Head winds are Le Suck

46 miles (74km, my friends)

Today we headed further inland, basically due west.

Today, the wind was heading basically due east.

Perhaps the only thing worse than a headwind when you are trying to climb a hill is a crosswind when you are trying to descend a hill, that seems determined to push you over into the traffic.

We managed to leave Castleton quite early; the first 8 or so miles were along the edge of the great nothingness that is the moors.



There was a lot of wind, blowing right into our faces.

Eventually, we got into more farming-type country; still with the undulating hills, still with the insane headwind. We had an occasion of Fail in Hutton Rudby; two people, at different places, misunderstanding or not complying with a request for cash out from their shop did not make James a happy man. And he was already rather peeved at the wind.

Luncheon was taken in some grass on the side of the road. We crossed the river Tees; we crossed the A1 (over a bridge); we got to our Farm Stay B&B - Lucy Cross Farm - about to expire. As well as having been built in 1763 (there's a sign on the stairs, "duck or grouse", because the ceilings are quite low), the hostess offers a three course meal for £15 a head - which is good, because there's nothing else around and I have absolutely no inclination to go out tonight anyway.

Thing is, after starting out with rather forbidding-looking clouds, the day turned delightful - blue sky, fluffy clouds, etc. But the wind! The wind made this perhaps the worst day for cycling yet. I would almost have preferred rain.

Also, we passed 300 miles today, for a fortnight's riding.