We have no real right to complain about the heat - we know how terrible, even dire, it is in many other places in the world this summer, including just across the water in continental Europe. Still, a forecast high of 85 today is high enough that we aren’t enthusiastic about it. We were pleased and grateful when our host at Crab Pot Cottage willingly agreed to serve us up breakfast at 7 this morning so we could get a jump on the ride before the day heated up.
We’re on the road by 9, biking inland and gradually uphill into the Yorkshire Dales, enjoying the same lovely country we passed through two days ago on our ride to Flamborough. We’ve seen the likes of this country already, but still it seems like I should stop for a photo or two just for the memories. As soon as I do Rachael continues on, muttering something about being determined to reach Pickering before it gets too hot. I won’t see her for another twenty miles.
I’ve about concluded that I’ll just catch up with Rachael at our hotel in Pickering when unexpectedly I see on the Garmin that she’s stopped ahead and then that she’s coming my way. She’s coming back to inform me that there’s a problem with the mapped route and it’s trying to guide us across someone’s private paradise again. Instead she leads me through the detour route.
After that we bike together the remaining miles to Pickering. We’re doing well for time and on track to arrive before one when we come to Thornton Dale, a very attractive little village that makes us wonder whether we shouldn’t have stayed here instead. At the least though we can take a break and sit in the shade in the town square while Rachael acts like every other local we see around us and walks across the street to a shop and returns with a current scone for me and a dish of ice cream for herself.
We arrive at the Black Swan around one thirty. Our room won’t be ready for another half hour so we sit in the bar and cool off with bottles of water while we wait for our room to become available and for the bar to open up so I can move on to something more nourishing.
After that we do our best to keep cool in our sweltering second floor un-AC room. By now it’s moved beyond warm and there’s not a whiff of a breeze to help cool our room down. By the time lights go out it’s still unpleasantly warm and we lie around sans covers and clothing until we’re finally drowsy enough to doze off.
Ride stats today: 36 miles, 1,400’; for the tour: 907 miles, 34,500’
Today's ride: 36 miles (58 km) Total: 906 miles (1,458 km)
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David MathersAnne and I travelled through this area in 2008 when we did our Coast to Coast hike from St Bees to Robins Hood Bay. We loved everything about it and maybe one day will return. Thanks for bringing back the memories. Reply to this comment 2 years ago
Scott AndersonTo David MathersThat must have been an exceptional walk. We biked up into the North York Moors today and we’re completely blown away. Reply to this comment 2 years ago
