I knew this section was going to be the dullest, with the unavoidable crossing of the Vale of York but the day had some hidden surprises.
The first surprise was the friendly bridleways before Richmond, which had a very Sunday morning family ride feel about them. Lucy joined me until Richmond where we enjoyed the warm weather with lunch and coffee in the market square. From here on in it was a cadence watch, more suited to road biking than mountain. The miles rolled by with flat field after flat field and the seemingly endless snaking back roads until just below the rise of the North York Moors the route joins the very busy A684. This worrying surprise got worst as the path ran out to give 5k of hilly A road to Osmotherly, this needless to say is something I would highly recommend against as does the pedalnorth route.
Finishing early in Osmotherly I had the distinct feeling I should have carried on a bit further to help shorten the last day, but I was happy to stop there and travel the short distance home for the night instead of the £50 for the YHA.
 |
| Last of the hills before Richmond |
 |
| Looking back from the Cleveland Way |
