Day 11 - Hope to Mankinholes - 90 kms

The so called cycling holiday became a tortuous ordeal on a day that turned both Kev and self into cursing madmen.

After the previous days beautiful weather we started almost predictably in rain climbing out over the Strine moors complete with 25% gradients that were he'll uphill and bloody dangerous downhill. The strain took it's toll with Mikes chain snapping on an Everest like climb taking us nearly an hour to fix something that should have been straightforward and that was with the help of a passing cyclist

On the move again and with frequent showers we walked more than cycled through Slaithwaite and Sowerby (can't believe Monika rode down these hills with little or no brakes)

To top off a bad day the last 5 kms to our accommodation were completed in failing light on a bridleway that made the off road riding in Tibet look easy.
Frequently lost and calling into farmhouses, cold and wet, near dark and exhausted we swore our way finally into Mankinholes arriving after 9pm having only done 90kms in nearly 12 hours!

Kev arrived barely able to speak to the hostel staff while I repeatedly stating never again !