Lejog day 18 Kendal to home at Temple Sowerby

 

The halfway point (more or less) - home sweet home! 520 miles cycled, 490 to go. 27,585 feet of ascent climbed, 26,315 feet yet to ascend.

It's been a great journey and we're very proud of ourselves. We're thankful that bodies and bikes have stood up to the challenge and for the superb weather we've been enjoying. But we're only halfway so complacency must not set in!

Pete is kindly going to look at our bikes to check them over and see if anything needs replacing or repairing before we set off again.

Today was a test! Yet again the sun shone which was wonderful but there was a very strong headwind. We knew we were going to be slow because this was the day for Shap fell. It reaches a height of 1400 feet above sea level; we were starting at just above 200 feet. Thankfully it wasn't steep all the way, it just went on - for about ten miles! At the top it was blowing a gale but we still stopped for a while to get our breath back and have a bite to eat. The descent was also into the wind so it didn't quite live up to the exhilarating experience I was anticipating.

Soon before Shap village I spotted a female cyclist stood on the other side of the road who appeared to be filming us. It turned out to be Anne, a near neighbour. She rode with us for the remaining twelve miles or so - a great support.  Thanks Anne. 

On arriving home Sam and Louise were waiting on the drive to welcome us and to film us just as they did when we left Land's End three weeks ago. Katie from across the road was also out and gave us a welcoming wave.

It's good to be home for three nights but we're looking forward to the next leg on Wednesday - a nice easy ride of five miles uphill over Hartside (2000 feet above sea level) to Alston! 














 






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