Ingram Valley Ride - 3rd May 2009

Riders Graham,Ian, Julie and myself ( Willie) met at the car park in Ingram.

Well the excuses started to arrive on friday night, thats Terry laid up with man flu. Dave rang and spoke to Julie on saturday whilst i was still at work, he was going walking with the missus. Mark`s text arrived sunday morning explaining he also had a cold (oh` bless). Gavin`s text arrived not much later, saying he`s got an injury. I turned to Julie and said it looks as though the last rides are starting to take their toll on a few riders. Well would you believe a bl@ody text again , Ian this time he`s having tea and toasted teacake in the Poachers, so i knew that there was three of us.

Arriving at the car park we were greeted by Graham and Ian, The 4 of us were away just after 10-00am. The way the morning was we did`nt hang around long, it was nithering and blowing a hooley. Along the road and up route 68 saw us take to the moor which was surprisingly dry. Some folk had taken a layer or two off by now, we did`nt stop until we reached the height across the next two moors. Shelter was taken for a snack stop behind a wall. Dropping off and down to Linhope saw a discussion between Julie and Graham trying to persuade me that it was better to go back to the cars now, obviously the 40 mile ride Graham done on the saturday was taking its toll, and as for Julie sometimes she just likes to bicker, well most times!!

Up to Linhope Spout and thats when the four became two, Julie and Graham to return. So Ian and myself soldiered on against the head wind. Lunch taken , and along to Low Bleakhope to meet up with Salters Road. Up and over little Dodd we where meet by the park ranger just before the climb up to Ewartly Shank. The climb was cleared by both of us, the ranger was quite impressed as he got the gate into the trees. It is noticable that they have just about got all the motor bikes stoped, the tracks are starting to repair.The bridle down to Alnham church is one of those tracks that is now ridable.

So that just left the climb from Prendwick and a descent back to the cars at Ingram. Arriving back at the vehicles we saw Julie waiting on myself, that saved Ian taking me home. Julie said the reason for the bail out was that she was`nt very well and to endorse the fact she reckons the birds were feeding well on that mornings porridge. We were finished thats me and Ian for shortly before 3-00pm covering a distance of 20 miles. Willie

THE MUDDY BUMS  (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses")

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND

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