that I hadn't been looking forward to putting in. 

In the end, I lost 8:1 but only one I'd class as a decent bite - the others were nibbles as they spat out the insect repellant and tried another patch of flesh.  It vaguely amused me when I inspected my back that they'd got me in the patch I couldn't reach, right in the middle! 

No cafes today - I decided I'd rather get home and have more time to shower, stretch and relax. 

That route home is hard to beat.