................ NO PICS ALLOWED AS STORAGE EXCEEDED
SOUTH CHARLTON ODYSSEY / 6.3.10 - "An Odyssey " ..... a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences and hardships ...... which sounds like every single epic bike ride I've been on. So was today's ride of "epic" proportions, or was it just another winter workout ? .........13 came together, with a couple of late cry-offs so a good turn out and the weather certainly did not dissapoint with a good forecast for maximum sunshine and light winds with positive balmy temps of 7C. The slight frost overnight firmed the ground at first in the shaddows but not enough to give us the much desired hard rolling conditions, and we were soon into the soft clarts, but not soft enough to cushion the thorns and we had 2 punctures within 10mins. S.Charlton was byepassed along a green lane and the slight climb up, to White House Folly commenced with riders feeling the heat of the March sun and zero wind which led us onto a short but sweet bridle to White House, skirting a fell with no name but with 7ft high jumping deer in evidence. At the farm we paused a while to re-group and ponder on how we were to negotiate the next field, which had one big bull stood solidly on the bridle. Good sense reigned and we skirted the beast to the left and NOT between him and his ladies, which then had us quickly downhill to the tarmac. A short roll and we were back offroad again to the first waterspalsh of the day, quite a deep one through the Shipley Burn but not problematic and nobody complained aboot wet feet. The next section to the start of the wide expanse of grassland over Shipleymoor and Bannamoor is sublime through scenec views of snowy Cheviots and a fine trail alongside the Small Burn and all too quickly it's over and we hit another short section of tarmac to the start of the epic grind over the prarie to Eglingham. The trail is all rideable but no advantage is seemingly taken of the flat nature of the terraine as it's tussocky and heavy going, but Ian S, being the masochist he is , enjoys the "adversity" of it all, and so do I, it being an unusual corner of the county. Another puncture holds us up and makes the traverse of the vast expanse seem to take a little longer, but eventually we exit at the viallge and magicaly the pub is right in front of oor noses, we at least for some, others sail by and eventualy return for coffees and teas, and bread and butter and sweets, damn fine hospitality from the Tankerville Arms.
Suitably refreshed, we ( Izzy, Ian A, Arthur, Derek, Tom, Mark, Gary, Ian S, Tim, Willie, Julie and Nico) start on the return journey by heading up to Eglingham Moor, which is realtively easy short but dry ride via Harehope Farm and a much better option than doing the usual tarmac route we sometimes do. The bridles are straight as a dye but none the less enjoyable for it with firm going and tree lined drystone walls and views across then Cheviots to die for. Quick progress is made down all the way to Coalburn Cottage where we come to a juddering halt, having to push hard to even cycle down hill. A liitle hidden valley and a ford through the Coal Burn sees the start of a normaly easily cycled climb up to more vast expanse of another Northumberland prarie, unusually with no apparant name according to OS. This fell is well chewed by cattle, and no doubt hard frost and melted snow, and all but the fitest riders walk much of this. Thankfully it firms up and the last ridge before Longlee Moor sees a finaly re-grouping, re-fueling stop (thanks to Julie for the Jellybabies) before we roll of down on a sugar rush to tackle the last climb to Rocket Hill. So some climbed like a rocket, fired up on jellybabies, other didn't but it mattered not as the cars were in sniffing distance and quickly through the village, through puncture alley and the finnish was there. Not an epic, but a highly enjoyable ride which needs to dry out a bit, but everywhere is the same at the moment. .... cheers everyone ~ Gavin.
Pics and videos can be seen at ................. http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=288621536582&view=user
THE MUDDY BUMS (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses")
MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND
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