Good video clips, ESL.
I don't know how you could capture this on film though, but for me, one of the more surreal moments of this ride was the stage from Barnard Castle to Hexham, with heavy hilly fog and rain north of Stanhope. Add darkness: the light loss/spread due to the moisture meant that road visibility was next to nil. Thank God for snow poles! This was another of these, "got to get out of this, alive" moments. (Takes me back to the "Not So Delightful Dales" hail storm then blizzard - how do you get such climatic episodes, Andy?)
But well done to all those who, like me, snucked in with moments to spare. This was the first time in ~100 events that I've ever been wary of being close to being "out of time". That said, the 2 hours kip and the hot shower in Langwathyby were truly welcome.
And, despite running out of time at Carnforth, I'm well in awe of our southern Elliptigo rider: to get through the N Yorks Moors, haul over Hartside, deal with the heat on Cold Fell and the headwind on Hardknott, all stood up, is a major effort. Chapeau my man...