Just in. Managed the 200kms after all. Signed up at the start, just in time so sorry YahudaMoon, didn't have time to try and ID you. I had a red
Altura top and a black Storck bike with no mudguards (this was commented on!) It started raining just about 8am and hammered down properly until about 10ish. There was a big main group that I kept up with (staying at the rear mostly due to lack of guards and innate politeness) until I needed to stop for a 'rest break' on the climb out of Blacko, tried quite hard but didn't come near to catching. So from Gisburn I did Colin's scenic route, which I think took a lot longer than riding in a group down the A road.
The stretch from Settle to Kirby Lonsdale and then to where you turn South was very hard work, rolling terrain with mostly headwind. Being out of step (that is behind) with most other riders, and faster than those I was catching up with I was mostly on my own. I did get on with a group for a bit north of Lancaster, doing a disorganized through and off, but they stopped at a garage. Strangely they didn't pass me but were already half way through their tea and cake at the Scorton cafe (The Barn, I seem to recall discussion here[?] about the Priory becoming distinctly unfriendly to cyclists.), which was annoying and weird. I think they may have taken a canny route past Lancaster, where the traffic was slow for a bit.
For the second half I did the official route, the A6 was OK, lots of cycle lane and it's a wide two lane road anyway. I actually enjoyed the opportunity to get a good few miles on nicely surfaced road with a mainly tailwind that are FLAT! Enjoyed the quieter section from the A6 through Ribchester and then over Haslingden old road, and it was from the beginning of there I was gradually more and more on home turf.
As I was riding Hasilingden Old Road just as it becomes countryside, I saw a bird which I assumed was a crow startled by my approach suddenly take off from the left pavement, like they do. I soon noticed it was I think a Kestrel with most of a dead crow or a whole Blackbird in its beak. It normally would have been off and gone, but with the cargo and the strong cross tailwind that hit it as it rose above the hedge line, it had to dip back down so flew along in front of me as I rode for a good 20 metres before being able to escape over the far hedge into a field. One of those magic nature moments.
Once through Haslingden itself actually felt quite strong and pushed on a bit. Think I'd kept myself well fed and had been pacing myself but probably mostly because I knew exactly what was ahead. Just on the ride up to Edenfield had a ten minute hail storm with lightning! When it cleared though the red setting sun shone through and there was a lovely bit of sunset over my shoulder.
Then a quick blast downhill through Norden and across Rochdale, joining my commuting route to return to the Sprint Inn for Pie and Peas, which this year was a buffet with chips and red cabbage and help yourself! I got back after most of the riders who'd been in groups, which is no suprise really, but did manage a 16 mph average on road speed, which is better than my optimistic target of 15 mph for that sort of distance (i.e. my 2nd 200k Audax).
