Hello all. A few days ago I posted a thread regarding a trip I was planning up to the Scottish border with a friend, here is the report. After a drunken conversation in the pub on Saturday night my friend Ben and myself decided to utilise his day off work and plan a long range bike ride. After a bit more talking we decided to set off Tuesday night and return Wednesday night, seeing how far we could get in 24 hours. Both of us were on 125cc motorcycles; a Derbi Cross City and a Honda CBR.

At approximately 1900 on Tuesday night we set off from Ben's house in Birkenshaw and rode through Bradford and up to the Skipton bypass. From here we connected with the A65. By this time it was pitch black, and the road was not lit which made the journey a very nervy one. We stopped off at the Wheatsheaf Inn in the small village of Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales. We decided to stay at the Gale Green Cottage just outside of Ingleton, which turned out to be the best B&B I have ever stayed at; a very welcoming atmosphere with plenty to eat and drink, each room had an en suite and the breakfast in the morning was superb!

The following morning we set off at 0900 along the A683 to Kendal, via the village of Sedbergh. From here we took the A6 north to Penrith. A fantastic road with plenty of bends and an awe inspiring view of the eastern edge of the Lake District. Passing through the Village of Shap, Clifton and finally the town of Penrith. After a quick fill up on fuel we headed out again along the A6 to Carlisle, which was pretty grim, and then along the A7 to Longtown.

We hit the Scottish border at midday. For me the excitement of finally putting my wheels in another country was enough to keep me going, but as we stopped at Canonbie I was physically and mentally exhausted. It was now 1300 and he had 130 miles to go home, so after a brief wander around Canonbie we blasted back to Penrith for a bite to eat at a fantastic little cafe, the name of which escapes me!

From here it was a straight ride down to Kendal, a fuel stop and then back on the A65. By this time we were both aching all over but the afternoon sun, and twists and turns of the road kept our spirits up. Finally back though Bradford (in rush hour) and arriving home as 1730.