Rising Dawn

Tornado

Historic loco in action for first time From The Northern Echo
THE first new steam locomotive in Britain for almost half a century chugged into action this morning.

I remember this project being launched and thought it was a long shot to build a mainline steam loco from scratch. At that time they said it would cost £1million.

Today Tornado was unveiled to the press. So far it’s cost closer to £3million.

I heard about it today on Up All Night on 5Live when I couldn’t sleep at 4am! It has to be tested before it comes to York for painting in the LNER livery. Can’t wait to see it in action.

I’ve been coming here for years. These rocks carved put of the daleside by wind and ice are twisted into a moonscape that’s both fun and stunning.
They sell ice cream here too - so we watch the view licking our vanilla cornets and remind ourselves of visits made with our children over the years. “Do you remember being stung in your mouth?” I did and always will. The little National Trust shop wouldn’t let me have anti histamine cream from their first aid kit because it was only for external use only. I said I’d risk it and the sting in my mouth seemed to be dealt with by a generous layer of cream on my gum.  Or perhaps it was the beer I’d just comsumed at the same Fell Beck pub we’d visited today that eased the pain. Who knows.

www.cyclingnews.com - fitness and training information
There are only 3 motivating factors that change human behavior; pain, fear or ambition. Which button do you want to press?

This is the last thought in a long technical article about fitness and cycling. Well worth a read - skip over the technical terms if you don’t know what they mean - there’s a lot in there about attitude to fitness and exercise that applies more widely to human life even if you never mount a bike.

The end of the road

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

Here’s the bike computer at the end of my ride. I’m back in
Grassington and completed 110 miles since leaving here yesterday. I’ve
also climbed the equivalent of two and a bit Ben Nevis’s.
I feel good and apart from the odd light shower it’s been fine from
Malham.
I must put in a word of thanks to my bike. Not a puncture or a squeak
all the way round.
Thank you everyone who donated to sponsor this ride on behalf of
Palestinian Young People coming to the Riding Lights Theatre Summer
School next month. There’s still time to donate. The site remains
active for some time yet. www.help.co.uk/ridingbike

Fine ride to Malham

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

Despite the cliff face out of Settle, the ride to Malham has to be one
of the highlights of this tour. No rain, a back wind and all that
limestone scenery. In the village a cream tea at this cafe.
Now I’m on the home run - about 15 miles to Grassington. Then home by
car.

Old naked man?

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

No not me discarding my wet cycling kit in public, just another tea
house along the way. I’m in Settle. The rain eased after Ingleton,
where I changed my inner layers of wet clothes for dry ones. At
Clapham I changed my socks and lined sodden trainers with plastic
bags. The outer layers had dried out by the time I reached Settle and
now - it’s raining again.

By my reckoning there’s another 30 miles left starting with a vertical
climb away from here!

Despite the weather I’m riding through spectacular country. Snipe and
lapwing screech in the fields, sheep scatter alarmed as a streak of
yellow flies past on a silver machine, and motorists make way with
sympathetic looks from the warmth of their cars. I’ve met only two
other cyclists today - both cheerful, both wet! Now I’m heading for
Malham.

Whernside

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

In all it’s mist covered glory this the best this one of three peaks
could put on display today.

Deepdale

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

It’s cold and bleak up here. The rain’s coming down in torrents with
just a short respite every now and then.
I can feel the damp through to my skin and I’m thinking “what am  I doing
up here on this bleak moor?”
I look forward to reaching Ingleton for a break.

Dentdale

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

I’ve never been here before. It’s a lovely little dale and Dent is a good
place to stop for a cuppa.

Rain rain and more rain

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

The promised fine morning was washed away within a few minutes of
leaving Hawes. The inclines on the road to Ingleton soon warm up my
muscles. No gentle warm up like the one I enjoyed yesterday on the
road to Kettlewell.
So now I’m in Dent. A quaint cobbled street runs through the heart of
the village. There’s a station too - several miles out - and this
viaduct carries the tracks of the Settle - Carlisle railway to it.