Today is the start of week 3 of my Sabbatical and as planned, I'm still up north with my parents. What was not, however, planned was for my dad to be now battling with complications following a routine hip replacement! Those out there with family members requiring acute medical attention will know how much time is spent travelling, waiting and sat by loved one's beds, such that it is important to find a balanced routine to ensure some sense of normalance is preserved. For us, we seem to be settling on the evening run to the hospital, which means that this morning, with the weather behaving, I was able to saddle up for a ride.
I should, on reflection have gone further than I did, but my legs felt very heavy and drizzle had started to fill the air as I completed my planned circuit; the one I spoke about and should have done yesterday, 'In the Steps of Hadrian'. This is a really enjoyable circuit, reminiscent of my Honiton Golf Club run back home; a little less climbing overall but it still has a couple of hilly moments to keep things interesting. I head out of Brampton along The Swartle, a 5km faux plat climb out to Lanercost Priory. From here the road rises steeply, at first reaching 11% and then levelling out for a lumpy raised ride alongside Hadrian's Wall. Panoramic views from here are excellent. I see very few cyclists on this road but plenty of walkers, some laden with waterproofed back packs, others in tee-shirts having just stepped off their air-conditioned coaches.
As the wall disappears into the distance, the road makes a sharp turn to the left and drops away to meet up with the B6318. It is here that my route turns west, marking both the top of the circuit and the completion of the main climbs. From here the road gently undulates into the village of Walton, across the single traffic light controlled bridge over the River Irthing, before taking a gentle 3% climb back into Brampton. At 30 km this is near enough an hour circuit and perfect for a quick leg spin when time it tight, as it is for me at the moment. I'm sure it will be revisited again soon!
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