Icy cold Sunday morning local road ride

Woke up to a frost again this morning but it did not look as hard as yesterday morning frost so chanced a road ride. It didn't feel as cold either but the Garmin dropped to minus -3.4 degrees. The route today was going to mainly flat by my standards as my legs felt a little tired after yesterday so headed over to Nevilles Cross, turned right and straight on to Willington. I rode through Willington and took the last right turn up to Stanley Crook. The climb out of Willington is steepish at he bottom and at the top but steady away in the middle. From Stanley Crook it was straight on to Sunniside then Tow Law. Straight through Tow Law then turned right and took the country back road to Cornsay, I thought it might have been clear by now but have a look at the photos below, at one point I was going to turn and head back for salted roads but I kept going to get to Cornsay. Straight through Cornsay village, turned right at the end to Wilkies Hill, Quebec, right to Cornsay Colliery, down the steep hill and turn left at the bottom to Esh Winning. From Esh straight on to Ushaw Moor crossroads, left up the hill to Bearpark, right and straight onto Toll House road, left at the lights to Sniperley roundabout and home via Pity Me front street. It was a cold ride but very little wind again and there was plenty of winter sun to keep me going. Only 32 miles and enjoyed everyone. Going to have to wash the bike again as it is up the eyes in winter gunk. Again below are some photos, enjoy -

Cold start to the day

Sun rise behind the tree

Steaming piles of dung

Lovely sight riding down the road

the suns out

View over the old open cast mine

plenty of ice

good old Tow Law, probably highest point today

now for some fun and games

yes I have rode up that

turned the corner and

still plenty of frozen snow

conti 4 seasons were working hard today

this sign should have been 3 miles back!

some downhill now then flat through Deerness Valley