In Keswick, 40 Miles Done

Left the Quaker House dining room after our communal breakfast and had to scramble to get my luggage ready for transfer at the requested 9:00 am deposit.  The morning dark clouds rushed across the sky to reveal a glorious blue with the occasional white puff.  No need for the heavy rain gear today so I was into my tights and spandex and out the gate lickety-split.  Got the first interest in my helmet cam by two cyclists as I opened the gate.

Most people round these parts are hikers.  One can see them scattered about the fells with their walking sticks and knapsacks. I think I was the lone cyclist during my stay.

The route to Keswick, shortly after exiting Grasmere, begins with a long climb up the Dunmail Raise which I walked for part of the way.  Once crested there is a knuckle-whitening downhill run with my needed left turn off the main road at the bottom.  After that it's narrow, flat, beautiful and practically deserted for miles.  I was up in top gear for a long part of it.

The weather being pleasant, I had the helmet cam running but I managed to attach it upside down so I have an upside down movie.  If I find a way to invert it it will be posted.  In lieu, a small description;  moss and timber on the left, Lake Thirlmere on the right, deer suddenly running startled from beside me as I pass, flat twisty road.

UPDATE: Amazing what one can do with Linux on a Netbook. I managed to invert the video with a couple of command lines and here it is. It was my first live run with the camera so, inexperienced as I was, I only managed to take one video, that of the Quaker House to the intersection with Dunmail Raise.  Video quality has suffered a little as a result of the rotation processing.

Reached Keswick just before 11:00 am and milled about until it was a decent check-in time.  Just got my luggage transfer and zipped out to the coinwash and did a laundry.  Bicycle is stowed in the conservatory of the hotel.

The Route:


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