Day 9 - It does not rain inside a cloud.

Now we are into the second half in days but not on mileage. We have done 429 miles out of 1115. Tomorrow we will pass the half way point on mileage.

Today's route starts off hill as we head out of the Pennines to the M6, and is then less hilly as we follow the M6 to Carlisle.

You can see the planned route here
http://g.co/maps/t74va

The usual morning view from our room.




This is where the bikes were stabled overnight.




We both struggle with the routine in the morning of replacing and organising our bags for the day. We try to separate our clothes into clean an non-clean, and to have wet weather clothes quickly accessible, but even after a week it is still a struggle.

There are loads of curlews here which is a nice unexpected sound.

This is where we stayed last night.



We had to make our own breakfast this morning, so last night we got some bacon, bread and duck eggs from the little shop opposite the youth hostel. The eggs made excellent scrambled eggs, and we boiled some to take with us for a snack.

The route today took us through some superb scenery.









We reached 1070 feet.


This was an owl that we saw nestled in the fork of a tree, it barely moved which allowed us to take this photo.



It rained until this point, where cycling up a very steep hill we entered a cloud, where we proceeded to get soaked through.










Eventually we crossed the M6. Now only 50 miles to go for the day.










The is a strong correlation between the number of photos taken and the number and steepness of the hills.




A duck egg stop.



Ray specially chose this route today as it went along a road that runs between the two carriage ways if the M6, it was rather weird.



We then headed out of the hills and down towards Penrith, but still with really nice views.








In Penrith I needed to visit a bike shop, as my front gears finally stopped working. They had been getting harder and harder to change up, and the cable was starting to fray as I had broken it when fitting it in the first place. So rather than fight with it in the rain, I paid the money and got it fixed properly. I also asked them to loosen the right pedal so that I can get it off for going onto the plane.
I wanted more brake pads but they did not have any. So will have to keep looking for them.
We chose to wait in a café whilst the bike was fixed which suited everyone.
As the bike shop was the last time I saw my debit card, I gave now had to cancel it. I probably just dropped it in the shop as it had not been used since then, but I can't find it anywhere. So it was the right decision only to bring that card.

After Penrith it was a long straight road with only fairly bad hills, into Carlisle.

The Cherry Grove guest house is very nice, and the landlady has already returned two bags of washing that we gave her. So will should not smell as bad over the next few days.

For dinner we went to a typically English all you can eat Chinese restaurant and had no alcohol. So it has been our first "drink" free night of the trip.

I will take some photos of the guest house tomorrow.

It is only 10pm but we are both exhausted, and Ray has already started to snore. So goodnight.

Cheers
Paul

Riding the length of the UK so you don't have to ;)
You can sponsor me at
https://www.justgiving.com/Margaret-beattie