Maryport Marina, weather kind, so, we stay

Wednesday, 6th June 2018


Sunny and forecast for 20C, but, still a stiff breeze from the NE.

On the promise of todays pleasant weather and the forecast for the next few days, Kathleen books us in for another three days. Most of the other vans have left, is it us, we wonder, so, we are down to ourselves and one other van.

No sooner have I thought the place is emptying, than two vans arrive, so, we are back up to four.

Today, we cycle Sustrans Route 72, for just over seven miles, to the south, to Workington. The name does not conjure up attractive thoughts, in my mind, but, Workington, whilst it is no Cheltenham, or Bath, is a rather pleasant place.

The afternoon passes sitting in the sun, eating ice-cream and drinking cool beer, plus, a long chat with a pair of passing cyclists (Brian and Jan) who, it turns out, are also Motorhomers, and are staying just up the coast at Allonby. They are so impressed with the Marina, they say they may move to here tomorrow.

Thursday, 7th June 2018

Another beautiful day.

Kathleen is up for another cycle ride, but, "something different". She falls for this every time, I look up on Google, "cycle rides near me", and com up with a likely ride which some "Road Warrior", on a £3,000 carbon frame bike has posted, as a "easy ride".

Today, is no exception.

We set off on a 22 mile ride, which is a circuit, from Maryport. 

The first ten miles is easy going, along the coast to Allonby, only problem, we are riding into the wind.

At Allonby, turn inland and head for Westnewton, slightly uphill, but, no problem.

This is Kathleen, at Westnewton, roughly ten miles in, and still smiling.

This is before the "undulating" bit. Undulating is the word I use to describe hilly, when convincing Kathleen to attempt a particular route.

A slight hiccup at Aspatria, where we miss our turn off, but, after a sandwich stop, we are back on track, and, it is definitely hilly.

You will note, there are no further photographs, this is because:

a) I am too busy peddling to take them
b) there is no way Kathleen would allow the world to see her sweating up a hill!

After 19 miles, we come upon a pub, time for a cooling shandy. 

The barmaid, a healthy 20 something year old assures us, "Maryport is just down the road, about a mile". 

She clearly has omitted to notice: 

a) we are not in a car 
b) we are two 70 year olds, not 20 something, like her 
c) we have already cycled 19 miles

It is definitely more than a mile! but, we make it, sitting eating Magnums, in the sun, it is already beginning to turn into "not too bad".