I packed a very soggy tent away I cycled to the village centre and
the shelter. I finalised getting my stuff sorted then set off along
the lanes towards Carlisle. I started off along minor lanes which
the official cycle route follows. The forecast of high winds didn’t
materialise and I just had the rain to contend with. Some stretches
of road were extremely wet and muddy and I was relieved to reach
Raughton Head and better roads. In Bridge End I joined an
interesting track running by a mill. The far end was gated but there
was enough space to get my bike through.
I joined the road briefly in Dalston and then left it for the
official cycle track by the school. It had been fenced in and wasn’t
very wide until I reached the River Caldew. It was wet and winding
in places but a good surface. I followed the railway then back along
the river then into Carlisle. Back on the roads I was soon at
Carlisle Railway Station and it was still raining hard. I was
mid-morning and I was very early for my 14:49 train back to Preston.
Carlisle Railway Station in the rain
It was nice to find the waiting room had proper radiators so I was
able to dry some of my stuff. The weather continued bad and I was a
bit concerned because a couple of trains had been cancelled.
Fortunately mine arrived on time but I had to be let on by the
cleaner who was also waiting. She had a key for the door and there
was nobody on the platform to let me on. It was the same at Preston
and nobody was there either so the cleaner let me off. It was still
raining as I cycled via Avenham Park then along the old tram road
route to Bamber Bridge and the A6 home.
Return to
Whittle Wanderer
