My '1900 Thousand Mile Rally' for Help for Heroes: Day 5 Bowness on Windermere to Carlisle

Day 5 - 71 Miles

A shorter drive today to Carlisle via the second 1900 Hill Climb at Dunmail Rise and then divert to Cockermouth to fundraise.

After a good night' sleep I woke to what is known a typical Lakes weather; Mist and Low Clouds.

While having breakfast, the rain started.

Dining Room in the Freyer Garden ( now called The Ryebeck ) Hotel.

The Hallway with its interesting Log Store.

The Front Garden & Drive.

Getting Mog ready to leave.

Do I take the Hood Down? Yes I do,

The Rear Garden and a view to the Lake Windermere.

Another quick Photo before setting off up into the Hills.

The first climb of the day, over the top on Dunmail Raise, was one other of the 1900 Rally Hill Climbs.

I wonder what the road layout looked like then?

After leaving the hotel on the A5074 I elected to take the first left into Longtail Hill and drop down to the Lakeside near to the Hawkshead Ferry.

It is some 25 years since I was last here on holiday with the family. I was surprised to find our hotel just a little way along the road.

The Freyer Garden Guests have the use of their Spa facilities.

The various Ferry and Pleasure Craft Jetties.

One of the Ferry Boats on the left.

Our old Hotel ahead - The Old England seems to have been given a face lift since we stayed there.

We were soon going out of Bowness and on through to Ambleside on the A591, heading for Keswick.

It was probably due to the inclement weather, but the roads and the side streets were very quiet.

Leaving the town I could see that the clouds base was very low.

On the left is a little stone bridge through which water between Grasmere & Thirlmere passes.

It was not long before the Tour Bus began to slow down our progress just as the rain began to increase.

There was no where to pass or to stop.

Travelling along the edge of Rydal Water on the River Rothay.

The Roads swings around to the right as we approach Grasmere.

The sign for the town of Grasmere.

The A591 takes us around the edge of the town.

The Swan Hotel indicates that we are leaving Grasmere.

Now that we are out of the Towns we begin the climb over the Dunmail Rise.

This road was one of the 1900 Hill Climb tests which is now a modern road but still very steep as it climbs for a few miles.

Dunmail Rise was one of the four Hill Climbs that the 1900's cars managed.

Back then the road was probably very windy with lots of bends reducing the effect of the slope.

It was probably quite a rough road surface as well.

Nearing the Top

Here the Cloud Base is really Low and the Rain is lashing down now.

One of my hood down specialty 'Over the Head 'shots looking back down the hill.

When I hold the camera above my head I have no idea what I will take.

This is one of the better ones.

These two postcards of 'Dunmail Raise' found recently on the Internet, taken around 1905 show how the 1900 drivers had to cope with the road and its surface when going up there and one wonders if their passengers had to get out and walk?

I like the American's comment on the postcard.

It is still raining hard now and I would love to be able to stop and put the hood up.

Over the top and heading down now towards Keswick.

Now we are running along the edge of Thirlmere Water.

Now its raining cats and dogs again and I need to get the hood up as everything is getting soaked including me, but no where to stop?

The Road switches at Keswick onto the A66 to run along the west side of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Bassenthwaite Lake.

It was but a short run now into Cockermouth Sainsbury's where I was met by Charities Coordinator Ella Holdsworth and her assistant who had prepared a parking spot opposite my Fund Raising position within the main entrance.

Ella's Camera Battery was faulty so she loaned mine to take the next five photos.

This little chap is typical of the Many Small Children who are so keen to donate and claim their Mini Wristband and Medal Sticker.

Ella is proud of her Community Notice Board.

I took the opportunity to photograph the store form another angle and said my farewells before setting off for Carlisle.

Passing the Moota Garden Centre.

The A595 is a good straightish road following a Roman Road to Carlisle where I am able to make some pace again.

The Gate to what was once, no demolished, Crofton Hall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crofton,_Cumbria

On arrival at Carlisle Sainsbury's New Store I was met by Elizabeth Graham, the Help for Heroes County Coordinator for Dumfries & Galloway, who was standing in for Barbara Keen, the Cumbria Coordinator.

To say that Elizabeth is a Morgan Fan is an understatement.

Elizabeth and Volunteer Tony Richardson had set up stall in the very large foyer and been in action fundraising before I arrived.

Their stall combined with the excellent generosity of the customers became the catylist for the highest and unbeatable total collected.

They had arrange to have me park the Morgan inside the Foyer (that would have been a first) but sadly the holder of the Key, needed to remove the Bollards to gain access, was away that day.

Charities Coordinator Ruth Quin was not in today so I have just added her Notices Board.

During the Afternoon, Tony told me that there was a National Level Car Rally taking place over the weekend from Carlisle City Centre.

The cars were being prepared at Carlisle Racecourse where they located their headquarters.

I decided to pop along after Fund Raising to see what was going on.

It is known as 'The Pirelli' supporting the Richard Burns Foundation, set up following Richards Death at 24 from Brain Tumour.

http://www.richardburnsfoundation.com/

http://www.thepirellirally.co.uk/pirellirally/p13/

The next series of photos were taken at the racecourse.

In typical Lomax Fashion as I approached the course, I followed a car through gate, receiving the 'What the Hell are You Doing Here' looks form the group of Marshalls at the gate.

I was now in the queue of rally entrants being Scrutineer'd

I beat a hasty retreat into the public park on the opposite side of the road.

These Converted Army Land Rovers and their Military Teams had recently competed in the Hero Rally in Hampshire starting from the Brooklands Track and utilising the old Tank Ranges near Farnborough.

http://londonrallyforheroes.com/