Well we may not have cycled far today but we definitely had a thigh burning climb to negotiate. The day started gently enough with some time spent up close and personal with Long Meg in a field near Langwathby. She was a bit quiet and moody and, along with her 60 smaller stony-faced friends, was definitely into Druidary. This calm start was soon shattered as we faced the horrors of getting up the 1900ft Hartside Summit. I think it should be more aptly named Heartattack Summit. This was a serious grunt of a climb and a few choice expletives were emitted en route to the top. Mrs N thought her head was going to explode as we negotiated the final few hundred feet but fortunately it didn’t and we made it to the top in tact. The welcoming cafe that previously stood at the top burned down a few years ago so we sat in a damp bench and ate our curled up ham and cheese sandwich in the blustery wind as our amassed perspiration was carried off into the valley below. The subsequent 5 mile descent into Alston was a whizz tho’ and we made in time for a early afternoon beer. A stroll round the town revealed this to have the steepest Main Street in any place in Christendom and is reputedly the inspiration for that most weird Pennine town creation of Royston Vasey of League of Gentlemen fame. Looking at the itinerary for tomorrow there appears to be a lot more grunting and perspiration-inducing climbs. Can’t wait!!!!
Velodyssee 
Well done Carol and Steve for ascending to Hartside Summit. Early beers were thoroughly deserved.
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