Tuesday 14 June - Preston to Lancaster

We're actually quite comfortable in the hotel in Preston, sharing our room with our bikes, and in the morning, checking out with the same non-smiling receptionist (poor man- has he been there all night?). I've been writing the blog - though I don't finish it so don't publish it - so we have a late breakfast, and are late leaving today – 10.45 am. Reg is ok about this as we should only be cycling 30 miles instead of our usual circa 40 miles,

We are pleasantly surprised to find that the first cycle path on our route is a really good one, tarmacked and with an archway of trees down its length. We progress through a beautiful park out onto the road again. I spot a little grocery shop and buy our sandwiches for lunch.

The route leads us through the centre of Preston which seems quite a nice shopping area. We've only cycled 4 miles, but since we're in a town centre and don't have so far to travel today, we're going to break our 10 mile rule (10 miles before a coffee stop). We don't see a Costa but come across a Cafe Nero. Reg says they are tax evaders and we shouldn't use them. I tell him that they do a delicious Sicilian lemon cheesecake, and will put it in plastic box for me, so I can have it later in the day.

“Ok,” says Reg.

After coffee we are back on the really good cycle track, but there are big problems ahead. Twice we have to carry our bikes up a number of very steep non-cycle-friendly steps in order to cross bridges. This entails me taking my panniers off – then I'm able to lift/drag my bike up the steps. Reg leaves his panniers on- I'm worried about him lifting such a heavy load- but his bags don't clip off as easily as mine.

We can't understand the logic of having beautiful, well-maintained cycle paths, and then not providing a way to at least walk your bike up to and over the bridge. Steep approaches to bridges have actually been a major problem on this journey, especially on canal paths.

The route takes us back on the roads, starting with the A6 towards Lancaster. What a fantastic road! It is much quieter than it used to be, as much of the traffic now uses the M6. The A6 has white-line marked cycle lanes along much of its route – also it's a fairly wide road, so lorries thundering past are not so much of a threat. The wind is behind us, and we make fast progress; soon we get to the B roads and find a quiet bench on which to sit for lunch. We've already done 18 miles.

I love our lunch stops. Out come the flasks, sandwiches and fruit, Café Nero's Sicilian lemon cheesecake and a Belgian bun, which we bought when we passed an Aldi yesterday and popped in to renew our supplies of green tea for Reg. Lunchtime is a great opportunity just to relax and regain our strength for the onward journey.

We continue on more really good B roads, making great progress. Not only that, Lady Sat Nav has decided to talk to us again, which is very reassuring, because she goes “pah -dwong” at intervals when we go off route.

Our route is due to take us on a beautiful ride along the estuary towards Lancaster.

“I'm sceptical about cycle tracks now,” says Reg. “Let's take a look at this one, and then make a decision as to whether we want to go on it or not.”

We cycle down a lane by the estuary to the beginning of the track. We discover that the track is about a foot wide, muddy, and with high grass either side which is likely to get caught in wheels and mudguards. We decide to deviate from the route and finish our journey into Lancaster by road.

We soon find our hotel and the manager is lovely – so welcoming and helpful. It's a terraced building – where will they put our bikes, I wonder? Unfazed, the manager decides to put them in the cellar.

Dave, the manager, takes one of my panniers and we wend our way up the stairs to the 3^rd floor. The room is lovely – no bath, but a really good walk-in shower.

It's great not to have to go out for dinner. I order Lancashire hot-pot, which I've never had before. It's absolutely delicious!

Tomorrow is a rest day, and in the afternoon, we're off by bus to visit Geoff and Jean Lear. Geoff was the minister at our church in the mid 80's – 90's; he baptised our daughter Elaine, and his wife Jean worked with me at youth centre for many years.