We have touched down in Haltwhistle after a superb day’s driving!
‘Pole position’ saw us head the field away from Weston Park Hospital at 10:00 am to follow the Buckingham Insurance Tally Ho Classic Run as far as the lunch halt at the Oil Can Cafe.
As usual on Crooked Spire Classic run tours, the organisation was ‘tip-top’. This year’s route took us around the lanes and villages north of Sheffield, past the Emley Moor transmitter with some terrific views across the Yorkshire countryside and through Holmfirth (bustling as always with LOTSW fans) before we were able to park, stretch our legs and compare notes.
After some welcome refreshment, Gael and I returned to Riley Blue to head off on our own northwards. With accommodation already booked at Haltwhistle, near Hadrian’s Wall, we had over 150 miles before us but the sun was shining and our LeJoG route was over some of the best driving roads in England.
Though we had driven through the Yorkshire Dales several times before, I’d planned our LeJoG route to avoid familiar roads, taking a more westerly route via Selside, Cowgill, Aisgill and Kirkby Stephen to Brough and the B6276 over the North Pennines – a superb route with little traffic.
We made a quick pit stop at the Ribblehead burger van for a cuppa and the best hotdog I’ve eaten in a long while – in fact the only hotdog I’ve eaten in a long while.
Onwards tomorrow into Scotland – will the roads improve? Let us hope so, Riley Blue is rapidly shaking itself apart!
People will try to convince you that travelling by car is lazy or unhealthy. I have proof that it isn’t. On my left wrist I wear a fitness band that records steps, heart rate, calories burnt and periods of inactivity. Today, Day 4, it shows I walked 9240 steps, burnt 2296 calories and my heart rate had bursts of intense activity up to 117 b.p.m. – all whilst driving Riley Blue!
BTW – two little known facts:
1) Haltwhistle is the geographical centre of Britain.
2) The Romans built roads north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Riley Blue 