Morpeth Winter Round ~ Part II

Sunday 3rd January 2010 and three troopers, Storm-, Super-, and Moss- (AKA Tom, Ian S and Gavin) met at Morpeth railway station to keep the thin muddy line of Sunday rides going – the weather and bodily issues having taken their toll of other regulars.

An inch of fresh snow on top of boiler-plate ice made for interesting riding conditions. A riverside ride around Morpeth to Newminster Abbey and up past deserted sledging fields (what has happened to the kids of today – probably Wii sledging instead of doing the real thing) made for a gentle picture-postcard start. A shortcut through Kirkhill saw an estate in the grip of winter – large snowmen on the greens (well ‘whites’) and sliding, motorists (3 troopers to the rescue). Picking up the old Wanney line then heading for Tranwell on snowy 'tarmac' saw no difference between off-road and on-road. The bridal from Tranwell to Glororum was a different story with tricky just rideable single-track. More on road snowy cross country to St Mary’s hospital led to an even trickier greenway across towards Saltwick, the highest local point with great views. Here Gavin came across the lovely Sarah who he knew of old and now lives in a house there that Ian previously had lived in – a fertile place indeed as a quick discussion about conception (as you do with someone you’ve just met!) revealed that Sarah and Ian had produced six boys between them within the walls.With extremities starting to feel the cold a stop at the Ridley Arms at Stannington was in order.

Ian was asked to take a blind man to the toilet and Tom’s sound advice of ‘make sure you point him in the right direction’ came in very handy.

Suitably warmed, the next hour of riding proved the best of the day as the riverside woods from Stannington to Plessey were superb.

Opting to give the Humford woods section a miss, a route across the fields via Nedderton to Hepscott saw crisp foot-trodden single-track making for good time to end up back at Ian’s kitchen table where with a prior ‘ten-minutes away phone call’, Franca had hot mince pies, brandy cream and other health foods waiting. 30 minutes later and stiff bodies creaked up from the table as Tom and Gavin headed back to the station.

First ride of the decade, a good day out, good company and stunning winter scenery – love it! ~ Ian S

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

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND

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