I too had the pleasure of driving in company with Spanner Juggler, up over Hardknott Pass and other interesting Lakeland routes
I'm very jealous! Last time I was in The Lakes, I was planning to drive Hardknott but ran short on time and had to postpone it to my next visit. This was made all the worse by a chap I got speaking with at the hotel regaling me with how it was one of the most exciting drives of his life!
I've done it a few times in cars and on bikes, burnt a clutch out in a Morris Marina trying very hard tp drive it quite quickly, I don't recommend wet, frosty, snowy days or days with lots of traffic. It can be change of trouser time if you get in wrong,
