Well 'ard.

 Today was hard. Well 'ard. We didn't awake to the sound of rain which gave us the tiniest amount of false hope. We had the hotel breakfast as we did on our previous stay at this hotel but this time, we arrived for it at the positively nonchalant time of 8:30. Today was going to be a shorter ride. Just as well.

We joined the main road to Sedburgh with thoughts that we might opt for the minor road running parallel but we seemed to join a train of horse drawn gypsey caravans with their chintsy curtains and tarpaulins stretched over hoops as they have probably been for 1,000 years. Every now and again, we would 'take one out' which gave us some satisfaction.
We arrived at Sedburgh as the rain really started so made a hasty retreat to the 'Gun and Dog' cafe knowing that the next leg of our journey included the biggest climb of the trip. It was to a fairly modest height of about 1,100 feet but with heavy rain it felt like quite enough of a challenge.
When we were setting  off from the Gun and Dog, we embarked, again, on the humiliating process of donning our capes, an activity which guarantees a response which is anything between looking the other way and hoping the aweful spectacle soon passes to coming over and chatting to us as two separate people did. One asked where we got our capes from and wanted to know the make. We told them but also explained  that we bought them forty years  ago. Then an old lady came over and told us how her parents used to ride a tandem. People with any connection to the noble occupation of tandem riding often share their connection with us.
As we made our ascent, there were signs warning us not to run over red squirrels. (Tough luck for the grey ones) Unless there are people who consciously aim for them, I'm not really sure that these signs can be of much help. Anyway, I'm happy to report that we didn't run over any squirrels, regardless of their hue.
One of the photos for today was taken at the summit , Garsdale Head, but after a quick snack, we wanted to be outa there.
We pelted down the other side as the rain pelted us. It feels a bit like we have passed over the back bone and we are now half way through this escapade.
After lunch in Hawes, we cycled along a valley and Kate commented on how helpful the wind was which I think is a deeply impressive bit of positive spin at a time when positives were in short supply.
We passed one of the schools I teach at as we came down the valley. I am pleased to announce, for those of you who don't know, that it will only be one of my schools for another couple of months. I am retiring in July.
Strange to say, we have found this harder than cycling the 'end to end'. We reckon it's the challenging elements which are responsible for this. Even my bike computer had given up the ghost. I can only think that it's had enough of the rain although really, it should be able to cope. The other mishap to our gear happened yesterday. Our back light disappeared. It could have happened when we hit the flood. That little back light has flashed faithfully from lands end to John o groats and Bilbao to St Malo but the coast to coast was too much for it.
I just hope it doesn't prove too much for us. The sun came out as we arrived  at our next destination, which is West Witton. We are staying in a house up a little lane which is quaint and comfortable. The owner describes herself as a horse racer. (We are near to the equine centre of Middleham which we pass through tomorrow)
We went out for a little walk and had a coffee in the local pub, spilling it all over the place (not all our fault) but I think we are very tired.
Tomorrow is promising better weather and there is less climbing so we might stay the course....

Oh, when we set off back from the pub, it chucked it. Again.

The high point geographically speaking.....

Our tandem, sulking as we sat and had lunch in a café 

The best weather,  reserved for after our arrival at West Witton.

Us, spilling coffee in a pub.

Hanging stuff out to dry wherever possible