Glad to see that you got back Peter - shame you had to pack at Ribblehead as that section to there into the wind was one of the toughest of the "flat" sections.
Arkengarthdale was a bit head-on too but mostly downhill. I just love the bleakness and feeling on top of the world up there from Tan Hill Inn, then the variation as you drop through the village.
Great folk muso at The Inn. Could have stayed there longer than the time to devour soup and a pint would allow. He did a great Cat Stevens number, The Wind, with a looper and all voice activated backing. Shame we didn't get the guy's name - a real entertainer.
Like Peter, I was struggling myself - some self inflicted gastric trouble, probably caused by a Malay Pad Thai stir-fry on Sat night involving fish sauce, eggs, noodles, chicken, chopped nuts and a few beers. And a bag of mixed nuts and raisins. That concoction gave me severe heartburn on Sunday, aggravated by a bit of rich carrot cake at Slaidburn. My High5 liquid carb was a real problem to force down but I had to, to keep hydrated and energised. So, felt like packing too. I thought that a bacon and sausage sarnie in the bikers cafe in Hawes might help but, with 3 layers of bacon, 2 layers of sausage and 2 meagre pads of barm, struggled to consume all that protein and struggled not to throw it all up once i'd scaled Buttertubs. The soup and the pint at the Inn helped. Castle Bolton cafe had now't plain so I forced a slice of flap-jack down. With 30km to go at Gargrave, I ditched the rest of the High5 and bought plain water. That helped and having caught up with 2 others helped.
We trailed in as a 3-some just under the 12 hours - so for my final LEL prep's, to come in last seems far from an ideal finish. It's been 5 years since I last rode this event (on its debut) and Grinton is still a major grind up. I also struggled over Kidstones this time, having "not minded" it in previous ascents. I guess that was done to being <100% well - i just hope I've had my "challenging" ride now for this season and all is well for next week. No more "foreign" food for me for a week or two then - corned beef and spuds and peas...