Midsummer's Day Run
The Midsummer Ferrets were (L-R) Stu, Ian, Del, Lainey and Pete, with Clive taking the shot.
Tickled Trout Meet-Up
The run up to the Tickled Trout, certainly for Pete, Ian & Clive coming from the south, was decidedly wet, with mizzle accompanying them up the M6 & M61. However, at the meet-up and for the rest of the day it was not only dry, but from lunchtime onwards it was hot sunshine until the cloud cover reasserted itself as we wended our ways home at the end of the day.
First on the scene was Ian (Ambo478) with Clive and Pete (Veg Man) arriving bang on 09:15 and Stu & Lainey (Stuey) not long after. There was the usual greetings, leg pulling and general banter until it was time to mount up for the off at 09:30, no other Ferrets having appeared.
The Fylde Peninsula to the Crook O'Loon
A very short stretch of the M6 and M55 were used to get us quickly onto the A6 as far as our turn west into the Fylde, diving abruptly into the myriad of excellent back lanes and country roads weaving our way to Singleton, then north across the River Wyre past Fleetwood and along the wonderfully fast and bendy north coast road past Glasson Dock. What a superb opening for the day! A chance to warm the tyres with short blasts of speed between sharp bends and junctions before getting out onto more open roads with fast sweeping bends, and the odd sharp surprise thrown in.
By the time we were coming into the southern suburbs of Lancaster we had got ourselves fully into the mood that would stay with us all day. A short detour to avoid the city lead us east and out onto more wonderful quiet country roads turning north to our first break at Woodies, at the Crook O'Lune. By now the sun was breaking through the bright cloud on a regular basis, so our break was had in the pleasant warmth.
To Lunch at Kirkby Stephen
The roads out northeast from Woodies paralleling the A683 are both quiet and exhilarating, and provided a wonderful biking playground as we made our rapid way towards Devil's Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale. And as though the roads hadn't already been sublime, our passing by the relatively small pack of bikes parked up at the Bridge in favour of pressing on up the A683 - one of the best stretches of road known to biking - enabled that tingle of biking joy to be maintained, despite the occasional loose sheep, as far as the turn at Sedbergh and our head westwards towards Kendal.
In order to avoid the delay of passing through Kendal a couple of mile short-cut was taken up Kinn Road and Docker Lane onto the spectacular A685 down the valley, and alongside the M6 to Tebay. This very fast road never disappoints, either in the biking pleasures or the wonderful and dramatic views from it initially high vantage point. It was unfortunate, however, on this occasion that the twisting rise towards Kendal, with its highly technical and exhilarating bends was a little congested with cars, so the turn off onto the short-cut was welcomed.
The run east along the A685 from Tebay to Kirkby Stephen was utilitarian more than rewarding, it being a fast, wide and straight almost featureless stretch, but it meant that it wasn't long before we were rolling into the village heading for lunch at the Pink Geranium Cafe. It wasn't only the wall-to-wall sunshine that was to greet us but also the surprise of finding Del (Grey Wolf) joining the ride as we entered the main street. This was his first ride out since his accident, and on his now almost completely fixed Kwaka - just a dint on the swingarm to have sorted out. It was such a wonderful surprise, and we all enjoyed catching up with him and checking how he was progressing.
It was so good to see him looking so well, and patently glad to be out and about again. He decided to join us as far as our first break in the afternoon at Hawes, from where he would make his way back home to the Northeast. But right then, at one o'clock, it was time to get some food into us all, so it was into the Pink Geranium for excellent fare and conversation (with maybe a bit of banter thrown in).
To Hawes for Ice Creams
After refuelling in Kirkby Stephen, we back-tracked a few miles along the A685 until turning off south on the A683 to Sedbergh. Another fast and open road, with excellent visibility - which is fortunate because sections of it are littered with free-roaming sheep! But, despite the sheep, good 'progress' was made down the dale and into the woods before finally coming into Sedbergh and the turn east on the A684 up the River Clough valley, over Garsdale Head and down the Ure valley to Hawes. This road is an absolute gem: A mix of fast & furious moor top dashes, twisting and technical corners between walled fields and along wooded sections all thrown together on a creased and crumpled limestone terrain.
Yet again, for the most part, we were in splendid isolation, able to gulp down the roads on offer without the encumbrance of other road users, and the few others that we did come across only served to provide fodder for our overtaking pleasure. And so it was, far too early, that we started to drop down into Hawes and our next break.
Of course, one cannot stop in Hawes and not partake of an ice-cream, and we must all thank Stu for his kindly buying us all one - cheers mate. As had been the case throughout the day, Hawes was less than it's usual busyness, with far fewer bikes in evidence than was the norm. It was nice to bump into a group of four lady riders, and to see how biking is slowly becoming more of a female pursuit.
Some time was spent easing aching legs, soaking up the sun and chatting, putting off the time when we would have to say farewell to Del and start the homeward run. But, unfortunately time was getting on and the need to cool down from the intense heat beckoned us all back aboard and, after fond farewells and best wishes to Del, we all parted with him for the run down the rapid Ribble Head section towards Ingleton.
Ribble Head, through Settle & Clitheroe to the Finish near Mellor
Although a good ten miles long, this section always seems to flash by in no time at all :-o So, it wasn't long before we were turning off onto the road through Horton in Ribblesdale heading due southeast to Settle. Again we were subjected to pure biking heaven with every type of biking joy thrown into the mix, in rapid fire, until it was almost a peaceful release to spill into Settle and the sedate meander through its pleasant streets.
Instead of the original route out from Settle on the somewhat boring A65, Stu wonderfully elected to lead us along out of the way country roads through Rathmell and Wigglesworth finally joining the A59 at Sawley, but only for the short hop to the turn off through Clitheroe onto the frenetic bend cluttered run to Hurst Green, and then more of the same as far as the road from Ribchester where we were forced at last onto the A59 for the rest of the run to our finish near Mellor, where a vet's car park served as a suitable stopping point.
Here we had our last break before each going their own way home. Clive, Pete and Ian shared the last of the A59 westwards to pick up the M6 southbound, where Clive & Pete waved farewell to Ian as they branched off down the M61, whilst Stu & Lainey headed eastwards back along the A59.
~o~
Although many of the roads used for today's run have been used many times before, there was a wonderful significant proportion that were new to at least some of us, and absolute belters they were as well. What was also a memorable feature was the longer than usual sections that allowed us to really get into the groove and to relish the buzz for that much longer. But by far the highlight of the day was the complete surprise of meeting up with Del, and seeing how well he now looks, and to witness him aboard his new bike again, showing yet again that it's the individual Ferrets more than the rides that have the real value for us all.
Keep going from strength to strength Del.
Photographs courtesy of Clive
Page Updated
21/06/2009 23:27