We returned to Hull via Withernsea. The disused lighthouse is unusually situated in the town amidst housing and is open to visitors from 11:00 from mid June, but we were half an hour early so carried on along the B1362 to join the old railway line. We rode to the end and then made our way to Hull station for a train to Brough where my school friend Phil met us on his ancient Raleigh bike and guided us home. After a pleasant chat with Phil and Mary in their garden we went for a walk, then they gave us dinner and in the evening walked to the local pub.
Our plan had been to catch the 07:45 train to connect with the 09:50 direct train from Manchester which is locomotive hauled with plenty of bike space. Mary advised that it was a very busy commuter train and we may not be able to board with our bikes. The thought had occurred to me, since Leeds station is very busy in the morning peak so we went for the 09:50 from Brough instead. We were delayed by trespassers on the track on the approach to Manchester but caught the connecting service with a few minutes to spare. This necessitated a change at Llandudno Junction but passengers with great quantities of luggage crowded the bike spaces and vestibule of the two car class 158 unit that rolled in, with no sign of the guard to sort things out. With three bikes and no reservations we couldn’t really make a fuss anyway, and since it was a sunny warm day we rode the short distance to Conwy for cake to sustain us for riding home from there. It turned out to be a harder ride than expected because of the strong westerly headwind and we arrived home shortly before 18:00.