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This was our first post covid cycle holiday so we decided to revisit an area we all love, the Yorkshire Dales.
Although everything was booked well in advance we had some last minute concerns as some of the ASLEF train drivers had a planned strike on the day we were travelling.
As luck would have it, the train companies we were using were not affected and all the dire warnings about trains being much busier than normal came to nothing.
As a result Andy and I arrived in Penrith on time and with dry weather we headed south to Appleby for afternoon tea.
Alan was able to get a train to Oxenholme while Trevor and Calum drove.
It felt so good to be back together and at one of our favourite hostels, Kirkby Stephen.
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Our first objective was the Tan Hill Inn, we had an idea we could get lunch there but as it was Sunday they were only serving Sunday dinners so we went on to Keld instead and stopped at a roadside cafe.
Once we were refuelled with sandwiches and cakes we tackled Cote de Buttertubs from the north, a couple of 1:4 stretches according to the map.
We all managed this OK and were soon in Hawes for our overnight stop.
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Another dry morning so we spent some time faffing at the hostel before setting off up the hill towards Ribblehead.
We didn't go all the way up to the famous viaduct though as we turned off to go down Dentdale.
This was a beautiful run down, exquisite scenery, dappled shadows under the trees, at times we were right next to the river and the road was almost traffic free.
After a while we arrived in Dent and stopped at a cafe for an hour or so.
Our next objective was Barbondale which has a very steep climb in to the top from Dentdale, long and hard and well worth it.
From there it's a nice easy run down to Kirkby Lonsdale for tea and tiffin from the Lunesdale Bakery.
We had wanted to stay at Slaidburn tonight but the YHA seems to be keeping it closed for a very long time so our other option was Ingleton. We headed towards Bentham so we could reach the hostel on quiet roads.
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We had a rainy start to the day but still had time to get a photo next to an 'Elderly people' sign. Soon after the rain stopped and we headed for Clapham where all the cafes were closed or closed down. It used to be a lovely place to spend an an hour or so at lunch time, hopefully the cafe culture will return some day.
We pushed on to Settle where the cafes were all busy but we found a spot in 'The Naked Man'.
There's a bike shop here too and they did a quick service for Andy while we had lunch.
After lunch we had a terrific climb on to Scosthorp Moor peaking at 1:5 and then a drop down again to reach the hostel at Malham.
The warden here had an interesting take on the YHA's current woes. She thought they should get rid of the drying rooms, bike sheds and members' kitchens and charge more. We of course disagreed, they've been doing that for decades and that's likely what's caused their problems.
The members' kitchen was far too small and badly equipped so we ate at The Lister Arms.
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Nice and dry this morning and we headed south on quiet roads until we joined the B6265 which seems to have an endless line of quarry lorries.
Skipton of course was busy as it always is but we got our pies (cheese and onion for Calum) and ate them nearby.
We had lunch at Helene's Tea room which was lovely. The floors in the old building are a bit 'undulating' which gave a slight Mrs Overall feel to the waitresses movements which amused us.
We had time to spare so Calum and Trevor had a boat trip.
After that we had to get a move on over the hill to Earby, the warden asked us to arrive early so he could take his daughter out in the evening, we were there before 5.