My 94-mile Friday Greenhow Ride: 03/07/2020

My hardest and wettest ride of the year, if not the longest. I set off in trepidation to cover a route I hadn't done for 33 years. I just happened to choose a particularly wet day. However, I seem to go better in these conditions, if it's not too cold than in the heat we have been recently experiencing. I set off from Acomb. My route took in the villages of Rufforth, Long Marston, Tockwith, Cowthorpe, Little Ribston till I arrived at Knaresborough. Where I had a coffee at the Marigold Cafe. I then headed off along the Beryl Burton Way to Ripley, from there I carried along the main road until I got to Glasshouses. I went down to the village and then headed along the bridleway to Pateley Bridge. There I decided not to go up the main road over Greenhow. It was very windy and wet, and I hate riding up there with vehicles tailgating me. So I turned off to Bewerley. On leaving the village. I turned off on to Peat Lane which has a climb steeper than Greenhow, but the road is quieter. However, I ended walking up. As well as the steepness and weighing considerably more than when I was 34. The south-westerly wind was blowing down the hill, making it doubly hard. On reaching the end of Peat Lane. I continued up the main road to Greenhow village in a strong wind and heavy, but warm rain. It was quite difficult on the descent towards Grassington. I could hardly see where I was going. The rain stinging my eyes despite my glasses. Fortunately, I couldn't descend to fast because of the headwind. I stopped at Stump Cross Cavern and bought a welcome and good coffee from an Icecream van there. I continued down the road and took the next turning on the left heading for Appletreewick, but turned off before reaching it for Bolton Abbey. When I got to Bolton Abbey I took a few more photographs, but given the weather, these were my last of the day. I now had the wind behind me and it was getting late. I had lights, but would rather not ride in the dark on unfamiliar roads. So from Bolton Abbey, I took the high road to Ilkley and Otley. Going up Lanshaw Bank, through Langbar, Pawpots, Middleton and Askwith. Then from there on to Leathley, Weeton, Sicklinghall and Wetherby. Then I headed to Thorpe Arch on the cycleway, then on to Wighill, Healaugh, Askham Bryan and home. I set off at 11.30 am getting back at 9.30 pm and feeling relatively dry and less tired than I thought I would have. Although, I did have far more breaks on this ride than on my longest and hottest of the year.

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