By Margaret Brown

Arrived on Thursday evening after a very  stressful journey drive down, I couldn't get my phone sat nav to talk to me so had to rely on following the map on the phone app. Only discovered after I got to "Conkers" where Jim and Jackie were staying that the Bluetooth interfered with the voice on my sat nav (very strange). However after a much need brew and food I felt better.

Friday 6th Sept.

Jim, Jackie and I had a lovely ride in the warm sunshine to from Market Bosworth, where Richard the III met his gruesome end for the loss of his horse, to Bradgate park, where Lady Jane Grey was born she too met a gruesome end after being queen for 9 days. We had lunch sat under the trees in the park, Jackie and I tried to be Dr who's new assistants but he wouldn't let us in. The park had lots of very tame deer and many massive veteran oaks, and a ruined castle that was once Lady Jane's home. it's a magnificent park. 

The roads had lovely smooth tarmac and no potholes, but on the downside the traffic was quite heavy, but still a good ride of 31 miles.
Going for a chippy tea now at Chris, Sue and David's AIRBNB.

Saturday 7th Sept.

Definitely Autumnal today, a day of mists and mellow fruitfulness. A misty drizzly day, until 2 pm ish. We circumnavigated Ashby de la Zouch trying to keep to the quiet lanes, not as busy today as yesterday though still more traffic than we expected. So we set off heading north past Ticknall to collect the first cycle quest clue near Calke Abbey then north again to Stanton by bridge, by the river Trent as there are very few cafes and tea shops we had a packed lunch, sat on a bench in an old barn there. The headed south to Breedon on the hill Church to collect the second clue, it certainly justified its name. A very steep climb to an ancient site, first used by iron age people then as a saxon monastery then taken over by the normans. Still a church today with a commanding view over the area. Sadly we didn't get the reward of a view due the low cloud and mist. Continuing south then West around Ashby de la Zouch back to the start. Partly on a great cycletrack along a disused railway. 35 miles of pleasant undulating cycling through pretty gentrified villages with little in the way of amenities. Another good day's cycling. Followed by a very nice meal in the Bulls Head at Hartshorne.

Sunday 8th Sept

Weather forecast heavy rain until 10, then high risk of thunderstorms and rain, however it doesn't pay to listen to weather forecasts and as my Dad always used to tell us "rain before 7 fine before 11" 

We decide to wait and see, I joined Jim and Jackie at their caravan in the rain, but by 10 the sky was lightening and some blue showed through so we cycled to join the others in the rain, happily this soon stopped and the sun came out so we set off to explore the lanes to the south and west of Ashby de la zouch. Calling in at Botany Bay and Lulligton, again there were no cafés so we had a picnic lunch in the grounds of the village hall at Edingdale, then back via Harlaston, Haunton, Apple Magna, then north to Measham to pick up the cycle route on the disused coal railway back through regenerated coal fields, planted in 1990, they are now lush woodland. Its hard to image what the land was like in the colliery days. The cycle way took us straight to Jim and Jackie's caravan park at Conkers park.

The sun shone all day, the sky was blue with a few white clouds. Turned out very nice. Another very enjoyable cycling day.

A great 3 days of cycling in an area I would never have considered as a holiday destination. Thanks Jim and Jackie for organising, Chris for helping navigate, Sue and David for your company. I really enjoyed it all.

Details

Published: 09 September 2024

Report on myself and Claire's trip to York rally to meet up with members of the club. - By Roger Taylor 

Setting off from Burnley/ Padiham on touring bikes with camping gear on board we went over the moss road from Laneshaw Bridge to Silsden, following the same route as Sundays's short ride to Ilkley, through to Addingham but then crossing the river on the suspension foot bridge to join the quiet back road to Otley. Lunch at Otley then quiet roads and cycle paths (lots of and good ones) straight to the racecourse.

Arrived at the Knavesmire at about 4 pm, pitched tents, found food vans, then beer tent for the quiz (which actually started earlier than advertised). We were soon joined by the club gang consisting of Jim and Jackie, Ian Lowcock, and Paul (electric Paul). Despite my very recently acquired knowledge of modern innertube material and the rest of the team answering the rest of the questions we didn't win.

On the Saturday we looked round the stalls, and I test rode two Ice Recumbant trikes. Then we rode out to Riccall on the solar path, route 65 (I think). Had lunch and bought food for barbeque, then looped back for said barbeque which was great after the gas knob got turned to full on.

Ian went on the real ale trail so missed the Barbi.

On Sunday we had a quick look round the saddle bag sale then me and Claire headed home following the reverse of our outbound route. We spotted a Red Kite being mobbed by a crow towards Bolton Abbey, arriving back home safely just after 6 pm.

A big thanks to Jim and Jackie for their hospitality, providing breakfast and brews, and organising the ride and trip in general. Thanks everyone else for your company it was a great event.

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Published: 25 June 2024

Participants Jim, Jackie, Chris, Sue, Marg, Steve, David and Margaret.

Eight of us set off from Hull docks to board the ferry at 5pm ready for the 9pm sailing. The weather was warm with little wind fortunately (not a good sailor!). We arrived in Rotterdam at 7am after a very early breakfast. 

Day One

The weather was calm and very still. We set off alongside the Hartkanaal. Crossing over the bridge we marvelled at the cycle track and separate cycle lane to cross the canal. We made our way through the quiet Sunday misty morning to the small town of Hellevetsluis hoping to find a coffee shop open. Everywhere was very quiet with little traffic and only the occasional dog walker or jogger around. Even though we rode through the town centre nothing was open and all was very calm and peaceful. So we had a snack and then made our way East along wonderful cycle ways, the routes are well signposted using a numbered system to guide you along, though we missed some of the turnings all worked out well and it was easy to pick up the route again. We skirted Niew-Bejierland and Oud-Berjierland riding through fields full of dikes and cattle. We crossed over the Spui on a ferry called “The Queen Jacqueline” which caused much amusement. As lunch time approached, we were getting concerned over the lack of cafes and all starting to feel hungry when near the town of Westmaas, we saw a sign for restaurant we thought it might be expensive, but it turned out to be a lovely family restaurant in beautiful gardens, we were made very welcome, their homemade soup and roll was delicious. Feeling refreshed we set off, now Holland seemed to have woken up and there was more traffic and people around, though the cycle lanes felt safe, at one point we were about to turn off the main road when we heard a motor bike behind us we waited while it passed, it was followed by at least 100 bikes I have never seen so may bikers on the move together. Once peace was restored, we carried on our way to our hotel in the outskirts of Dordrecht. The hotel was very new and modern with very comfortable rooms. The plan was to get changed and catch the bus into the old town however by the time we reached the hotel there was not enough time so we settled for eating in the hotel where we had a great meal. Distance cycled 43.5 miles. 

Day Two

We retraced our route but this time we called in at Puttershoek, where we had a morning snack at the windmill. On way we came across a memorial for a young Australian RAF Spitfire pilot that was shot down, this was witnessed by a young Dutch boy who now aged 77 had got the road named after him. Then on to Oud-Berjierland what a delight, it has a charming outer harbour which we explored, looking for a café, what a surprise we had when we cycled up to the old part of town we found a lovely restaurant with outside seating overlooking the canal and main old town shopping area. We had a leisurely lunch. Then carried along the bank of the Spui. We had hoped to cross by ferry but this was not running so had to carry on along the south side, back to the “Queen Jacqueline”. This time though we cycled north through the pleasant town of Spijkenisse. Then to a long thin spit of land in the Hartelkanaal into a fierce head wind, this took us to the bridge over the Hartelkanaal back to the docks. Distance cycled 39.7 miles 

Thanks to Jim for organising the trip and to Jim and Chris for safely navigating our way.. We all had a great time. Holland is great for cyclists lots of cycle routes polite car drivers, while the scenery is not quite the Dales, but interestingly different. The main problem was a sore backside from sitting in one position due to the lack of hill!!! A very enjoyable few days. 

Photos taken by Margaret, Steve and Chris.

Details

Published: 13 October 2023

Several of us spent the first weekend in Semtember in Shrewsbury, and the local area, Margaret has kindly provided the following report.
Photos courtesy Margaret Brown and Steve Foxley.

Friday 1^st September 2023

After travelling down on the previous day, 4 of us set off, Jim, Jackie who were staying in their caravan in Frodsley, Roger who cycled from home the previous day then stayed overnight at the travel lodge at Bayston Hill, then camped for the rest of the holiday and me, I stayed at the travel lodge. We set off in prefect weather no wind and warm and sunny to find 2 clues for Jim and Jackie’s cycle quest.

We met at All Stretton and cycled to Church Stretton to catch the train to Ludlow to look for the first clue on the cannon in the castle gateway. Ludlow was busy being market day, so we didn’t stay long and made our way to the river and pick up the cycle route number 44 to Bishops Castle. It was as bit confusing as to which was the best road out of town so Jim asked a traffic warden, he asked about the Burnley and Pendle jerseys and said he was going to the area in a few days and was staying at a farm in Salterforth, which was very close to where I grew up!!!. After being put on the correct road we continued on to Bishops Castle for the second clue. The route was very hilly though very pleasant countryside. There did not seem to be much flat ground we were either going down hill on amazing descents or puffing up hill on very steep climbs. Like all the days we had a picnic lunch as cafes were a bit thin on the ground. The cycle quest clue was of course at the top of a very steep high street in Bishops Castle, an interesting town with lots of very old buildings. Not much time for sight seeing as we had a train to catch at Craven Arms (not a pub but a small town). We decided not to go back via the cycle routes as these meandered up hill and down dale we cycled back on the much straighter and flatter A road, which being late in the afternoon was fairly quiet. We caught the train to Church Stretton with 10 minutes to spare. As we were cycling back through town we passed a chip shop it smelt wonderful, we were all hungry so we finished off the day with a chippy tea, a prefect end.

Saturday 2^nd September

9 of us set off we were joined by Steve and Marjorie, Sue (Chris arrived later) Roger, David L. & Paul The route took us around the many lanes south of Shrewsbury, again prefect cycling weather. Calling at Condover, Longden, Pontesbury where we have a picnic lunch in the church grounds, Hebberley, Dorrington. We had an evening meal at the Horseshoe pub in Dorrington. Another good day out and not as hilly as the previous day.

Sunday 3^rd September

10 (Chris had now joined us) to ride to Much Wenlock and Bridgenorth. We had morning coffee in the square in Much Wenlock another old and interesting town. Steve had a puncture but fixed it quickly with a foam cannister, what a wonderful invention so we were soon on our way to Bridgenorth this too was an interesting Georgian town on top of a hill over looking the River Severn, the clue was on the information board of the small railway. We had another picnic lunch overlooking the Severn.

The holiday was prefect, the weather gorgeous, the area interesting though hilly, lots of cycle routes so on the whole we were on quiet lanes most of the time. We used Roger’s Komoot app and Jim’s downloaded maps so between them they lead us safely through the maze of lanes.

Thanks Jim for another wonderful cycling holiday.

Details

Published: 06 September 2023

Had a brilliant weekend at the rally with excellent weather.  Friday night we went to the Quiz met Keith from Newcastle, Ian from Portsmouth and John from London a formidable team and of course we won.

Saturday morning we went to the rock and roll band The Sonics  and of course being of a certain age we knew all the songs they played.  In the afternoon we thought we had better do some cycling so we set off down the Planets Cycle Route to Naburn and then onto Riccall where we saw the winged wheel on the Greyhound pub to get our Cycle Quest clue which was on the planet Saturn.  The cycle route is on an old railway line.

Saturday night we met up again with our new quiz friends and listened to a band who were cyclists.  Sunday morning we met up with John Ramsden who had cycled up from Selby.

Everyday there are organised rides of varying degrees and abilities and anyone can join them.  There are trade stands, talks by different speakers on various subject relating to cycling. There are also different catering outlets open during the day and night.

We took our caravan but there are  plenty of facilities for camping, a small scale “Glastonbury”. Showers and toilets are available.

Hopefully a few more may go next year it really is a brilliant weekend.

Jim & Jackie

Details

Published: 28 June 2023

Over the weekend of 9-11th June 2023, one of our regular riders, Claire Hunter, single handedly, took on the Way of the Roses as a bike-packing challenge in aid of Derian House.  As it was such a fantastic achievement, we asked for a short write up. Here is her story...

The decision to do this challenge all started whilst on holiday in Wales last year where I bumped into a cycle tourist, all loaded up touring Wales looking for his next campsite stay in Caernarvon.  Following this, I joined Burnley and Pendle CTC, in order to help build up my miles. I’ve got to say, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, as the support I received for the challenge was fantastic, but I also made lots of great friendships in the process.

I decided to use the venture as an opportunity to raise some money for charity, and in conjunction with a fundraising effort at work I set up a JustGiving page to raise money for Derian House Children’s Hospice, in Chorley.  This happened to be a charity that meant a lot to my family, who had received excellent care and respite for a very sick child.

Donations will still be open for a short time on my Just Giving page - Click Here

Day 1 – Morecambe to Appletreewick (54 miles)

Day 1 began with a car ride to Morecambe and the ride finally commenced about 9.30am on the Friday morning.  The route took me from Morecambe to Lancaster initially following the National Cycleway 69 cyclepath.

From Lancaster I passed the Crook O’ Lune and then started to rise through the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland, passing through Gressingham and Wray, and on towards the southern Yorkshire Dales to Cracoe.  The climb out of Settle up High Hill Lane (clue in the name!) is the toughest climb of the route!  I hasten to add, it was necessary to push my bike up this incline.

From Settle I passed through Airton, Winterburn and Cracoe to conclude the day at my first campsite stop just outside Appletreewick.

Day 2 – Appletreewick to Pocklington (72 miles)

After a “reasonable” first night’s sleep in my little 1 man tent, I was faced with another steep climb out of Appletreewick, again a short section I had to walk up.  This then steadily climbed to the summit of Greenhow Hill.  Following an equally steep descent into Pateley Bridge, the route took me up again past Brimham Rocks and steadily flattened out for the rest of the route.  A slight deviation north took me through the City of Ripon and then following the National Cycle Route 688 & 65 from Boroughbridge to York.  Fortunately I bumped into a fellow cyclist completing the same challenge who had heard about the weak toll bridge at Aldwark that was closed to all vehicles and pedestrians whilst it underwent repair work.  The suggested diversion would have added an extra 20 miles to the journey, but there was footpath temporarily being used that ran along the river at the side of the golf course that only added a couple of extra miles to the trip!

The route then took me along the River Ouse through York and to my 2nd night under canvas at a campsite just outside Pocklington.

Day 3 – Pocklington to Bridlington (62 miles)

The final day of the challenge meandered through the Yorkshire Wolds and was relatively flat compared to the previous 2 days.

When I finally reached Bridlington I had to walk my bike down the high street as they were having the Bridlington Vintage Festival, which entailed lots of 1940s dressing up, dancing and WW2 vehicles.

I finally reached the final destination at about 13.30 on the Sunday, had a brew on the front and then made my way back to Driffield, another 20 miles, for my final night’s stay before making my way home.

The best part of the journey, apart from the amazing scenery, was meeting others along the way doing the same challenge, hearing their stories and experiences.  I’d definitely do something like this again.

Details

Published: 19 June 2023