On Friday I thought I'd treat myself to a blast and my brother in law was doing a swim in mindemere so I said I'd see him there.
From North Manchester I went up the windy bits to Burnley/Colne area via waterfoot. Some very nice roads up around the A671 and Crow Poin Road that goes passed "The Singing Ringing Tree" panoptican which is worth a viewing if you are interested in moody moor scenery/sculpture/wierd objects (forgot to upload the photo). Great views.
Skirted around the bottom of Burnley and around to pick up the A682 Burnley to Gisburn Road. A great bit of road with lots of twists and turns and views over lightly wooded hills and it passes through Barrowford where there is an old Toll House on the road with a big sign on it displaying the charges for horses, oxen carts and waggons
(doesn't list maxi-scoots for some reason).Lancashire County Council photo
Unfortunately, like most roads in Lancashire the speed has been reduced to 50 instead of national speed limitand there are few legal passing opportunities due to lots of solid white lines but it was quiet and the pretty scenery and tight bends made it very interesting. Apart from one section getting around a van I had my side of the road to myself.
Fortunately I was a very good boy and behaving myself as I passed a layby with a police speed camera van.
I had been nodding to passing bikers and I don't usually look to see if they nod back when the road is so winding but I did notice a group of 2-stroke Trad scooters didn't bother (maybe they aren't used to nods from other bikes or they are just blind to my plastic fantastic). Looked like they were having fun though. There was an SH style scoot bombing along like a good'un at one point too. Very few other scoots about.
From there I picked up the A65 which was nice and quiet. Copped for a really heavy rain shower but hey ho - new gortex gloves worked a treat. Lots of sunshine for the rest of the trip.
When I turned of onto the A590 to Newby Bridge that was a different matter all together - complete standstill.
I filtered through it for miles, had a van driver shout something about " we are all waiting..." which was strang because cleary I wasn't
and one Vauxhall made an obvious move to block me going down the centre that was really handy because it made it easy to cross behind him go down his outside and avoid the tight squeaze between two trucks just ahead of him 
, he sounded his horn to celebrate good fortune as I went past and clenched his hand in a throttle grip, waving it at me to spur me on, really nice bloke. Further down a car covered in "Think Bike" stickers had 3 young boys in the back all waving as though I was Ronald McDonald riding a rhinoceros and handing out working ray gones to the under 16's. They might have been related to the guy in the Vauxhall I can't be sure.The problem was right down the other end near the petrol station before the turn off for the lake. A car had rolled over and off the road into trees. The police had started conducting traffic and my side was stopped so I ducked into the petrol station and filled up. As I came out I pulled up to the copper so he could see I was going to wait and not be an idiot. He said I'll wave you out first, what a good do.
Got to the lake and met my brother in law who was going in for a swim. Wish I'd brought something to swim in, it looked great and was warmer than I thought it would be.
Walking along the bank trying to make sure brother in law hadn't been mowed down by the ferry. He's out there somewhere in a white hat
Late lunch at the Lakeland Motor Museum just the other side of Newby Bridge. Very nice and man-sized portions - had the "Ambio Salad", comes with a poached egg on top
. Coffe was pretty good and they had some massive scones for the afternoon tea. Had to undo my belt 
Going home, would you believe it another crash going the opposite way and I was filtering again for 3 miles or so.
Sorry for rambling on but its the first run I've had for ages and cabin fever was setting in
see you soon