Day 4 - Preston to the Lake District

# Lack of Orange 3G signal means this wasnt published until Sunday night. Apologies. #

The days route complete with an uber-hilly last 25km 

Some touring cyclists might say that taking a train to avoid a 25km round-trip is cheating. We, however, see it as just... opportunistic.

The morning was spent dodging rain showers as we moved up through Preston and followed the M6. A similar route is taken by Lands End to John O'Groats cyclists, a few of which we passed and met on Lancashire's back-streets. Im not saying theres such a thing as tour-envy, but LE-JOG is certainly more impressive than our route.

The incriminating train journey took place just north of Lancaster, where we had stopped for a late lunch and met up with Vicky, probably the only person we know living on our long route to Scotland. Having set off along back roads northwards we noticed that the route to the southern tip of the lake district needed a huge detour inland around a wide estuary. The local train, however, took a serious short-cut and hopped across the river in 10 minutes. Without much deliberation we decided to pay the £1.20 and enter Cumbria in style.

The sunny view from Arnside Station towards the 23km round trip we avoided.

Sometimes opinions of things can change extremely rapidly. Take my thoughts on Cumbria today, for example. We had just arrived in Grange-by-Sands, a busy and picturesque sort of place stuck between a steep hillside and the sea. Maybe it was the sun on the well-kept trees and bushes, maybe it was the bustling streets, but whatever it was - I liked the feeling of the place. Cumbria, I decided, was my kind of county. Fifteen minutes of jelly-legged, 15-percent-gradient hill-climbing later the honeymoon period was over and I was hurling abuse at the place. Steep hills definitely aren't a cyclists best friend.

The final hour of cycling was spent getting lost in Cumbrias rolling hills. The great thing about getting lost while cycling in england is that all it takes in a 20 second glance at google maps and you're back on your way again. We finally struggled up a long dirt track to our campsite of choice and, having paid, found a slug-filled empty field with a metal shipping container for a toilet block. Exchanging nervous glances we explored the loo block and found the nicest (and free-est) hot showers we have encountered thus far. I guess, with toilets and counties alike, first impressions arent always insightful.

Tomorrow we cycle 30km to our campsite in the langdale valley and spend the next 6 hours climbing England's highest point - Scafell Pike.

Stats:
Distance: 104km
Total Distance: 320km
Average speed: 18.5kph

Rain score: 2/10.
Cumbrian slugs squished: 23.