Postmen Pat and P(r)at

Left our lodgings in good spirits and headed for the A6 via Plumpton. I'm sure that Plumpton featured in a children's TV programme, am I confusing it with Trumpton, or is it where postman Pat lived? Anyway the roads were just like those cruised by Postie Pat, up,down,round, up,down, round. Very scenic but sometimes you wish they followed the contours more (certainly James's thigh did).
We hit the A6 through Penrith and it's a good road, not much traffic and makes good progress, every mile heads in the right direction.
Avoiding some roadworks we had to go on the pavement. Just as I was passing a post van the postie opened his door on my side, my life flashed before me. Luckily my wheel and foot swerved past but he took out my rear end (of the bike) and ripped the pannier off. A second sooner and me and/or the bike could have been severely wounded. In shock I fired off 'you should look in your mirror before you open your door', unflinchingly and remorse free he shot back with 'you shouldn't be on the pavement'. I considered continuing the battle but decided he had wounded me enough and he might be at least partly right so I gracefully called a truce and slunk away.
It was a 10 mile climb to Shap village, very steady but not too steep. We climbed about 120m but unfortunately James's thigh pulled and was giving him some pain, he's worried about it. Having reached Shap we were wondering what all the fuss was about then just outside the village saw the sign warning of the 6 mile climb to Shap Summit at 434 metres. Oh dear. The only thing you can do is put your head down, hit the low gears and pedal. It was a long hard slog but counting down each metre of the climb and picturing the inevitable descent on the other side keeps you going.
We made it and were disappointed that there wasn't a Shap Summit sign to record our feat. Those who've been over the M6 won't realise that the A6 goes much higher. Don't know who built it (Romans?) but they were gluttons for punishment.
The run down the other side was fantastic, few small ascents but a lovely 14 rolling miles down to Kendal. Recorded our highest speed of the trip so far, me 42mph, James 42.5. He's more of daredevil than I.
Having our pasta in Kendal saw the strange sight of a young girl walking around with her friends brushing her teeth! Is this some strange new fad along the lines of youths having a dummy in their mouth. Reminded us of X-Ray Spex and Polly Styrene singing of the Germfree Adolescent: 'Cleans her teeth 10 times a day/scrub away scrub away scrub away the SR way'.
Big queue outside the bookshop apparently for copies of our blog.
Off now (1.30) for final 36 mile push to Beak's in Preston.