Sunday 25 March 2012

Sunshine Picnic & Rough Rides

Two misty mornings with the sun breaking through into blazing sunshine in the Pennines.

A fun fast belt up the Rochdale Canal - almost 30 locks in less than 7 miles- this isnt your usual boring flat canal, but one your can get your peddles into rushing up & down the locks.

We picnicced at Hollingworth Lake, which was heaving with people grabbing as much sunshine as they could. The water level is very low after a quite dry winter, so it didnt have quite the same seaside feel that it usually has, but chilling out with butties and coffee was still delightful.


Saturday's ride was just the right length to mean that I was still fresh for 25 miles of off roading round the hills with my cycling group.
We peddled up & up over farm tracks until we emerged out of the morning fog near the Nic O Pendle.

More tough riding under the blazing sunshine and hill after hill before the first brew stop of the day at Clarion House, Roughlee with this beautiful view to enjoy as the tealeaf tea worked its magic on my thirst!
The stunning views helped draw attention away from the knee ache that hill climbing can bring.
And a nice relaxing lunch in the sunshine kept me going for the rest of the afternoon.