So, Saturday was another day of peak-bagging… with North Yorkshire’s Whernside being the target. The trip was quick - 8 miles in 3.5 hours with 450 metres of ascent. Some stunning views as we arrived at the summit ridge, but then the clouds blew in and we were in mist until well into the descent. Judging by the profile, we definitely went the right way round - the descent was enough of a killer going downwards I can’t imagine it upwards.

click for full size

click for full size

The Yorkshire Dales were just stunning, and well worth the three hours’ drive (and two passes through the never-ending Bradford) for.

If that wasn’t enough, I received a text message this morning asking if I had any plans. I replied that my plans were to rest my poor aching muscles and catch up on chores. The reply to the reply said “Oh, you won’t be interested in cycling round Carsington Water, then?”.

Well, in my book, excitement always trumps responsibility and pain, and luckily cycling seems to use different muscles to walking, and so it was no problems to do the 9.1 mile circuit. Actually, the circuit is smaller, I built up some distance zooming ahead and then returning to find my companions (and a circuit or two of the big round thing at the bottom of the 3d shot). There were definitely some nasty hills there - steep enough that my back wheel spun while I was pedalling in bottom gear… but that, of course, meant some nice downhills too - top speed 29 mph, I’m not fully confident in my bike yet.

click for full size

click for full size

Unfortunately, that left me far too knackered to go see The Bourne Ultimatum tonight… whoops.