Day 6: Lockerbie (Scotland) to Ambleside (England) 120k over the border into the Lake District

In the words of Bon Jovie, 'WHOA, we're (over) half way there!' and Queen, 'Nothing's gonna stop us now...'

After 20 miles of driving rain at the beginning of the day we all enjoyed breakfast baps at Grenta Green and a bit of drying off time before crossing the border to England. 

   

 

Vicky Sears, who has been solid throughout, exclaimed the rain was, 'not enough to make me miserable'. Everyone else was pretty soaked and soldiered on. 

                                        

Compared to yesterday we felt like we were eating up the miles with longer, straighter roads after a good night's rest at motorway services (never has a WHSmiths, Days Inn and M&S been more welcoming). As we continued, many of us discussed our new appreciation for the type, smoothness, width and feel of road tarmac! Matt Walker went so far as to claim it's the biggest factor contributing to his well-being at the moment. 

Suddenly, the motorway slipped away, we left the border counties and started rolling into the beginning of the Lake District. 'This is what it's all about' - smooth, narrow, quiet country lanes leading us to the hills of Cumbria. And they were some hills (a first taste of what's to come in Cornwall apparently!).

   

Great lunch at wee stone walled cafe 

And then the fun started: 

Skirting Thirlmere reservoir, we broke into a 'do not enter' territory which housed hundreds of storm battered trees all over our path... there was bike limbo; rock climbing in cleats, commando rolling under fences, throwing bikes over fences, more rain and a very welcome end point in Ambleside. 

 

Oh and Damien had a flat and tried to fix it without a pump for 15k. 

Sheltz, Dan and Lewis all stacked it but survived. 

GH ripped a hole in his shorts.

                                 

Sam bike raced about a pub garden.

And, Tom rescued a dog who wanted to join our peloton!

Thank you to the people who saw our banner in the services car park and sponsored us, to tonight's bunkhouse which allowed us use of the washing machines for free and to Mark Bannon who has added so much in such little time - we will massively miss you tomorrow and for the rest of the trip.

As always, Ev, Kate and Faith did all the running around, buying and cooking superb spaghetti bolognaise, sorting accommodation, picking us up, doing our laundry and generally being wonderful support crew!

WHOOP. DAY 6 done, 6 more to go!

And we are 91% towards our £30k target - thank you everyone! :)