After a 5 hour trip, wind-blown, gusty and sunny from Suffolk to Pine Lakes, we embarked on 6 days of whizzing around beautiful countryside of the Lake District, first the seaside, Morecombe (saw Eric) got sandblasted, had ice creams, copious cups of tea, another day to Kendel, Conniston Water to name but a few.

Bank Hol Monday arrived and Dave says, "let's go to Winderemere, a nice run out!" It all started so well, still horendous gusting winds, but with temperatures of 22 degrees it was positively balmy!!

We started at Ravenglass and a trip on the miniature railyway, Dave had said, "just shorts will be fine, I'm wearing my unzip trousers"! As you might guess all was not fine, I froze on the train in the open carriage luckily my bike jacket helped my knees from turning blue!! We arrived at our desination some 40 minutes later, dashed into the warm, like everyone else embarking, purchased a few gifts, after a warming Cumberland sausage baguette and cup of tea, then returned in, this time, a closed carriage.

Oh but the fun had only just begun, the winding lanes, beautiful views, such cute lambs, white, black, white with black faces and white ears, deer, llamas, then.....OMG.....! I saw it!

The hill with the thin line snaking itself up to the top of Hard Knott Pass, 30%, up 1000+ feet so I was told at a later date. I held on for dear life trying not to move either way and let Dave do all the hard work on the steep climb, turnbacks of 120 degrees at times and stopping regularly to let cars and bikes pass on their way down.Oh yes, and we had the obligatory photo opportunity, even though I almost got blown over!

Of course if you go up.... you have to go down. At the summit the road got to an edge and you could see no further, hold tight was an understatement as we picked our way down the other side like a motorised goat on wheels!! It took all Dave's concentration and strength to keep us upright and in the right direction, and that was with me gripping his thighs once or twice, I don't know how he managed it must have been so tiring. He says he heard me scream a little, he missed the grunts, groans and the OMG not another, WE finally reached the bottom and I breathed a great sigh of relief, only to see yet another great hill looming not too far in the distance. I think I murmered "I thought it was only the one"!!

We then climbed Wrynose Pass, and climbed and fell, well it felt like falling, I could see the base of the hill over Dave's head, not a good sign. Anyway as you can see I survived to tell the tale and Dave said I did very well and felt great pride that he said that.

As a novice pillion, I must say, I think I did rather well to get 800 plus miles under my bum! Do I get wheels like flyers get wings? Can someone let me know?

Carol "exhilarated" Massey

The Author and ulterior motive for the trip