Hill no 29 – 72 The Rake, Ramsbottom

It could just be the child in me, or it could be distant memories of Northern TV programmes, but I do love the work “Ramsbottom”! It envokes images of flat caps, warm beer and (probably) whippets.

It seemed a lovely little town too and the climb starts from right opposite the village hall and a big pub. It soon gets going though, passing another pub (pubs are proving to be a constant theme of these climbs!) kicking up through a narrow little village lane.

A relatively short climb (phew!) it still had me puffing and blowing hard especially as I tiptoed past parked car after parked car. I was worried that a foot down moment may result from having to let cars past, but generally I have found most drivers to be very sympathetic to someone struggling up the hills!

We have hired this campervan type affair from this company called spaceships rental – they are basically reconditioned Japanese people carriers with a bed that extends out underneath the boot when it lifts up and a tent “extension” fits on the end. They are quite a bit bigger than our Focus, so Em was a bit nervous about the one way street and ended up letting me go past her so as not to hold me up.

At the top, not only did the road ramp up to a steep gradient, but the tarmac was in pretty bad condition – as bumpy as cobbles, but not with the romantic associations!!! But climb was completed and there was only one more to go today - which was just as well!

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWwfXC1VYQs
Garmin data here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90464332 (ignore the bit that shows me magically transported 30 miles north)
Flickr photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157626998392758/