THE MUDDY BUMS (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses") MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND

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Where - Hedgely services, Powburn for the Blawearie Ride. Facilities - The café for a pre ride wee but don’t forget to say thank you (Julie)

How many and who - 14, Tom, Arthur, Suzanne Ian A, Ian A (2), Izzy, Julie, Kevin, Willie, Ant, Andy, Graham, Mark and Gavin

How Far - 20 miles. Time - Departed at 10.00am and returned to cars at 14.45pm. 4 hrs 45 mins

Weather - Dry from the sky and wet under tread a light breeze until lunch then the wind packed a punch til we had gobbled our munch

Route
• Tentatively over a recently created ford crossing before climbing the muddy slope to the disused railway line through Crawley Dean continually having to dismount to navigate the numerous fallen trees.

• Ascending the road via Titlington Pike and Titlington Mount then across Beanley Moor .a beautiful single track drop where the unfortunate Mr Hatton somehow managed to catapult himself over his handlebars before catching his crown jewels on his stem which caused his not so small frame to recoil at twice the speed of his forward motion leading to a destroyed seat and a sore ring to go with his still throbbing jewels, a couple of volunteers attempted to sort the bike out but it was two steps back for everyone as he requested his personal parts checked .So it was an early bath for Mark as he headed for home.

• A snack stop in Eglingham saw Andy buy some Veg with somebody else’s money And Julie demonstrated how to eat a Banana covered in monkeys blood best kept for behind closed doors maybe.

• The left hand turn to the bridal leading over Eglingham Moor appears to go through someone’s gate and skirt the side of their garden we’ve done it many times before and its proper legal like but the house owner wasn’t best pleased and thanked us sarcastically for not doing it one at a time ,fourteen riders at five minute intervals next time we will have to allow one hour twenty minutes to do this bit, we might have to have a snack stop half way,Tos@er

• .Lunch was taken in a copse at the top of Bewick Moor, the wind at this height was strong and painfully cold and the crumbling stone walls offered little shelter, after a short stop we continued to cross the moor at a rate of knots to get some heat back into our chilled extremities

• By the time we arrived at Blawearie the group stopping once again for a jelly baby stop this time, some people were feeling bit tired at this point Ant who is a work colleague of Andy’s was slightly snapped off and fell for the old line from Willie (Only one hill to go) He will learn.

• Speaking of Willie who was once again riding the single speed leaving the rest of us for dead, is he fit or is it the bike nobody caught up with him to ask, Ian tried but snapped his chain in the pursuit

• Old and New Bewick were quickly passed without incident,.

• With the end in site we all rode the last ford crossing before Pringles Wood, Beanley and back to Hedgeley services for an early coffee and Teacakes.

No major fallers today and no mechanicals other than a couple of squeaky brakes requiring minor adjustment.

A smashing ride - thanks Julie