Otley to Penistone
DAY FOURTEEN: Otley to Penistone (21 June 2021)
Ascent: 980 m
Legs: Today was another hard day following yesterday's distance and tough ascents, and I must confess that the hills beat me
Damian and Lilly, well Lilly actually, had promised (or was that threatened) to run round the camp field naked at dawn today as it was summer solstice. Yesterday's long ride caused me to have a lie in (or was it Lilly's threat?) and when I finally emerged there was no naked Lilly but a heavy dew that hung to my tent and that would get packed away and carried all day. In all the online advice on light weight tents no one mentions that your 597g flysheet will double its weight whenever there is a dew or some rain. A double helping of noodles, leftover liqourice and coffee, a quick pack and I'm off. I am a seasoned camper and cycle tourist now.
I had adjusted today's default route to go via Pudsey. This meant I avoided a city centre and eventually I would get to ride along part a National Cycle Route (No. 66) and a good length of picturesque canal tow path. To get there however meant some time on a busy road, a pleasant hack across a golf course, more busy road then bridleway to the canal which was a joy to cycle. Even more joyful when I heard and then saw a rowing boat shaped vessel coming towards me along the canal itself. Despite the noise of an outboard motor, the boat was making painfully slow progress against the slack stream. The boat's occupants however seemed pleased, even a little smug, at their stately progress. The puzzle was solved as they eventually drew near and I saw that the noise was coming from a petrol powered leaf blower that was aimed backwards and thereby propelling the boat, with them in it, forwards. One of the boat's oars was being used at the front to keep them on course.
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| One of many swing bridge which pivot round effortlessly to allow boats to pass |
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| A canal towpath my bike could manage |
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| National Cycle Route (No. 66) |
At Pudsey I encounter a near vertical descent down a path and with the urgent advice of a passerby opted to take the 'other three sides of the square' to get me where I wanted to be. This led me to accidentally (honest!) trespass onto the Moravian Settlement which included a school and a church as well as dwelling houses.
Though I had managed to avoid a city centre I still had to wriggle between Huddersfield and Leeds and with hindsight there was never going to be a perfect and quick way from Nidderdale to the Peak District.
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| Industry; old and new |
Once past the main town and up on the tops there are great views and the campsite is remote with a marvelous panorama. It had been a long day, I was in no mood to seek out a pub so my cooking facilities proved invaluable.
After two tough days I admit defeat; the Yorkshire hills had me beat. Today, as the route took me the direct way on to the tops I turned round to find an alternative and more gradual ascent - and I had only been trying to walk up. On anther section whilst checking the route it was a real effort just to keep the bike stationary and prevent it rolling downhill. A tough two days to kick off the return leg and though the later individual days all felt good the fatigue from those two days would never really leave me for the rest of the trip.
Yorkshire 1 - 0 Anthony
Day 15: Penistone to Youlgrave
