Day 5 - Haydock to Penrith

Today was absolutely knackering!

 

I set off with a couple of riders I'd met on the train from Reading and we rode really fast until the first pit stop which meant I'd already maxed out pretty much, far too early on.

The lunchtime stop today was exactly half way!! Thank goodness!! I am so glad we're over half way.

Come the afternoon, I was absolutely tapped out and by the time I got to Shap Fell, I really had nothing left to give.

There was a torrential downpour about 15 miles from the finish line so not only was I totally exhausted, I was also soaked to the skin and chilled to the bone once again.

Base camp is disgusting! Everyone and everything is absolutely caked in mud. I mean CAKED in it! I'm sure it's lovely if you've had weeks of dry weather but given the weather this week, it's really not an appropriate overnight stop, especially when you're a cyclist traipsing around in expensive cycling shoes and gear.

I am beyond tired today. I don't even have the words to express how I'm feeling save to say that giving up and coming home has been on my mind a lot today. It's only the support I've received from family, friends, colleagues and even strangers and the though of the money this ride is raising
for the Air Ambulance Service that is keeping me going.



Day 5 Stats
Start: Haydock
Finish: Penrith

Distance: 108 miles
Climbing: 2,011 metres
Average speed: 15.7mph

Duration: 6 hours, 53 minutes