tour reports » Went for and eye test.

Yesterday I tolerated 300 miles on the M3, M25 and M1 to get up to the Pennines to take an eye test.
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But that wasn't the real reason for the 300 miles of pain. A few weeks back (we'll get back to The Pennies soon) I visited Holme Fen, which is the lowest point in England, and can be accessed by public road. Here's a photo of the RS down low, the top of the green poles you see (sticking out of the tank bag and tail pack) in the the photo apparently mark sea level, Holme Fens is 2 metres below sea level.

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So having got to the lowest point in England (using public roads) I decided, during my week off work, to visit the highest point in England using public roads. Harthope Moss, this is in The Pennines (see we back there now). There was no point in sitting on a motorway there and back, but equally with the current rules/guidelines of the land, I had to get there and back in one day, so I had to go there or back on motorway. I decide the trip up would be the boring leg, and to make the return trip the significant part and give the day some enjoyment, by riding some of the roads and passes of the land's National Parks etc. and try and avoid as much motorway as I could as I returned to North Hampshire.

When a friend Ian, who live's north of Newcastle but not in Scotland, and with whom I would normally have stayed and gone out for rides around the north, heard of my plan he asked to join me for some of the trip (yes we observed social distancing...). I set off very early (04:48 to be exact) the sun was up, so it was daytime. And I slogged the M3, M25 and M1. Met Ian at Bishop Auckland, took the Barnard Castle eye test, from where Harthope Moss isn't too far. So here are the bikes parked at the highest public road in England

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From there we head through Killhope Cross, which seems to swap honor as the highest road with Harthope every so often, so we rode over there as well just to make sure. Then up to Langley, where geographically I started the trip back down England.

We road to Alston and up and over the Hartside pass. A little of the A66 before we cut into the Yorkshire Dales from Kirkby Stephen to Thwaite, up the Buttetubs road and down into Hawes, out past the Ribblehead Viaduct and into Ingleton.

It was here we separated and Ian headed back north. Me I headed into the Forest of Bowland Area of Natural Beauty, not somewhere I've paid any attention to before, but some good scenery and interesting narrow moorland roads. I popped out the bottom of Bowland and had to use some major roads to get to the top of the Peak district.

I went over Holme Moss, and down into Woodhead to Glossop, up and over the Snake road, then cut back to Buxton via Speedwell Cavern. It was logical then to take the Cat and Fiddle from Buxton to Macclesfield, a road murdered by the 50mph average spreed cameras, but good views. I then took a series of back roads that cut south west through the lower part of the peaks, all unnamed, all very attractive and I made up so much time on the Sat-Nav predicted time, so others obviously take it slower through there. I popped out the bottom of the peaks at Ashbourne and took the A515 to Lichfield. It was here that probably the least interesting part of the return trip had to be negotiated, A38 and M42 around to junction 3, but I made it.

The A435 and A46 south were okay (compared with the alternative M40), then I picked up the A44 at Evesham and up Fish Hill, for the second time ever, and I lucked in for just like the first time, there was zero traffic on the hill so I did my best to keep below 65 but above 59.9mph. I went trhough Stow on the Wold and then to Burford, and that got me through the Cotswolds.

From Burford I again took a bunch of minor roads, passing through Buckland and Wantage. I was back on home turf now and went through to Basingstoke via Newbury and the A339, and as I had made up so much time instead of heading home I continued on the A339 to Alton to (socially distance) call on my youngest son and then back home (and it was still daylight (just)), looking at the statistics I wished I had gone somewhere else just to trip the mileage to over 800... but maybe another time. I had a sore neck and arms by then. Today just a little soreness in the neck when I look over my shoulder. Tomorrow I think I'll going west, as a couple weeks back I went east.

This country really does have some fine roads and scenery, and just at the moment there are pleasantly less busy than normal, I'm so glad I get the opportunity to see it and ride it.

The route and the stats.
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Jason.

I don't for a minute doubt you needed to test your eyes and social distance from your mate on a long ride as to do otherwise would've resulted in what we in the trade call a 'crash'. But, if you do the same should local lockdown harden, may I suggest you route via Kendall to do a bit of 'shopping' because as you will know their Mintcake is doubtless better when fresh.

Lovely route, nice one.

That's a lot of miles in a day. Have you heard of the Iron Butt rally (or European equivalents)? You might like it.

Zitat von Ray im Beitrag #4

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That's a lot of miles in a day. Have you heard of the Iron Butt rally (or European equivalents)? You might like it.

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Sounds like you need to find a £300 shitter and do the LDU charity ride

Lands End to John O' Groats between sunrise and sunset on the longest day of the year (although this years event is currently postponed) no motorways allowed.
Last years route was 1020 miles!

http://www.thelongestdaydownchallenge.co.uk/

Still waiting for a rescheduled date but the bike is nearly ready.