JUST like the rest of the country we have been enjoying wonderful weather here in Sedbergh. The warm sunshine has brought on a wall-to-wall cycle fest for my husband Keith. Now, fully retired he has hardly been out of the saddle. No sooner has he polished off his cornies and it‘s into the traps and off up the infamously steep Coal Road. I haven’t escaped this biking bonanza either: in the last week I have clocked up a good few miles on our faithful tandem. We started the week with our usual route over Catholes to Dent, another day it was to Hawes for lunch. I still marvel at my ability, I’m so very lucky especially as I can’t even ride a bike. Well, not on my own. Last Thursday was the anniversary of my birth, again! Oh, how the years fly by when you’ve more behind than in front. Despite this reminder of life’s swift passing I had a very good day. After breakfast the phone rang and happy birthday was sweetly sung to me by my three youngest grand-daughters. During the day I enjoyed phone calls from family, other grand children and the good wishes of dear friends. However, Keith had an extra special treat planned, he decided we should cycle to Heysham. Why not, it’s only a mere 35 miles. The original plan was to cycle to Haweswater but the hotel was full so we’ll save that one for another day. Never mind it’s all aboard our two wheeled Thunderbird, first stop Devil’s Bridge, where I had an ice lolly and Keith had a bacon butty. After this we followed the route along the canal to Carnforth, on into Morecambe and finally down the coast to Heysham, where we stayed over night returning by the same route on Friday, not with out the aid of Nurofen to soothe my aching nether regions. Those among you who are Royal watchers may have worked out that my birthday falls on the same day as the Queen’s. To save embarrassment over the years she and I have come to an arrangement. I don’t send her a card and she doesn’t send me one.