6/9/09 Day 6 ...up Shap Fell after Kendall (we'll get the mintcake in+++) 87 miles

Here I sit at 0600 on Sunday morning, Dave having made a nice cup of coffee. Just getting ready for an exiting day

Firstly by tonight we will be halfway. Secondly we will be close to leaving England. We are all very exited about the days ahead in Scotland.
Our route is >100 miles further than the minimum possible but will be taking the scenic route. Passing through Kilmarnock we will go up the west coast over a ferry at Gourock & up via Loch Ness.

Last night the talk was of how much less pain we are in compared to end of tough Day 2. Our bodies are getting used to the daily 'punishment' - we are all enjoying every minute & can't quite believe that we are in Preston already.
Our motivations to do this trip definitely have a personal angle. But there are many stories of lost friends & family that have pushed us to test ourselves to the limit.
Personally I have been thinking of my dad who died in 2005 - he would have been very excited about my trip. My mother died last June after a short illness & diagnosis of lung cancer. She said that I was crazy & shouldn't do such a trip "at your age!" I've been thinking about Claire & Brendan - two great friends from my student days at St Mary's, who both died in skiing accidents.I've been thinking about the three patients of mine who died in their thirties of various cancers last year.
Every village War memorial we pass makes me think of all those young men who were denied the chance to live, have a family, love & be loved. To do crazy challenging things. The freedom of the road in sun shine wind can be exhilarating (certainly trying to catch crazy-Simon down a hill is...as well as being impossible!) Even in all the training this summer I would often stop, drink, and contemplate near village memorials.
Today we have a flattish 50 miles - once past Kendal we have a long slow climb up Shap Fell - We've been told it's a long grind. After Dartmoor & the 1000ft hill before Shrewsbury we are sure we can take this in our stride! on to breakfast......and the open road again......life is good....

2130 ..what a day!
The first section was a real chillin' ride for the first 25miles until the first drink stop. I was with novice-Tim most of the way - we just breezed along at a steady effortless 15mph. Dave & Nikki must've gone at it quite hard as they caught us up. The Pro's left late but I kept looking in my mirror and lust like Butch Cassidy "who are those guys?" they loomed up & sped past. Crazy-Simon had kept with them for this 17+mph section. At one point near Carnforth we could see the sea. The ride through Lancaster was superb - being quiet on a Sunday morning. The stone buildings stained with years of Victorian coal fires gave the town a uniform appearance that was ageless with minimal modern crap buildings. As we weaved up the road the Lancashire canal kept us company as we crossed it a number of times…one day I’ll take a boat along this section.
In the back of all our minds was the infamous Scap Fell climb so we were all reserving some capacity in our aching muscles. Through Kendal we stopped for the obligatory Mint Cake to power us up. Phil spotted the scantly clad young lady sheepishly sneaking home - Susie recognised the behaviour as having stayed out - probably not knowing where she woke up. Nikki today seemed to have been on speed today as she powered along - the secret she told me was ‘Muse’ on her mp3 player!
Along the way we've had some encouragement from the locals as well as a fare share of abuse. I had an ignorant idiot try to push me out of a lane as we approached some light having signalled - I shook my head but wound him up by totally ignoring his coarse abuse & swearing!
As we approached the climb the weather closed in & the rest of the day was cold but mainly dry.
The ascent was superb..I'll say that again "the ascent was superb!"
The scenery was out of this world and the road designer had put small flat, even downhill, ‘respite’ sections between the climbs. I felt overwhelmed with emotion as I though of my Mum & how she would have loved this place - the tears flowed as the pedals turned, for once, painlessly & the climb to 1350ft (from 150ft) was achieved. A long grind with the riders stretched out thinly, all in their own ‘zone’.
The run down to lunch was swift thrilling but cold as our sweat soaked clothes chilled in the wind
We all shivered at lunch - hot tomato pasta & soup warmed the bones.
We ran down rapidly, and shivering, through Penrith & along the A6 (old roman road) to Carlisle. The last 10 miles were tough and felt longer. Eventually Carlisle was sighted & we passed through this rather grotty Town to the Hotel in the north of the place.
Looking at the map of the UK none of us can believe where we have got to in so little time!
The promised Jacuzzi was huge disappointment "It smells of piss" Tim
So showers & with time to kill off to the pub for Ale & stodge.
Nice supper & off to bed - Scotland tomorrow!!!
Thanks to Mark II for loan of laptop to do this blog - will add pics when I get my lead which is being forwarded to Invarary....hopefully
87m 5h59 at 14.6mph total 505m PAST HALF WAY!
Ale of the Day - Dougalie Caledonian Classic light ale with flowery aroma & sharp aftertaste 17/20