Originally uploaded by Dawnriser
Despite the cliff face out of Settle, the ride to Malham has to be one
of the highlights of this tour. No rain, a back wind and all that
limestone scenery. In the village a cream tea at this cafe.
Now I’m on the home run – about 15 miles to Grassington. Then home by
car.
Originally uploaded by Dawnriser
No not me discarding my wet cycling kit in public, just another tea
house along the way. I’m in Settle. The rain eased after Ingleton,
where I changed my inner layers of wet clothes for dry ones. At
Clapham I changed my socks and lined sodden trainers with plastic
bags. The outer layers had dried out by the time I reached Settle and
now – it’s raining again.
By my reckoning there’s another 30 miles left starting with a vertical
climb away from here!
Despite the weather I’m riding through spectacular country. Snipe and
lapwing screech in the fields, sheep scatter alarmed as a streak of
yellow flies past on a silver machine, and motorists make way with
sympathetic looks from the warmth of their cars. I’ve met only two
other cyclists today – both cheerful, both wet! Now I’m heading for
Malham.
Originally uploaded by Dawnriser
I’d have ridden straight past this place in Thorpe Underwood had it not been for Warren, a cyclist from Harrogate working on the reconstruction of the road.
This cafe overlooks a pond and to be honest it was very quiet, due largely to the state of the road. It’s closed from the B6265 for major rebuilding.
I managed to navigate a route over the rough surface and Warren kindly pointed out The Fisherman’s Lodge.
I had to stop, didn’t I.
Toasted Tea Loaf and a mug of tea. Enough to top me up for the rest of the ride back to York.