Trail bike
Looking back towards Blencathra, Skiddaw, St John’s in the Vale and Keswick
C2C off-road
Mountain bike ride on The Old Coach Road east of Keswick (U3132 & U2236). It’s a struggle up to Hausewell Brow (437 m.) from St John’s in the Vale, both the climb and the rocks in the roadway. But there are big views as you go of Blencathra (868 m.), then from the road’s summit the view opens out towards Great Mell Fell (547 m.) and the Pennine Ridge, even seeing by eye the outline of the Lowther Hills across the Solway Firth in Dumfries.
Round and home to Keswick over Calvert’s Bridge and Brundholme Road, avoiding the parkrun traffic on the K2T trail.
More photos: The Old Coach Road by MTB - Lake District National Park
Gorge of the River Greta
Brundholme Woods
Short ride along the railway path to Threlkeld and back to Keswick through Brundholme Woods. Plenty of flow in the Greta from recent rain but the lakes are still well down on their usual levels for June. Special treat was sighting an Osprey, although it was being harried by crows.
More photos: Greta Gorge & Brundholme Woods - Lake District National park
Out for a late afternoon play ride on the mountain bike after a busy day in Keswick. First the slog up to Latrigg Saddle (300 m.) from Applethwaite then down the ever-changing trail through Brundholme Woods. Fab spring weather still, great to feel the breeze under the arms again after covering up all winter. Tracks quiet but the flyboys were out aloft. Spring sunshine and blue sky all round.
More photos: Late afternoon play: Latrigg and Brundholme - Lake District National Park
Fountains working again in Marseille Place Castellane with the tram line installation nearing completion on the far side. Onwards to the beach for fun on gravel and sand on my classic Marin Palisades Lite.
Apricale, Liguria
Cannondale Scalpel MTB
Cycling unchallenged over the frontier from France to Italy, along with hordes riding road race bikes; firstly an unavoidable 557 m. road tunnel but then charming Alta Ventimiglia on the Rivièra dei Fiori (Riviera of Flowers) of Liguria.
The infamous roundabout at Ventimiglia straddling the delta of the River Roia is no easier to negotiate on a mountain bike than anything else, but the view of the snow on the Alpi Maritimi around Tende was a visual thrill in compensation.
Up the next valley, of the River Nervia, where the main crop is the famous Ligurian olive oil; on to Camporosso and then Dolceacqua, many roadside trees with ripe oranges on the branches.
Crossing the river at Isolabona and riding a moderate climb up to my destination, the hilltop village Apricale. That was a quiet country road with flowers and birds and the torrente Merdanzo flowing in the valley below.
More photos: Apricale, Liguria (I) by mountain bike from Menton (F)
