This is my first bike pack trip of 2013 and also the first using my new Rohloff gears. I left home just after 6am to cycle to Chorley Railway Station. It was around -3dec C and although my gloves kept my hand warm I felt the cold on my legs as I was wearing thinner track suit bottoms than usual. I reached the station in plenty of time and waited with the others for the 06:31 am train to Edinburgh which I would take as far as Oxenholme. I wheeled my bike into the carriage with cycle space and another cyclist followed with his old Carlton bike I’ve seen him with on a previous trip. The train was a few minutes late but I didn’t have any connections to make so it wasn’t a problem. It was about 07:15 when I got to Oxenholme and still dark.

Waiting for the train at Chorley Railway Station

I set off south along the road to Burton Road, which is also the A65. I turned right then left down another lane to the small village of Burton. It was still below freezing and my main concern was ice on the road and the dark. Although I had my high intensity light on it isn’t good at helping spot icy patches on the road. My next objective was to reach the A6 main road. To get there I had to follow a very narrow lane out of the village. The crunchy sound made as my tyres as I rode over the ice on the road was a bit scary. It was rough ice and gave a little grip but I still had to cycle very slowly and carefully to get to the A6. When I got there the contrast was total. A wide ice free road but now full of large vehicles travelling at high speed as the rush hour is now reaching its maximum.

As there was a rough pavement I had no choice but to follow it as the road itself, in the dark conditions, was too dangerous. I reached the large roundabout that is also where the A590 heads west. That is the way I was going so had to stick to the road as there was no footpath or cycleway. It was starting to come light but I was still uncomfortable with the large vehicles passing too close at speed. Near Millside I left the main road and took the minor road running parallel. This used to be the main road until the dual carriageway was built. I passed the Derby Arms along the branch road to rejoin the main road.

Grange-over-Sands Railway Station

There is no vehicular access at this point and the dual carriageway has central barriers here so I couldn’t get back to the westerly lane. I wheeled my bike past the garage filling station and further along till there was a gap in the barriers. At the next roundabout I took the old minor road to Lindale as I knew it would be quieter. My plan was to continue to Newby Bridge but that would have meant rejoining the main road. I decided on the quieter and more scenic route instead by heading for Grange-over-Sands.

Grange Railway Station built 1872

In Grange I stopped briefly at the Railway Station then continued to Flookborough. There was an interesting stone cross in the village which even though it dated from the late 19th century was on the site of a much older cross. I thought the next right turn was for Haverthwaite, which is where I wanted to be, but instead of getting my map out I asked a local. She didn’t seem too sure. It turned out to be the right way so I pressed on to rejoin the A590. I turned left to head for Greenodd but after a short way noticed a wayside caravan cafe in the lay bye. I stopped for a cup of tea which was only 50p.

Flookborough cross

Greenodd

Continuing to Greenodd I stopped in the lay bye to admire the sunny view across the mud flats. Then turned right on the A5084 towards Coniston. I hadn’t been on it long before the large vehicles were becoming a problem. I took a narrow lane to the right and headed for Spark Bridge. It was hilly with patchy ice but the main thing was no cars.

Sheep above Spark Bridge

I decided to keep to the east of Coniston Water so I would be able to see the big mountains across the water. I wasn’t disappointed and the clear cold weather continued. Ice on the road became more of a problem and I nearly slipped off a couple of times.

Near High Nibthwaite

A cold calm Coniston Water

I reached the B5285 and a clear road. In Coniston village I called at one of the general stores to buy water. A large 5 lt bottle was reasonable but too much water. Buying 2 * 2lt bottles would cost twice as much so I bought 2 * 2lt bottles of lemonade at 35p each.

Jetty on Coniston

The grave of John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)
in St Andrew's graveyard, Coniston.

Across the road was St Andrew’s Church so I went to the graveyard to admire the stone carving on the grave of John Ruskin. My planned camp was somewhere along the A593 road towards Ambleside. I checked a possible site on the way but it was too close to a path. Near the summit I came to site I’d originally planned to us. It was far enough away from the road so I pitched the tent in snow amongst the trees. The lemonade was OK for cooking with and made good tea, lemon tea! I’m not sure how it will be for tomorrow’s coffee.

Camp near Holme Fell