If I were being assessed against my objectives, today I would have been granted some kind of promotion or pay rise. Most of the pre-trip ‘requirements’ were ticked off; I even ended the ‘working day’ with a bit of sketching…

But it started off the bike with a walk to Malham Cove. The place has a reputation for being a honey pot of tourism. Avoid it all all costs over a Bank Holiday weekend or, probably, any weekend when the weather is half decent. Today, however, it was almost deserted. Just me and a few sheep. Other walkers arrived and went but there were moments when the cove was all mine. And it is a wonderful little spot. Here’s a video I posted to Twitter of the view from the top. Are there better places to start your day? Probably but…

Once back at the hostel, I picked up the bike and set off but still unsure as to where. The Dales Information Centre in Malham gave me a few leaflets (that I have yet to read) but after a sausage bap and coffee in the café next door, I set off to Gordale. Malham Cove offers beauty…

…Gordale Scar gives you drama…

…and it was there or thereabouts that I spent the rest of the afternoon. I knew from my map that the road from Gordale Beck was a dead end but on a bike it’s worth taking a chance and it worked, kind of. Heading off across country I hoped to fathom a route to Malham Tarn but cattle intervened. I didn’t fancy becoming a victim of their trampling so I turned back. A shame but it didn’t make the journey any-the-less enjoyable. Indeed the cycle back down the hill towards Gordale was sublime:

All that remained was an end-of-day pint at The Lister Arms and a bit of sketching.

Here’s a Tweeted video that summed up the day:

Tomorrow? Who knows? Tonight? Spaghetti surprise… (again.)