Day7: half-way! Runcorn to Condor Green

The Holiday Inn was busy with two weddings so the sweaty cyclists mixing didn't work so well. The receptionists didn't pass on to the managers, requests like "can we have breakfast before 0730?". Graham had his daughter's young family to see at our evening destination, so he wanted to arrive early; you can't arrive early from a 70 mile trip unless you start early! I decided to keep him company as our legs seem capable of similar feats, and his navigation is good. So we left at 0745 about 45 minutes before everyone else.

We reached the Black Dog at Belmont for lunch having ascended into chilly cloud. They unlocked the place for us and the road bike folk were there five minutes later. Graham and I kept ahead the whole time, and still got our morning and afternoon van-stops. Graham says he could manage without: I couldn't! Standard fare for me is hot chocolate followed by water, with a banana or apple, dried fruit and nuts, fig roll, and perhaps a biscuit or two...! - morning & afternoon!

Lunch was sandwiches and pasta with a litre of orange and bitter lemon, and now I'm anticipating my sister driving from her home in Clitheroe to join me for dinner. The specials look very tempting.
We passed about 8 miles from Clitheroe. As we descended to Blackburn, we passed Ewood Park where as a family almost 20 years ago we watched Rovers play Man United. The city was much warmer than the hills.

I've been thinking about metabolism as we've journeyed. Both Graham and Philip make do with much lighter meals than me. Philip is slight of build, but Graham is taller than me with a slimmer large frame. I don't know how they start energetic days without more intake.

My sister did arrive before 1800 and we have had a delicious meal. There is a wedding party here tonight too!

My legs have stiffened up more tonight so i'm going to bed, to be fresh for tomorrow,'s venture north into Cumbria. Good night!