Green Shoots Run
The first run of the year, the first of many we sincerely hope, brought together a surprisingly large group of Ferrets, as posed above in Slaidburn [L-R]: Garf (PRECIOUS METAL), Nick, Rob (CANARY), Drew, Julie (Mrs CANARY), Ian (AMBO478), Lainey (Mrs STUEY), Simon (CHIMES), Sue (Mrs PRECIOUS METAL), Stu (STUEY) and Clive taking the shot. That was eight bikes and eleven people, one of whom was on his first Ferrets run. And it is to Ian that we extended our very best and warmest welcome, enjoying his company and riding so much that we hope we see him on many more events over the years to come. And, thanks must go to Stuey for bringing up the rear as Sweeper.
The day started pretty cool, and in the case of Rob and Julie coming in from Sheffield included some rain as they came over the tops, but the weather front responsible was rapidly heading south, away from our day's route. Indeed, once we'd all met up and were truly into the run there wasn't even the threat of rain for the rest of the day, with blue skies chasing the clouds away at times. Even the roads proved to be in better condition than was feared, with very little muck on them and in large part dried quite effectively by the brisk wind that initially plagued us for a couple of hours.
The route had been chosen carefully to keep us well within daylight hours and not too far off frequented routes, and in this way we got the best of road conditions at the loss of some twisting excitement - something we thought best left until the patina of rust had been worn off some of our skills. However, there were the odd sections of restrained 'spirited riding' and plenty of wonderful views, with just a hint of Spring to season the dish.
So, all in all a belting and enjoyable day enjoying far better conditions than we could normally have hoped for in February.
Maccy D's Meet-Up in Manchester
The first meeting was at 10:00 at MacDonald's just off the M60 at junction 10, where Ian was the first to arrive with Clive pulling in to the car park not too long after. Nick stopped by briefly to say that he was heading off for some fuel - given the appallingly small tank of his Harley Sportster this was a very sensible decision, and he finally returned shortly after Drew and then Simon had pulled in. Not having seen each other for such a protracted period over this icy Winter, it didn't seem two minutes before it was time for the off, and we all donned layers to ward off the chill of the morning.
The M60 led us efficiently onto the M62 heading east for the next meet-up at Milnrow, during which a fine mizzle briefly speckled our leathers with moisture. It was also during this section that Clive's phone rang with a call from CANARY. Over the distortion and the noise of the wind past Clive's helmet he was able to tell that they'd somehow got lost and couldn't find the Milnrow meet-up. Phone reception was appalling, but at least we knew that they were in the right area, albeit not at the exact location!
Milnrow Meet-Up
Now, the Milnrow meet-up was a one-off, and isn't one of our usual locations, so all Rob & Julie had to go on was the instructions given by Clive on the website, and all Clive had to go on was the Garmin MapSource data for a junction that has recently undergone major revision. Not only that, but the restaurant that Clive had given as being near the meet-up had changed ownership, and hence name. So, all in all Rob & Julie did extremely well, with the help of fortuitously asking a local who had once worked at the old restaurant for directions, and hoved into view not that long after we should have been moving onto the next section of the ride.
We headed north west from Milnrow onto the road around Hollingworth Lake with it's quick access onto the Pennines along Halifax Road accompanied by a nasty gusting crosswind that stayed with us for the whole of this section over the high ground along Blackstone Edge, only abating along the Calderdale valley as we passed through Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, and once more taking up to spoil our progress over the tops to Oxenhope, and the Worth Valley Railway station. Drew was further hampered by being aboard his Ducati, for the Blackstone Edge road and it's long descent into Mytholmroyd is notoriously bumpy! Not exactly circuit smooth :-(
It was also along the early part of this section that Stu & Lainey met up with us, heading in the opposite direction. After doing a U-turn they smartly joined the group for the rest of the day.
Worth Valley Railway Break - Oxenhope
On this occasion we were the only bikers at the station - there usually seems to be a gaggle of vintage and classic bikes there during the Summer months, and fortunately not that many visitors or travellers, so there was enough room in the 'carriage snack room' to accommodate us all.
[Clockwise from top left] Drew waves to the camera whilst Stu ignores it, the bikes lined up in the station car park, our new Ferret Ian gets to grips with Simon's off the wall sense of humour, and Nick patently enjoying the day.
With a brief repast lodged in our bellies, Clive's having been a previously melted Kit Kat (hence only 30p), and having enjoyed being somewhere a little warmer, it was back on the bikes for the next section to Slaidburn. As we remounted and filed back out onto the road the gusting wind had finally abated, not to be seen for the rest of the day.
The route took us sedately past Howarth and down into Keighley where we joined the fast dual carriageway up the Aire Valley on towards and past Skipton and onto the A65 Kendal road. Although not one of the most exciting biking routes, it did get us back out into the countryside pretty quickly and the latter parts of the A65 provided some mild twisty corners, but the main thing was that the main road was pretty dry, clean and grippy. Before long we'd passed through Gargrave and just after Hellifield Clive did his first U-turn of the season :-) Overshooting the turn, just after a sharp bend, for the B6478 Slaidburn road all eight bikes were forced to do a turn on Long Preston's Church Street - Best getting these things out of the way early, we suppose!
Certainly the best bit of biking of the day was had along the road west to Slaidburn, and even on this lesser used route the surface was pretty good in the main. However, some caution was always needed where the road vanished from sight such as on brows and bends, so the full joy of taking those bends couldn't be taken in full. Still, as we dismounted in the car park at Slaidburn, it was obvious from people's faces that everyone had greatly enjoyed the freedom, and the feel once again that can only be got from a bike in the bends and at some speed.
Lunch at Slaidburn
It was fortunate that the day had steadily become slightly warmer, as the cafe in Slaidburn only has significant al fresco seating. That's the problem with a run in February - you can never be sure that your favourite Summer places will even be open in the Winter. We knew the Slaidburn cafe was 'cos we'd checked their website :-)
This protracted break for a light lunch gave us all an ideal opportunity to catch up on gossip and the like, to pull a few legs and to partake in the usual banter and bollocks. However, with an eye to the short February days, once everyone had had a chance to replenish their stomachs, it was back out onto the road again - this time heading south from Slaidburn down through Waddington and on into Clitheroe, with its castle looming high above us as we passed through the maze of its streets.
It was here that we refuelled, making sure that Nick didn't have an embarrassing 'small tank incident'.
Continuing on south, we joined the A59 down as far as Longsight Road, that we used to avoid the outskirts of Blackburn. Once past Blackburn, it was a quick nip across to Mellor Brook, then a torturous route through Salmesbury Bottoms, Hoghton and Riley Green Switch before getting onto the Belmont Road for the speed restricted run up to Belmont and the cut over Winter Hill to Rivington, and the biker's meet Barn.
Snacks at Rivington Barn Bike Meet
For some of us, Slaidburn had been a long time ago, and stomachs were beginning to rumble again, so cakes and fancies were bought, along with beverages and another chance (this time in the warmth and conviviality of the Barn) to chinwag.
Before we knew it, we were more than an hour behind schedule so final route decisions were made as we left the Barn to mount up for the last time of the day. And not before everyone took their final farewells, with hugs, kisses and handshakes finishing off the event to perfection. Without exception, we all expressed our hopes that Ian can get along to many more runs, and that perhaps soon we'll get to meet his 'better half', who sadly was unable to make the ride today.
Parting of the Ways
It was from Rivington Barn that we all decided to make our individual ways home, so the group wended its way back down the long drive to the lane towards Horwich where Garf & Sue, Nick and Ian parted company to head back west leaving the rest to join the M61 south to the M60 where Rob & Julie and Stu & Lainey headed off east leaving Clive & Simon the short journey round to the west of Manchester, and home.
~0~
We are certainly well aware that we have stolen a day from the very hands of Winter, and prize it all the more for it, but we also all have the definite feeling that this coming Summer's season is going to be more settled and productive than the past few - so here's to many excellent runs this year, and to getting to see many more of the Ferrets.
By the way, We did point out to Drew and Nick that it was about time that they registered as Ferrets, and stopped muscling in all the time as guests :-)
Photographs courtesy of Clive & Chimes
Page Updated
23/02/2009 21:01