had planned to ride over the Butter tubs today ... but after i left Richmond the rain started , jacket on and time for a re-think. thought it best to stay low in the valley so headed for the Dales bike centre to get a bacon+egg sarnie and coffee, and pick another route.
Decided to ride the Swale trail (last done 2018),inspired by
@Cathryn post. plus once i got to the end at Keld if weather was good i could still get up to Tan hill.
you could see the trail has been well used since i was here last .. more new signs and a few more gates been added but it still was great fun, at the cafe had a sausage roll and chocolate cake + coffee ,and had a discussion about the merits of e-bikes.
then i headed up to Tan hill which was very busy so no time for a beer. off along the road towards Reeth for about 3 miles then took the turn for a short cut to Bowes (not for road bikes).
once at Bowes picked up the A67 into Barnard castle straight through till a left turn for Little Newsham-Bolam up to RoyalOak across the A68 down Brusselton bank to Shildon aand the cycle path all the way back to Newto aycliffe and home. bloody knacked but was a really good day despite the earl showers. 79 miles done
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