While it is very disappointing, given the extreme weather and dangerous
conditions we encountered during the first day, it was better to stop rather
than be another statistic for Cumbria’s emergency services.
The battle isn’t over though, as we’ll be completing the ride in the
near future, hopefully later this summer. This is now unfinished business.
As we headed up there on Thursday the rain was heavy and incessant,
leading to flooding issues on the motorways and main roads through Cumbria to
our overnight stop near Whitehaven.
The weather forecast wasn’t brilliant but we couldn’t anticipate the
conditions that occurred overnight and the following 48 hours.
Final preparations were made in the evening as we listened to the rain
battering the accommodation we were in, all of us keeping fingers, toes and
everything else crossed that it would stop, or at least reduce in its
intensity.
It didn’t and the next day we ate breakfast while listening to flood
alerts on the radio in the B&B dining area. The forecast predicted the rain
continuing and getting heavier as the day progressed, with winds increasing
later in the day and on the Saturday.
We packed our bags, then our bikes before riding off through a huge
puddle towards the start point at Whitehaven harbour, four miles away.
The three of us were soaking within minutes, but in case we weren’t,
just over a mile into our journey a road had turned into a river which was
overflowing from the fields. It was about 200 yards long and up to 18 inches
deep in places, which meant even the inside of our eyelids got a splashing!
I would have taken some pictures, but knew stopping would not only
drown my phone, but also have a negative effect on our progress.
We got the harbour, managed to get the obligatory image, and cycled off
behind a team of about 12 fellow C2C cyclists.
As you can see from the image we look like we’ve just ridden out of the
harbour water!
The first few miles we’re a combination of negotiating muddy grassy
areas, side streets and purpose built paths which were often flooded.
The further we climbed the less flooding there was, but what didn’t
stop was the heavy rain, now seeping into our inner core through the various
layers and waterproof clothes we wore.
We were carrying all our gear, clothes, tents, sleeping bags etc,
whereas everyone around us was simply riding their bikes with a small rucksack
and/or drink.
It was to our credit that we often overtook these people, who in total
numbered around 30 as the miles clocked up and mountains came into view.
We stopped occasionally, for a minute or less, while we contemplated
the swollen rivers, drank some fluids and cleaned our glasses.
The roads became increasingly flooded as streams spilled across them,
often using the road as a new way of going towards the sea.
As we approached the Whinlatter Pass, the biggest climb of the day, the
small road we were to climb had turned into a river, sweeping objects from the
nearby fields with it.
By this point many people had resorted to pushing their bikes at least
some of the way up this mile long track, where as we and the rest cycled some
of it.
At the top people stopped for a rest, while we carried on, further
uphill towards the summit.
After negotiating the forest track and final short climb, we had
reached the Whinlatter cafe and rest area, at which point all the cyclists
around us quickly disappeared into waiting vehicles to complete their journey.
I’m pleased to say we continued, despite the added weight of water and
all our gear, this time downwards on a forest track that had become
increasingly unstable to due excess water making it extremely slippy.
At one point I almost went off track due to a river flowing down the
track that was constantly moving small stones and also my bike with it.
I avoided a sharp drop by a combination of braking and slight steering,
which brought me back in line with where I wanted to go.
Further down this increasingly fast track, streams became cascades as
they burst their banks onto the surrounding forest and the track. The rain
hadn’t stopped so the levels of water were only going upwards.
During the latter stages of this descent we rounded one corner at
almost 20mph to be confronted by two trees which had been felled because of the
weather.
The downhill, muddy, rocky and wet ground made for a heart-stopping few
seconds as we all tried to stop in time.
With wet brakes acting as a hindrance we all stopped within inches of
the first tree and took a few deep breaths before trying to figure out how to
get passed the barrier.
Eventually after making out way over one tree and under the other, in a
scene reminiscent from The Krypton Factor assault course, we made our way
onwards again.
The ride on the wet roads towards Keswick was a lonely one, as by now
we seemed to be the only C2C riders left from those that had started in the
morning.
We arrived at a cafe in the centre of town, drenched, chilly and, for me
in particular, shivering through cold. Below is the map route we took courtesy of the iPhone app, Endomondo.
The rain continued to fall heavily as we quickly ordered food and then
more as hunger took over. Further cyclists emerged, most of whom had arrived
via a minibus or trailer, almost all of whom had decided that the second part
of the trip to Penrith for the overnight stop was not an option in the
conditions.
The stories from fellow businesses came through the cafe owner, as she
told us of a hotel that had a flooded cellar and another place that was ‘prepared
for the worst’.
In total the rainfall in the 24 hours since we set off had reached
almost 100mm and was the monthly average in just one day. Locals told us it was
the worst weather of the year, which is pretty bad considering they included
the winter months.
I phoned the campsite we were due to stay in to cancel and was told
many others had done the same and indeed the camping area wouldn’t have been
safe to sleep in, considering it was damp at best and under water in most
places.
As we began to warm up, it became apparent that rooms in Keswick were
becoming rare, due to people being stuck in the town. The mission now was to
find a room or rooms we could stay in.
A quick visit to the tourist information centre led us to the only room
that was left in the town that could accommodate the three of us – we booked it
straight away.
By now all of us were shivering and knew the right decision had been
reached. Upon reaching the B&B, we were greeted by a lovely lady who showed
us where to store our bikes and hang our soaking clothes, some of which
wouldn’t be dry for days!
We spent the following two hours, showering, drying and organising what
we could be dressed in. For Neil it was the shoes he’d been wearing all day,
while Pads and I had flip flops to walk the river-laden streets to get dinner.
We all had t-shirts and track suit bottoms, so not exactly ready for
more rain, but at least we had a dry place to stay, not the flooded campsite
that would have been our home for the night – had we got there!
The town centre of Keswick was busy, mainly of people trying to dry off
after walking the 100 yards from accommodation to have something to eat.
A few drinks later and after we had some grub, we made our way back to
the B&B for a good night of sleep, which was only interrupted by some
snoring, clattering noises and of course, the heavy rain pounding everywhere it
could.
The following morning we confirmed that the trip was to be abandoned,
due to time lost and the mountains surrounding the town being cover in cloud.
Plus it was still raining.
I volunteered to get the car, which involved a three hour trip, two
buses and a pick up from the lovely couple who ran the B&B we stayed at on
the previous evening. They told me they had expected a call from us not long
after we left to start the ride, as friends and neighbours had found problems
simply doing day to day things.
Some of the flooding can be seen below in what used to be small river!
During those three hours the rain actually stopped, but once back in
Keswick and with the bikes loaded up, it started again and with the winds
becoming increasingly stronger, it was time to head home and relative safety.
It took over three hours to get home, after we encountered flooding on
the main road from Keswick to the M6 and further rain until we reached south of
Preston.
We all trooped off in our own directions upon getting to our starting
point, weary, disappointed, but mainly glad we hadn’t become a statistic for
the mountain rescue team or the news.
The C2C will be completed, something we all agreed is now unfinished
business, but hopefully in better weather.
Once a confirmed date is set I’ll be back blogging regularly, until
then I’ll try to update this page weekly.
If anyone is considering doing the C2C I’d be happy to advise on a few
things, plus we could even join another trip to finish what we planned over 18
months ago and started last week.
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