Eventually, after some total off-roading, riding across fields (we picked the ones with shorter grass) and lifting the bikes over four or five fences, we came out on the A672 just North of Denshaw....within sight of a welcoming pub. The morning's efforts had got the better of all of us - especially me - and we were all ready for a break. The pub was packed with sunday lunchers and it took a while to get served, but it offered time to warm up and dry out a little before taking the coffee and drinks outside to sit in the lee of the old stone walls.

A shandy and half a bar of Kendal Mint Cake had me feeling regalvanised and ready for action again – especially as the next stretch was downhill. Unfortunately Martyn succumbed to a snakebite (puncture) and the rest of us had an unscheduled rest while we waited for the little yellow dot on the trail near the top to rejoin us.

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