Indian Summer Run
The Ferrets who took advantage of the surprise Indian Summer were (from L-R); Stue (STUEY), Lainey (Mrs. STUEY), Sue (Mrs PRECIOUS METAL), Clive, Del (GREY WOLF), Kit (Mrs. CLIVE), and Garf (PRECIOUS METAL).
This was very much a last minute run to take advantage of the surprisingly good weather forecast - something that we'd almost forgotten could happen after this season's disappointing meteorological experiences. So, unfortunately the Ferrets only got notice of it late Friday night. However, we did manage to get four bikes, and seven people together and we all met up in Skipton at 09:30. It's been almost three months since we've managed to get a run that didn't have to be cancelled because of atrocious weather, so there was a lot of catching up to do during the half hour breakfast break that we had in Morrison's cafe. And what a change in the weather - the views from the tops before dropping down to the meet-up in Skipton were breathtaking, as they were to prove to be during the rest of the day. As the sun rose and cleared the early morning mist and fog it revealed a crystal clear day where the air seemed fashioned from pure diamond.
Come 10:00 and we were out onto the road again enjoying riding with each other, hearts lifting in response both to the sheer joy of being on the bikes and the warming effect of the sun that had now dispelled the early morning mist. Our route took us due north, straight into the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales along ideal roads to ease everyone into riding as a group again. We looped around to the east through Burnsall then nipped north through Hartlington to pick up the ace B6265 across the tops and down into Pateley Bridge, for our first break.
Pateley Bridge was flooded in wonderful Autumn sunlight, as was most of the day, and the bikes glinted in the reflected warmth. Not only did we continue catching up with each other but we also got to chatting with three other bikers there. One of them, who's name we didn't unfortunately get, suggested a superb change to our intended route up to Leyburn that was to bring us some wonderful views and interesting roads past Gouthwaite, Roundhill and Leighton Reservoirs before rejoining our planned route at Masham.
The other two bikers that we met at Pateley were Matt & Kaz on their silver Blackbird. Hello again, and really nice to meet you both. Maybe we'll have the pleasure of your company again sometime in the future. We hope that you also had a wonderful day's riding.
After the splendid, albeit gently paced detour through Lofthouse, the faster road northwest on from Masham gave us all a chance to stretch our bikes' legs a bit and enjoy some bend swinging before rising up to our lunch break in Leyburn. There was a time when we seemed to be in Leyburn just about every other run, at some point or other, but in fact it's been a while since we've been there, so it was lovely to see the place again in such a clear light.
Plenty more chat and fun ensued over lunch in the quality cafe just off the market square, so a totally enjoyable hour was had by us all before it came around to time to push on.
From Leyburn we continued north to pick up the exquisite road up the most beautiful dale of them all, Swaledale which was shown off to its very best in the clear sunshine light. Some excellent fast bends led us into the mouth of the dale and then it was along a complete mix of everything from short fast sections to bimbling narrow streets through picturesque villages. Before long we came to the turn south just before Thwaite that takes you over the spectacular Buttertubs Pass, the views and the vertiginous location forming a heady mix, the more so when on two wheels, before the wonderful panorama of Hawes nestling in it's dale below us as we descended from the tops down to Sedbusk and then over the bridge and into Hawes for our next break.
It was after our break here that we said our fond farewells to Del as this provided him with the optimum point to return to his home in the Northeast, keeping in mind the short daylight commensurate with a November day. Great seeing you again mate, especially the slim-version Grey Wolf!
The three remaining Ferrets' bikes started out on the ultra fast section of the day, southwest on the B6255 to Ingleton. Given that the roads were not only bone dry but also totally devoid of sodden fallen leaves, which is not usually the case in late Autumn, we all took it well large and used the road to its full as we made short but exquisite shrift of the descent into Ingleton. Again, this provided an optimum jump-off point for Garf & Sue to turn homewards for their journey across to the Fylde coast. As they peeled off westwards, there was a flurry of radio wishes and thanks to them for their excellent company, and the remaining two bikes continued on south through Bentham and on towards Slaidburn.
Yet another change of road type and scenery, and a different form of biking enjoyment was had as we carved into the Forest of Bowland and down to Slaidburn, where we were originally intending a break. However, given that it was two of the endurance Ferrets left, we agreed to forgo what would have been the pleasure of a short stop in the village for the sensible option of trying to get home before the light was lost, and the consequent drop in temperature could spoil the day. So it was that Stue, Lainey, Kit & Clive carried on across the tops with the continuing theme of clear and distant views, dodging sheep before dropping down through the handsome village of Waddington to Clitheroe, and a final break, chat and fond farewells as Maccy D's on the A59. It was from here that the last fond farewell was made and the two bikes parted company for their respective homes east and south.
You know, some of the greatest pleasures in life are the simple and unexpected ones, and this was certainly a day of pleasures. The crystal clarity of the air, the sharp edged brilliance of the sunlight and the unseasonable warmth were unexpected bonuses attending the principle pleasure of being with good friends again, together on great bikes on superb roads amidst the best scenery that the planet has to offer - especially after such a seemingly protracted break in the Ferrets' biking season.
Let's hope that next year's season is much kinder to us than this season's been, and that it provides a wealth of such enjoyable events.
All photos courtesy of Clive
Page Updated
28/06/2008 23:54