We build to many walls and not enough bridges - Isaac Newton
Day Six - York to Humber Bridge
Sunday 1st August 2010
The alarm woke us up at 7am and this gave us time to get dressed and start packing before breakfast at 8am. After another hearty breakfast we returned to the room and continued organising ourselves. My usual sluggishness meant it was after 10am before I was ready to leave. Catherine, James and Rhea were of course already packed, loaded and waiting in the car. It was hard leaving them again and there was part of me that would of liked the easy option of getting into the car with them. However, I could take comfort in knowing that I would see them at home the following day. We said our final goodbyes and they drove off and I set off on my bike.
Market Weighton Sign
I found the road to Hull (A1079) and heading south-easterly made good time along the mainly flat roads with the wind favourable for a change. The road took me passed the town of Market Weighton, birthplace of William Bradley, the tallest man in English history and also a place where my father had lived as a child. As I got closer to Hull the road went over a few hills but I continued to make good progress. I then stopped for an early lunch at a drive thru MacDonalds. I was tempted to cycle through the Drive-Thru but wanting to use the loo, opted for the restaurant.
After lunch I continued my journey towards my next destination and the main reason for my easterly direction from York. I wanted to cross the Humber Bridge and had planned this slight detour from my southerly path in order to do so. As I approached the bridge I came off the road and joined the cycle path that annoyingly went round the whole of the visitor centre car park before finally heading for the bridge. Once on the bridge I was finally cycling south again.
Humber Bridge
Half way across the Humber Bridge
I stopped in the middle of the bridge to ask a couple if they would take my photo. I explained that I needed a photo to 'prove I was here' as I was about half-way between John O'Groats and Land's End. They asked which charity I was raising money for and I told them it was Great Ormond Street Hospital. They then asked if they could sponser me and handed over all the coins they had on their person. This kind gesture lifted my spirits as I continued crossing the bridge, though I do confess to having a flashing thought about how much extra weight this generous donation of change had added to the bike and trailer.
Leaving the bridge I rejoined the road and after a short while was cycling across the flat plains of Lincolnshire. Though I had little in the way of hills to contend with, now that I was travelling south and south-westerly, I was back into the prevailing headwind.
Welcome to North Lincolnshire
Flat plains of Lincolnshire
