Day 9

Friday 26th May

A late start to the day today, as it was raining all night & forecast to continue in the day, clearing to the North. Had to set off eventually and so, by 0930, I was once again soaked from head to foot & my feet were squelching in the pedals... did someone say I needed a shower?!

Sunglasses recovered their dual functionality today & served well to keep the rain & spray out of my eyes, as I followed the rain in it's northward trajectory. Also nearly got run over by a 40-tonne artic, while I was cycling in a marked, differently-coloured cycle lane... A car in front was slowing down to turn right, and as the lorry passed me he decided to avoid the car rather than have to slow down, and so swung into the cycle lane. I anchored on the brakes with both the front & rear wheels locking up, as I virtually fell onto the pavement. Stuck a leg out to cushion the blow & by then he had passed me, missing by inches.... a cyclist behind me asked if I was alright, said it happened all the time & carried along his merry way. Mad.

Stopped for a late lunch in a pub (baked potato & coffee, before you ask!!) & when I left after two, it was still raining. I figured the rain, which had been forecast to "clear to the north by lunchtime" had probably done just that, but I had moved north and so... I was very cold at this stage, as it wasn't warm anyway & I was soaked to boot. It took a good quarter of an hour for the warmth to come back, as I sweated into my already wet togs... Boy am I enjoying this ride! lol

Fought for each of the 64 cold, wet miles I made today & once again stuck to main roads, so now back on schedule despite having had a day off. Made Kendal and it's nice to feel like I'm finally getting somewhere, I'm now officially just over the half way mark... to celebrate I'm off out for some Italian cooking!