The Yorkshire Dales Day 4
Unbelievably we were already on the final day of our trip. Today would be the shortest day as we need Big George to drive us back to Norwich before he fell asleep at the wheel. We were still keen on an early start. Fortunately, as Andrew didn’t do the bonus loop yesterday his luggage carriers were still on his bike avoiding that particular faffing opportunity.
Once again it was an overly leisurely breakfast with too much tea and ranting and not enough fuelling.
So by the time bike faffing was complete it was pedals down at an outrageously late 9:35.
The Garmin said there were just 4 climbs today but they would be accounting for about a fifth of the ride so it could be slow going.
The first one was the hardest of 2.5 miles at 7% average and after only 1 mile we were on it. Although it had lovely views of Reeth below.
Once I had grinded my way to the top I decided to revive an old favourite and give you a chance to play where’s Andrew and Big George. So can you spot either or both in the photo below.
No neither can I. When they eventually joined us Big George decided he would go his own way again today and as he was driving us back we would therefore be under no time pressure. So it was full stream ahead to Skipton (fat chance).
Although I get up hills quicker Andrew is a better descender and quickly shot off down the hill. This inevitably led to him missing the next turning. When will he ever learn.
After Andrew had been retrieved and the additional uphill completed it was several miles of grinding uphill before another long steep climb returned us to the fabulous bleak and deserted moorland country side. Once again worth all the effort .
We then arrived in Kettlewell and found the Deli/cafe. The staff were super friendly, the cake selection looked great and they did Ecuadorian hot chocolate. The waitress agreed that cafes in the Dales only serving Cadbury’s was a real problem and I might have to start a campaign.
The Deli in Kettlewell well was first stop that was better than the normal cycling cafes making final score 4-2. It has even made my all time top ten with high scores across the board.
Towards the end of our overly leisurely lunch Big George arrived and revealed he had had a puncture. Andrew then said he never had a puncture on on of our adventures so we all know what’s going to happen this afternoon. They then started ranting about the state of higher education until eventually I dragged Andrew away and back on his bike as Big George was going back to Skipton a shorter way.
The final stretch was straight forward as we went down the valley to Skipton passing lots of little quaint villages on the way.
There was just time for one last stop where I enjoyed some flapjack and Andrew had his buttered tea loaf with a slice of Wensleydale cheese in it. Andrew said I was to score it 9 out of 10 for his cake from the excellent Kettlewell Deli. We then argued if it was in fact a cake for the remainder of the trip. He was wrong of course. A. It’s called a loaf, B. Unlike cake it was buttered and C. It had cheese on it. QED.
So that’s the Yorkshire Dales but what have we learnt
1. You can’t get a good hot chocolate in the Yorkshire Dales (except in Kettlewell).
2. Cycling cafes in Norfolk are better than walking cafes in Yorkshire Dales(except in Kettlewell) and this has been proved using science. The data doesn’t lie.
3. The road surfaces in the Yorkshire Dales are the best I’ve ever cycled on.
4. Cycling up hills is much more enjoyable than cycling through fields.
5. Big George likes to stop and look at things on a bike ride. This is very bad.
6. Andrew (who is notoriously hard to please) is just as hard to please wherever he is.
7. You can get porridge for Breakfast at 67% of B and B s in the Yorkshire Dales whereas it is not available on the King Alfreds Way anywhere (follow the data).
8. The steeper the climb the better the scenery
9. Never bring Mrs Crusader cycling in the Yorkshire Dales as she hates going up on her bike.
10. When going up a steep hill you always need at least one more gear than you have.
 |
| Day 4 Route |
Stats
Route | Miles | Average Mph | Time on Bike | Metres climbed |
Skipton loop | 43 | 11.8 | 3:38 | 1470 |
Skipton to Dent. Plus bonus | 78 | 11.6 | 6:47 | 2414 |
Dent to Reepham plus bonus | 77.6 | 11.6 | 6:40 | 2439 |
Reith to Skipton | 47 | 11.1 | 4:16 | 1372 |
Totals | 245.4 | 11.5 | 21:21 | 7895 |
Cafe Ratings
Cafe | Hot Choc Quality | Guest Hot Drink Quality | Cake Selection | Cake Taste Quality | Atmosphere and Ambiance | Total |
Cafe Verde | 5 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 8.1 | 6.72 |
Old Barn Tearoom | 5 | 7 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 7.08 |
Ingleton falls cafe | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5.5 | 6.3 |
Orton Scar Cafe | 5 | 7 | 7.9 | 8 | 8.3 | 7.24 |
Ivy cottage | 5.2 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 8.3 | 5.98 |
Kettleware deli | 8.7 | 9 | 7.3 |
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