Day 7 : Shaptastic

Sitting eating breakfast in Preston this morning - the day seemed to stretch before me. No more friends and family to meet us, we were on our own from now on. I was already having a panic about the ascent of Shap. We set off - it started to rain - we gortexed up - the sun came out! The sun stayed out and turned into a glorious sunny day. Garstang, Lancaster, Kendal the miles clocked up. No avoiding Shap any longer. We stopped for flapjack fuel at the petrol station - the bloke in the shop didn't help by cackling you'll need that where you are going. Off we set. Now I've read a few Lejog blog's where they've written  that they were so cycle fit by Shap that they didn't notice going over it. Lies all lies. You notice Shap. Having said that after the relentless hills of Cornwall Shap is a long gradual Drag ( 5 miles plus) with levelling out and dips at the base, a false summit then a hard graft of about a mile. We met a scottish chap at the bottom, started the same day as us, met up with the group of 8 we started with and stopped overnight in Stoke. He was walking. We passed him. Then the game of cat and mouse started. Martin was up ahead game over. but he would pedal madly past me, stop walk then start cycling again when I got close. Normally I'd give up but not today. I selected granny gear and slowly reeled him in finally catching him 200m from the summit. We stopped to chat with him on the descent from Shap - I didn't mention the kicking of butt - I didn't need to. We rolled into Penrith at  6.45p.m. 72 miles over halfway done. Scotland tomorrow!

Oh Goody, SHAP!

The view after the false summit!

Done and dusted - Downhill all the way!

                                                                                                                                        Julia