C2C day 0

 A long and dull drive up to Whitehaven today. A quick stop off in Stafford where the town centre seems to either be in the process of demolition or the few surviving shops are suggesting that you leave in some way - travel agents, phone shops (mentally exit the town), outdoor shops (get out!) and funeral parlours (final escape). We left sharpish - we can take a hint.

A scenic motorway drive up past the Yorkshire Dales and the Pennines caused a sudden ooh from Tracy as she spied the hills that we would need to climb. She decided that she was psychologically (cyclelogically) ready since she was ok if she knew in advance. I mused on the fact that whilst that may be true, she also could do with being physically ready too, having ridden her bike less than a dozen times this year.

We have considered that there may be another even lower gear than getting off and pushing - get off and push whilst slaloming up the hill. An even lower gear would involve me pushing her bike for her. Hopefully we won't need either tomorrow. 

After arriving at the Chase hotel in Whitehaven, we took a wander down to the harbour to check out the official start point

It awaits our return in the morning

A quick tea at the Zest harbourside restaurant before heading back to the hotel for a snooze.

Cycling miles :0

Cake: Also 0

Tracy whinge factor: 0 (calm before the storm)