Del's Run
The Del's Run ferrets at the Durham Dales Centre break, in Stanhope, before Lensman and his daughter Lauren cut off to visit his mum, who lives nearby.
From left to right we have; Sue (Mrs Precious Metal), Ian (IanR) who was the day's sweeper, Kit (Mrs Clive), Paul (Lensman), Lauren, Steve (SteveG), Stu (Stuey), Del (Grey Wolf) who was our leader, Lainey (Mrs Stuey), Paul and Garf (Precious Metal). Although suited up, and almost all wearing helmets, the weather wasn't that wet all day, despite appearances, just a tad drizzly now and then.
For most people the day started pretty early, as the meet up in Kirkby Stephen is some 130-150 miles from many of the more distant Ferrets, but even this early a start was well worth it for the excellent day had by everyone. The first meet-up in Manchester at 06:45 was to have brought together Clive, Kit and Jaker, but yet again, without warning, John didn't appear! So Clive & Kit enjoyed the quick blast up to Skipton on their own to where Steve was already waiting - and had been for some time - we didn't quite get to the bottom of why he'd managed to get there so much earlier than planned! However, Paul & Lauren managed to start us worrying when they became overdue, but fortunately it had simply been the appalling weather they'd had to come through on their way up from Lincolnshire, and they rolled in only a little late at about 08:25.
So, the three bikes wasted no time in getting into the Dales proper, onto the Kettlewell road, and up, over and down into Hawes, where a short impromptu toilet stop was made, before completing the run over into Kirkby Stephen to meet up with Del, Stu & Lainey, Garf & Sue, Paul and Ian. Alas, George didn't make it, in line with his suspicion that this would be the case. You were missed mate.
A fine selection of nothing but Blackbirds parked up outside the Pink Geranium Cafe where breakfast was had.
Whilst Lauren's head-wear brought a welcome light relief, Paul's excess of oil on his rear tyre, and the resultant stepping out that he suffered on the way to the meet, was of more serious concern. It appeared to be his ScottOiler that had developed an errant flow rate, and was caking the rear of his bike. Knocking it's flow rate control down to minimum seemed to cure the immediate problem, and got Paul safely through the rest of the day.
Having waited for Clive to consume a 'small' breakfast (erhum!) the group was only a little late in mounting up, dropping in at the local petrol station to fill up and getting out onto those wonderful Cumbrian and Teesdale roads. Granted, it was a little wet, mainly from low cloud with no proper rain to speak of, but there was a hell of a wind blowing, which made some of the higher route sections mightily interesting, to say the least. The pace was certainly off the usual, quite sensibly, but it didn't spoil the views and the sheer pleasure of being amongst so many good riders. In fact, the inclement weather often added to the drama of the scenery.
At Stanhope, we pulled into the Durham Dales Centre rightly anticipating a quality snack, something that was admirably delivered on. It was here that Paul and Lauren decided to cut off to visit his mum in Darlington, from where they could make a simpler and more direct run back home to storm riven Lincolnshire. Of all the Ferrets on this run, they'd suffered the worst weather on the day, coming from the area of the country where severe weather warnings were being issued.
The rest of the group continued on with Del's route through some pleasant Teesdale countryside, benefiting from the lower ground visibility and air moisture improvements, out in the wide loop east and back to Barnard Castle, where we turned north on some of the area's best biking roads. However, before getting fully stuck into these delights, there was the little concern of the lunch break to address. At the High Force Hotel, not far from the famous High Force Waterfall, we stopped off for an hour's break, some wonderful food, and excellent service.
Sufficiently replete, we set off on the road north to Alston, one of the most 'interesting' biking roads around, but the continuing high winds did dampen the pleasure somewhat, given how elevated the road is, until having been through Alston and well on the way to Gamblesby and past The Hartside Cafe, we were into the hairpin switch-back decent off the hills and towards the next stop in Penrith. Sheltered from the prevailing winds, the drop down to Gamblesby was sufficiently in the lea that those amazing bends could be enjoyed to the full. Paul ably demonstrated that his rear tyre was certainly no longer stepping out from the effects of the chain lube oil!!!
In Penrith another chance for a snack, or just a coffee was offered by the Red Rooster Cafe and here both Ian and Del decided that they might be a bit more prudent to turn towards home as the weather wasn't making the extra distance from Devil's Bridge seem at all attractive. So it was, that we all said our farewells to them, and left our separate ways.
As it turned out, the run down through Shap enjoyed some excellently dry weather, and must have been so most of the day, as the road was generally drier than had been the case earlier in the route. Having lost our leader at Penrith, Garf ably stepped in and led us, at a excellent rate of knots, down to our next halt in Kendal, where we found that we were too early for the chippy! We stopped long enough for a fag break, and to photo the Kendal Klipper.
As Paul was so near to his home, he decided to leave us here, so we promptly re-mounted and completed the remaining leg down to Devil's Bridge after saying our fond farewells to him.
Devil's Bridge was its usual; thronging with bikes and bikers, with plenty of brews and nosh available and with dry weather. So we sat and chatted, and whiled away some time until it was getting late, and we were forced to think of heading homewards. And so we did, each to his own way, all having had a great day aboard the bikes, and amidst good mates. All made possible by Del's Run, and his expert choice of wonderful roads and venues - thanks once again to you mate. Maybe this'll end up being an annual event!
All photos courtesy of Clive
Page Updated
28/06/2008 23:54