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Sunday 8th August 2010

 

Victoria Bikers Pub with Carl.

 

Good weather greeted nine bikers assembling at The Keel for a 9am start. Colin arrived with new fairing lowers on his CB1000. Off we went towards Wombwell and then by the usual backroads to Derbyshire. Junction marking was working well and when I pulled in for a quick stop after an hour, no-one was lost. On we went, down some tight bendy roads and rolled into South Derbyshire. As we made our way round Swadlincote there were more cameras than fleas on a hedgehog! Bloody Hell! (pardon my French) but talk about overkill, they must have more cameras on the A511 than the A520 Leek to Stone and that’s saying something! So progress was slow but we ploughed on and arrived at The Vic at 11.25am. The cups of tea, sausage sarnies, bacon butties and burgers were quickly ordered and we sat around chatting.

 

 

Outside the sun was blazing down. We set off to the nearby Morrisons for some fuel then back onto the bypass and onwards towards Leicester. One of the roundabouts had a liberal coating of diesel which was very slippy but no-one came to grief thank goodness. Round Leicester on the ring road and up the 46 which was soon down to 40mph because of road works. Once onto the A6097 traffic came to a halt with long tailbacks due to.... a push bike race!! Eventually we got through it and cranked it on a bit. We left John near home and proceeded into Rotherham and back to Barnsley.

Got in about 2.30pm and did 190 miles.

 

Weather was great.

Thanks to those who turned out.

 

Cheers

Carl.

 

Pictures by Ivy

Sunday 22nd August 2010 Lincolnshire with Phil

 

This promised to be a superb B road blast into Lincolnshire with “Mr Backroad” himself.

 

 We met up at The Keel ready for a scorching ride. Colin had jacked up his back end in anticipation – oooher.

 

Then, Dave arrived on this weird scooter thingy. It had 3 wheels!  What’s that all about? Can I ride in my wheelbarrow next time?

 

Shell shocked, we got on our bikes and followed Phil onto the Queens Highway still shaking our heads.

 

We had a good interesting ride up to Scunny, Dave kept up well on his James Bond scooter, there were no problems apart from Colin washing out his front end on any tight bend (can happen with jack ups).

 

Then we turned South and headed into Lincs. Good roads, good weather, good bends, no probs....Then Nigels hugger didn’t (hug that is) the damn thing fell off.

 

 

After a pit stop to sort it we set off again. We arrived in Market Rasen and Phil took us to the Tesco garage for fuel. Bit of a queue but cheap enough. Then we went to Tesco coffee shop for refreshments. Tea 75p not bad.

 

We went back to the car park where some old dear couldn’t get her scoot out between mine and Lances ooher.

 

Off we went... Phil went down some brilliant roads.

 

I went back via Donny which was unusually traffic free and headed back to Barnsley getting back at 1.30pm

I did 200+ miles

 

Thanks to Phil who tried his best to put on his usual great run.

 

Cheers

C

Barnsley Bikers wobble to Withernsea

 

Sunday 15th August 2010

 

Well there we were Friday night & polishing my genes jenes jeans, the leather ones, & moving the insect collection from the waterproof coat safely to the bin. Then joy of joys Paul Hudson’s side kick said put the brolly in the cupboard & get the sun cream out. [I’ve just read El Prez’s preamble and I‘m going to out bore him]

 

Well that was it then put the waterproofs away and get the Sunday best out, and that’s how I came to be wearing the zip togethers on Sunday.

 

It didn’t start well as I had to use the credit card in the slot on the pump at Tesco, and received instruction from a lady motorist on how to, accompanied by a low grumbling from a growling Lance as he did likewise.

 

At the Keel I was told I was late by Vic who then strapped his stool on the Duke and proclaimed himself ready. So after completing the pleasantries we set off. Back past Malc’s house so the neighbours could be woken up again.

 

Q Why are Harley’s so loud

 

A Because the horns vibrate loose & drop off……….. Malc told me that

 

We aimed for Darrington, and we hit it goal number one! Hurrah and still got eleven behind me. Can Sheffield Wednesday say the same?

 

The last time we went this way we got stuck behind a bus this time we got stuck behind a lady leading one horse while a smaller horse I think it was a 125 or a foal or something ran free by itself.  Had they been on a Saturday night adventure?

 

At Womersley we went left then right to Cridling Stubbs, it sounds like a foot complaint to me that a chiropodist would treat, and we only went this way so I could crack this joke!

 

Left at Whitley over the M62 right at the roundabout and on to Snaith through Little Heck Great Heck & Blooming Heck. Howden showed us to the B1230 & off to Beverley through Walkerington and over Beverley Common where we saw a flock of free range cows and golfers, always a strange mix I thought. What would happen if you got a cow in one, you couldn’t really just leave it there laid on the grass. It wouldn’t go in the boot and you couldn’t get it on the bus even if you paid full fare.

 

Beverley held us up at the traffic lights but there were no highway men there so that was alright. Then a couple of cheeky rights and lefts over the railway lines and on to the open road to be held up  behind a line of traffic that was following two sports tractors. After some careful and thought provoking car hopping we were past the rolling road block and on the A165 going south towards Hull.

 

We followed the signs for Burton Constable [evening all] the roads reminded me of descending the Fairy dell & going behind the Magic waterfall…..then after a false left, I found the real one and we went to Flinton.

 

Flinton ushered us on to Aldbrough, then right along to Withernsea over some of the twistiest roads you ever did see.

 

 

After the slowest bacon butties you ever did see, I’m not kidding by the time we got them it was lunch time, (Sorry Bob Dinner time) we had a toilet break and then back to the bikes. The toilets in the café were a bit of a laugh, you went though one door into the cubicle looked for the lock but this was outside on the door you first went through, which was 6 feet away from the pot, so you just whistled, a forgotten art now I fear. All was well though as Vic found a brick to stand on so it wasn’t too much of a stretch for him.

 

Back at the bikes I asked if every one was all right for petrol. Ivy said she thought she could use some with in the next 20 miles so I promised I’d stop at the first available petrol station

 

Well the intention was to go to Skipsea and head inland, but someone turned the sign post around in Hornsea, and we ended up going north on the A165 to Bridlington. Undaunted I pressed on as if it were all part of the route [no one will know, & no one reads these run reports anyway.] Then went left to Driffield, no petrol to be found I was concerned about Ivy’s petrol, I didn’t want to have to push it for her after all.

 

As it happened, economical Ivy drunk her fill under the watchful eye of the local constabulary, at Fridaythorpe. Dutifully we all gave the correct change and no back chat to the cashier.

 

Then on in a sensible snake to Stamford bridge, and over the fields to Askern..

 

 

Wot another good day out.

 

Cheers everyone, & don’t forget, this is the run of the year 2010, and the best article

 

Cheers again..Cg

 

Derbyshire with Carl. Sunday 29th August 2010

 

Eleven “crazy fools” (Mr T voice) stood in the drizzle on the Keel car park ready for the set off. I had miles of backroads planned in Derbyshire but the weather intervened. Well it was a Bank Holiday Sunday, so it was bound to rain wasn’t it?

 

We set off at 9am and headed generally North West to try to avoid the rain. This worked fairly well for a while. We even had a stop at Scout Dike for Bandit John to make a delivery. But inevitably I had to head towards Derbyshire and as we came down Woodhead towards the Glossop hills the rain was lashing down. Heading towards Chapel En Le Frith we found out whose waterproofs really were and whose just pretended to be! (Mine headed the latter category).

As we rode up hills all was well but when we rode down hills all the water ran forward off the seat and soaked the gusset of the trouser making it very uncomfortable. It was so cold and wet that Ivys rear indicator dropped off three times!  You’d think Kawasakis don’t like the wet but Johns GPX was o.k.

Bandit John stopped to help and was doing his Knight of the Road bit, in the middle of a monsoon, when he lifted his visor to see better and got a face full of water. When he set off again he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face! The roads became rivers and Roy, who had put in a rare but welcome appearance, called it a day and headed for the Algarve.

 

As I peered through my waterlogged visor a rainbow trout swam across (well, it might have been a greenfly magnified by the rain drops).That was it, I decided to stick to the main roads and seek shelter at a friendly hostelry. I headed straight for Calver Café. It was packed out, there was some sort of camping and caravanning event on, so John (Triumph) shot off back home to fetch his caravan to join in!

 

We squelched into the café and queued for refreshments. Vic had room for a couple of all day breakfasts and Ali downed his usual confection.

 

I asked Lance if he could put the run down as the first Brass Monkey Run of the year.

Steve said it was in line for the Jacques Cousteau Award.

 

From the inside of the cafe we watched as the rain continued to fall outside and the clouds were gathering to the South West. We had a quick vote and seeing the bright sunshine over Barnsley, we decided to head for it.

 

I rode back by the usual route and five minutes after leaving the cafe the sun was shining and the roads had dried out. We had a good run home and got back to Barnsley at about 12.15pm which was a lot earlier than planned.

 

Thanks to those who turned out and sorry about the weather.

 

Cheers

 

C.

Sunday 5th September 2010

 

 Cow & Calf Rocks with Bandit John

 

The car park at The Keel looked like Sherburn on a Wednesday night as 25 bikes turned out for this bimble by Zumo. BJ had said it would be a steady run and that certainly seems to have hit the spot with a lot of people. It was nice to see Helen forsake her financial duties and come on a run. Mrs Pop turned out to keep Dave on the straight and narrow! Hello to Julie and her son, potential members? Hope so.

 

Anyway, off we all went as the clock struck nine. Daves stealth scooter decloaked in the midst of the run. Roy went home. Bandit John headed straight through Barnsley and out towards Cawthorne. By Barugh Green we seemed to have temporarily misplaced a few riders but we carried on to New Mills, at a steady pace, where we pulled in to take stock. Nigel decided to call it a day and headed home. When about eight riders arrived we set off again and headed to Holmfirth and then over to Slaithwaite on some very steep, narrow and peculiarly angled hillside tracks. We came out on New Hey Road and headed to the junction above March Haig where the hang gliders take off. Then ten of us pulled in and waited, but nobody came. John tried to phone people but couldn’t get a signal. I had a full signal so I rang a few folk but got no reply.

 

We set off again and headed to Hebden Bridge then up to Keighley where we caught up with about ten of the others. From there we ambled down some back roads to Ilkley and arrived at The Cow & Calf after about 3 hours riding. There were no toilets.... The bracken got a good soaking!

 

Triumph John plays “ Spot The Top Box”!

 

 

How many  ??

 

 

 

 

 

We queued for snap and got burgers and tea. Then about 4 more of ‘The Lost Boys’ (& Holly and Julie) turned up having been rescued from the wild & windy moor by Heathcliffe (Steve). Bandit John led a guided tour up to the top of the Cow & Calf rocks to read the carvings. Triumph John headed for home. The sun even came out. John opened his topbox and put on his “Bandit” hat. This set off shouts of derision from the assembled bikers. It looks like only Malc can carry off this item of Haute Couture.

 

Then from nowhere Tail End Charlie reared his ugly head. Yes, a big debate took place at the foot of the rocks and it was decided to employ the ‘Tail End Charlie’ system for the return journey. Everyone said they were familiar with it so off we went. Keith was volunteered to be Charlie. I got in behind Bandit John so as to get TEC off to a good start at the first junction which turned out to be quite a way. We headed into Bingley and down to Queensbury and Brighouse where we stopped for fuel. Mark and Bob B headed for home. Zumo was having lane trouble but I knew the way out of Brighouse. Then we followed BJ & Zumo to Huddersfield and over to Flockton thence back t ‘Tarn.

 

 

Everyone played their part to perfection and the Tail End Charlie system worked well. It is a great system for escorting vehicles from point A to point B and in the circumstances it was all we could have done to continue with the run in safety. As Fred MacMurray said “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do”.

 

So thanks to Bandit John for coping in difficult circumstances.

 

Thanks to Keith for being a right “Charlie”

 

And thanks to “The Lost Boys” & Girls for persevering and carrying on regardless.

 

Cheers

 

C.

 

 

 

Pictures by me f& CG.