The best way to depict the day of cycling from Leigh is to imagine a graph with time along the x axis and a straight line bisecting the x & y axis. Now the y axis could represent any number of subjects... The view, enjoyment of the cycling, quality of the roads, altitude and pain in the arse.

The roads and cycling around Leigh was horrible, the roads were poorly maintained and very busy. It was slow progress, cycling into a head wind. But a few miles out of town things got better as we finally reached the sheltered lanes of Lancashire.

Once north of Blackburn we reached both the best and most difficult part of the day, the climb over the Forest of Bowland. The climbing was steep, lots of 10%, 12% and even 20% inclines.

But as we climbed over the hill and through the valley, the views over the Yorkshire Moors got better and more remote. After an hour or so of climbing, the inevitable downhill finally arrived. The views remained fantastic, but the pace upped as we barrelled down off the moor to arrive at a well deserved pie and chip dinner in High Bentham.

Refuelled, we headed to our stop for the night, Kirkby Lonsdale. The hotel was fantastic, with a bed even better than our own, helpful staff and importantly decent beer... Heaven.

Adam's Mom Keep up the good work you are nearly there I am so pleased for you. Hope the bums are ok. I will look at blog again on Monday you could have finished by then. Text me when you get to the finish line. Love you both. X

Sep 18, 2010