Stuey's Run
Smiling faces of some of the Ferrets on this the second run of this year ..... and it's still only March! Here we have (L-R) Stuey, Garf & Sue (Precious Metal), Lainey (Mrs Stuey) and Tim, who was cruelly volunteered by Stuey to be official photographer and report writer. Not pictured here we also had Dave (Red Devil) on the run. So we have sincerely to thank Tim for the following report, that we'll launch into without further ado, other than to say that we all have the feeling that this season's going to be a belter where the weather's concerned, so we're looking forward to a full season of excellent runs.
Maccy D's Meet-Up Near Clitheroe
A beautiful early Spring Sunday morning sees me heading over the Snake Pass to Clitheroe for my first ride with the Ferrets for a few years. Arriving at Clitheroe Maccy Dees for 9.30, I find a BMW R1150 rider on his own waiting, and “no”, he said... ”I’m not broken down thanks”….turns out it was a friend of Canary's who had ridden up from Worksop. Hi Dave! Stuey and Lainey duly arrived and, with the expected Ambo478 not arriving, we set off at a couple of minutes past 10.00.
The Run Up to the Crook O'Lune
In through Clitheroe and out onto the B6478 over Bradford Fell and down to Dunsop Bridge. This is 'new' country for me and I was immediately impressed. This is just the type of landscape and roads that I like.
Up the Trough of Bowland we rode, of which I have heard so much through these Ride Reports, and here again I was not disappointed. Over the moors we rode, skirting Lancaster to our left before heading back inland to the Crook O'Lune for our first stop of the day. So this is the Crook O'Lune! Beautiful! Bacon butties weren’t the order of the day today as there was a twenty minute queue for them. So it was make do with hot and cold drinks and scones for the hungry. Spring has certainly brought out the bikers today. It was here, as I got my camera out, that Stuey appointed me Official Photographer for the day, so it’s apologies for the lack of photos from the start of the ride. Whilst soaking up the warm morning sun Garf and Sue joined us from the bogs and marshes of Lancaster. Well, that’s where Stuey says they’re from!
From left to right it’s Stuey, Garf, Sue, Lainey and Dave.
On to Kirkby Stephen & the Pink Geranium
Suitably refreshed we made our way up the Lune valley along the B6254 towards Devils Bridge, lovely brisk open twisties all the way. This is perfect riding weather on lovely roads.
We pass Devils Bridge, which as expected is full to the brim with Spring bikers, and head up the A683 to Sedburgh, past the beautiful Cautley Spout waterfall in the distance to our left.
........ and on towards Kirkby Stephen, where we stop for lunch at the Pink Geranium Café.
Kirkby Stephen
To save Garf the inconvenience of wasting his time later on in the evening watching the WSB that he’d recorded, Stu kindly tells him the results! Here’s Garf contemplating with Dave what to do with the time Stuey has just saved him.
To Settle Via the Ribblehead Viaduct
Refreshed after lunch, we headed back towards Sedburgh where we turned east for Hawes. Progress on the A684 up Garsdale was hindered by the amount of traffic now on the roads, easing off once past Hawes and up onto the moors towards Ribblehead Viaduct.
A quick 'pose' from Dave at Ribblehead Viaduct and then it was down to Horton in Ribblesdale and Settle where we settled in the warmth of the late afternoon sun for an hour. A perfect end to a good days riding.
Parting of the Ways
With time marching on we had to make a start for home, so after saying goodbye to Garf and Sue at Settle we followed Stuey and Lainey to Skipton where we waved goodbye to them, as Dave and I headed for Keighley, Bradford and the horrendous M1 to take us 'down South' to Sheffield and Worksop. “No pain, no gain” as they say !
Thanks to Stuey for the last minute Rideout.
Photographs courtesy of Tim & Red Devil
Page Updated
22/03/2009 00:38