Jervaulx Jaunt

The Ferrets who were at the Skipton meet-up were (from L-R); Stuart (JOCK), Stue (STUEY), Debbie (Mrs JOCK), George, Lainey (Mrs STUEY), Simon (CHIMES), Del (GREY WOLF), Rob & Julie (CANARY) and Kit (Mrs CLIVE).  Clive was taking the shot.  At the next break, at Devil's Bridge, we were joined by Garf & Sue (PRECIOUS METAL).

The event, as with so many this year, was nearly called off in the face of Met' Office Severe Weather Warnings, but the universal view was that we'd suffered enough poor biking opportunities that the weather could go hang.  It looked, from the forecasts, that we'd at least have half a day without the incessant rain, so it'd be worth getting wet on the way home.  And in the event, we were even luckier than this, and kept dry until well after 4 o'clock when we were well on our way back.  We did cut the route a bit shorter than planned, given the bad weather coming up from the south and the fact that Stuey suffered yet another puncture - and this time in his new rear tyre, but more of this later.

All barring Chimes and Precious Metal were to be meeting up in Skipton at 09:30, but Clive & Kit came across Simon waiting for them by the side of the road on the way over the tops between Colne and Skipton.  Instead of being with Debbie, and on their 'Bird, he was in fact alone with his Midnight Star!  Because of the atrocious weather, his 'Bird had sat unused for long enough that the battery had discharged, so he was unable to get her started - and Debbie doesn't 'do' the Midnight Star!  A real shame as you were sadly missed gal.  Simon had planned on following our route to Devil's, where he would cut loose and return home so that he wasn't holding us up.  Ha!  Some chance!  It didn't take much to convince him that his sports bike in tart's clothing would certainly keep pace with the group, especially ridden with his usual skill.  If you're still wondering at this, then just get Simon to spell out the Star's spec' sometime.  At one point Jock exclaimed amazement that he'd had problems keeping up with Simon, in the twisties, on his Tiger!  Might be a few scratches on those running-boards though Chimes!

And so it was that we all gathered in the usual place in Skipton, refuelled and ready to go after half an hour's catching up.

It must have been the considerably less use that everyone had been able to put their bikes and gear to this year that meant that Grey Wolf suffered a GPS fault on the way down to the meet-up that meant that he was unable to lead, as planned.  So, with little prior preparation but with the advantage of having the route loaded and accessible on his GPS unit, Stuey volunteered to be Leader, and Clive fell in as Sweeper for the day.  Given that Del's radio, at least was working, he found himself elected as Whippet.  And on time, we left the somewhat overcast car park and set out to find ourselves entering a sunny day as we sped west, as fast as the traffic and local constabulary would allow, to our first break and meet-up with Garf & Sue at Devil's Bridge.

Although it is only fair to mention that Simon's Midnight Star consistently drew the biggest crowd of onlookers (we daren't push this too far and describe them as admirers!), it is much more notable and interesting to point out that Stuart & Debbie were on their new mount, a lovely brand-new white Triumph Tiger.  Congratulations and we hope that you have a lovely life together.  It is, though, a little worrying that we now have two of the felines in the group!!!

As usual, and certainly as you'd expect on such a rare lovely Sunday, Devil's was absolutely packed with a vast and eclectic range of makes and models.

An opportune point to introduce the other brand-new bike in the group, and this time George's silver 'Bird.  After trying all manner of alternatives - from BMW K1200s down, he found nothing to match his already nine year old previous 'Bird, so quite sensibly stuck with a winning choice of getting another one.  We hope that you have a further nine years of pleasure aboard the new one mate.

Having spent more time than planned gassing, eating & drinking and looking around the bikes, we eventually got back out onto the road as a full compliment for the run up to Alston.  It all started perfectly well and thoroughly enjoyably, the road up towards Sedbergh proving to be the usual pure joy, then it was a turn west to tackle the pass over to Kendal when things went a little awry!

At first we assumed that Stuey had pulled off the road to allow a short photo session of the mammoth herd of wind turbines that graze along the top of the hill, but it turned out that he'd in fact sustained a rear tyre puncture ..... again!  And in the new tyre that he'd replaced the previously punctured one withL

Now, it's very strange that Stuey had been showing off his new pump at the Skipton meet-up, where we'd all expressed the hope that he'd never have need of it!  Just goes to show!

Of course, everyone ignored his plight and fell to doing silly things, or taking photos of the view, or just getting back to having a gas and a gossip, but eventually it was felt that he couldn't be ignored any longer, so we all stood around and watched - or in Lainey's case nipped off for a weeJ

Eventually, all the extra watching paid off, and with a little help manning the tyre pump, the tyre was good enough to get them down into Kendal and Morrison's petrol station air-line.

Still, it gave us all a chance to admire Garf & Sue's silver 'Bird, Rob & Julie's canary-coloured VFR .....

..... George's brand-new silver 'Bird, Clive & Kit's lustrous Candy Red 'Bird ......

 ..... and of course, not forgetting that damned cruiser again!

Having got his repaired tyre back up to operating pressure, we were all now set to fly north up the Shap section of the A6 - need we say more?????  And we won't, as this is a public domainK  Suffice it to say that it wasn't at all long before we were dropping down to Penrith and our turn eastwards along the extremely pleasant A686.  However, due to accumulated delays along the way, we had decided to change our lunch break and take advantage of the nearer Heartside Moor Cafe, and to leave Alston until after lunch.

From during our run to Devil's Bridge, the day really was making a sterling effort to be a summer's one, but as we drew into the cafe's car park there were foreboding hints of a change in the weather to come.  Although the vast and distant views were yet unmarred, the superb vantage point made it all too evident that bad weather was moving towards us from the distant south.  Although George avowed that he had decorating commitments that he had to return to, we weren't fully convinced that this was his only reason to bid us farewell at this point, before carrying on home ahead of the weather.  It was great to see you again, and we hope that that kitchen is coming along nicely now.

Still, from within the comfort of the cafe, with food set before us, the spectacular view through the windows became far more benign.  However, we weren't fooled, and some discussion resulted in us revising the route to try and get everyone home fairly directly but without missing out on the wonderful biking roads that the area has in vast supply.  So, as we got ready to leave on the shortened route home, we parted company with Garf & Sue who were retracing their steps back to the Fylde Coast that could clearly be seen to our south west.  Great seeing you guys again.

So, the remaining six bikes continued on to Alston where the direct route over the tops, on the absolutely fabulous B6277 took us due south to Barnard Castle and our next short break.

It was really nice to see Jock's face as we dismounted here, as he'd never been along the Alston to Barnard section of road before, and was just gob-smacked at how good it is.  He had, by his own admission, a grin a mile wide.  We're glad that we were able to show it to you.  And even for those of us who have been up and down this section many times, the effect was not dissimilar.  It really is a belting road.

However, by the time we were pulling into yet another Morrison's car park J the skies had turned leaden and the rain fell in dribs and drabs.  But what the hell, who really cared?  We'd had Shap, the run up to Heartside Moor and then down into Alston, and this last beautiful snake down to Barnard Castle.  Let the heavens open!

From here on in it really was a case of expediency allied to the best biking options on offer to get us directly to Ripon, where we planned to have our final break and say farewell to Stuart & Debbie and Rob & Julie.  Our original route fitted the bill perfectly until the need to loop out for Ripon from Masham, and despite the failing weather and the drop in temperature, we all had as enjoyable a run as it was possible to have in the conditions, fortunately amidst the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside.  Naturally the pace was lowered but we still pulled into McDonald's on the south side of Ripon at about five o'clock, where a break for drinks and a bit of a final chat and banter was taken.

We said our farewells to Canary and Jock, impressing upon them how much we had enjoyed their company and riding with them again, as they set off to pick up the A1 south, whilst Stuey, Chimes and Clive opted for the direct route over Blubberhouses Moor for Skipton.

An uneventful steady ride brought the three bikes down past Bolton Abbey and around Skipton onto the road to Earby where a brief roadside stop allowed Simon, Kit & Clive to say their fond farewells to Stue & Lainey.  Thanks for the offer of a cuppa at your place, but the lure of getting out of the wet and into a warm bath was too much to resist, and so the two remaining bikes sped south to Manchester and home.

Ya know, ya never can tell when or where those memory gems are going to be found, and often it's at the most unexpected of occasions.  We're sure that none of the event's attendees expected much more than a determined opportunity to cock a snoot at the goddamned awful weather, and to return home with at least the grim satisfaction that we just got out and done it.  When, in fact, the day proved itself to be one of the most enjoyable and memorable events we've had.

Exactly why is hard to pin down, but we're sure that much of it stemmed from the long overdue occasion of being out on the bikes again, certainly the cornucopia of excellent biking roads devoid of much other traffic and nice grippy road surfaces so regularly washed clean by the incessant rain, and Stuey's, Grey Wolf's and Clive's Leading, Whippet & Sweeping helped immensely.  However, we're pretty certain that the major part of the success of the day simply comes down to the enjoyment of each other's excellent company.

All photos courtesy of Clive & George

Page Updated

28/06/2008 23:54