Post by Deeps on Sept 7, 2011 12:14:13 GMT
Having missed the Lincs/Yorks run due to work, and after receiving a phone call from Steve, an army friend home on leave, a plan was hatched over a beer for a last minute overnight camping trip/ride out in the Dales. Having secured the agreement of our respective partners (Leave passes stamped) we thrashed out a quick plan, (Leave Wednesday morning, ride, camp, ride, home Thursday teatime). As you can see lots of detailed planning involved.
Wednesday morning and the weather was being kind, a quick trip down the B6325 and A616 saw us in Newark for a top up of fuel. Then the first part of the adlibbed route took us to Gainsborough on the A1133/156, those of you who were lucky enough to make the Lincs/Yorks run will know this road. From Gainsborough we headed towards Goole on the A161. After a quick break in Goole we headed towards Tadcaster using the A614/645/1041 to Selby and then the B1223, all good roads not to busy and with lots of twisty bits.
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After a quick coffee/smoke break in Tadcaster, a quick look at the map found us taking the A659 to Otley. From Otley it was the B6451 and a fabulous run into the Dales. We followed the B6451 to Summerbridge and then headed to Pateley Bridge. At Pateley Bridge another quick look at the map soon found us heading towards Grassington on the wonderful B6256.
As you will have noticed, from my woeful attempt at a ‘Guess Where?’ We stopped in Grassington for a brew, Steve for a smoke and a quick bite to eat.
Whilst there we made a couple of phone calls and arranged a campsite for the night, nothing like leaving it a little late. With tea and food onboard we headed out of Grassington north along the B6160, (Wharfedale/Littondale/Bishopdale and then Wensleydale) the weather was still being kind, the roads quite and a great run along this road took us to the A684 and a quick dash into Hawes. Following a quick smoke break for Steve and a visit to the beer token machine for me we headed out of Hawes to the Green Dragon Inn, in Hardrow where we were camping overnight. www.greendragonhardraw.com/ . The pub was very good, with decent food and a good range of cask ales. The pitch cost us £8 for the night.
Day two saw us with some sort of plan, hashed out the previous night over a few beers. An early(ish) departure would see us over the Buttertubs pass
and off along the B6270 towards Kirby Stephen where we planned to stop for breakfast, however once through Angram the B6270 was closed and we had to take the detour along Stonesdale, glad we did what a brilliant piece of road. Following the detour we ended up in Kaber at the A685, After a quick chat we decided to miss Kirby Stephen and head to Brough Sowerby for breakfast as we intended to go north from there anyway. This would prove to be decision that would impact on the rest of the day.
After breakfast at the Chofhs and after finding that the nearest fuel was in Kirkby Stephen we headed south back to get fuel. Following a blue vectra along the A685 I watched as the car veered just over the centre of the road and then back into its lane, I think to myself, the driver was either on the phone, drunk or busy doing something other than driving I dropped further back, I’m very glad I did, as not thirty seconds later he veered again this time almost totally into the other lane, side swiping a silver focus coming the other way, The road ahead of me was suddenly full of broken bits of car, glass, fluid and flying bits of body work, oh and a spinning ford focus which went pass me sideways still shedding bodywork. Doing my best emergency stop yet, combined with slalom around bits of car in the road (I knew going round those cones in mod one training was for something) I managed to pull safely at the side of the road. Both cars came to rest off the road, I was closest to the Vectra so went to see if the driver was ok, He was attempting to get out of his car through the passenger door, he was moving fine and when asked, said he had no pain anywhere, I helped him out of the car and made him sit on the verge, Steve had by now pulled up, having not seen the accident as he was further down the road. The car he was following had just continued through the debris and carried on. As Steve was getting off his bike I was running back up the road to see if the drive of the Focus was OK, his car was pointing back the way he had come and was in the ditch beside the road, from a distance it didn’t look good and I was on the phone to the police as I approached, to my amazement and utter relief the passenger door opened as I got there and the driver crawled out without a mark on him. Getting him to stay still I gave him a quick visual check, asked about pain and generally calmed him down whilst watching for signs of shock. Steve stayed with the other driver, after moving the larger pieces of debris from the road. We waited for the police to arrive, strange we were the only two people to stop, all the other traffic just passed the scene. The police eventually arrived and after giving a short statement and my details we were allowed to go. The whole incident had cost us the best part of an hour and a half and our earlier plans to ride a loop north of Alston to Haydon along to Brampton and back to Alston were now in tatters, we decided to head to Alston via the B6276 to Middleton-in-Teesdale, and then take the B6277 up to Alston. Both roads gave us some wonderful ridding and stunning views, in fact it was so much fun I forgot to stop and take any pictures. After a drink and smoke break at Alston, and looking at the time, I had to be home to take #2 son to rugby training at 6pm, we reluctantly decided that we couldn’t fit in the loop as planned and decided to head along the A689 towards the A1 and a quick dash home.
Leaving Alston we took a wrong turn and ended up going north on the A686, realising our mistake Steve took the B6294 back towards the A689, this it turned out would be a costly decision. Travelling south along the road I noticed Steve slow quickly as he noticed a number of sheep on the road side to his left, near to an open gate, suddenly from the right hand side of the road a sheep darted across his path from right to left, the sheep didn’t make it, hitting Steve on the right hand side of his bike, I guess the weight and momentum of his bike kept him upright, as the sheep just bounced off and landed in the road. Steve was shaken but otherwise fine, not so his bike. The fairing had taken the brunt of the impact and had shattered in a number of places. Luckily this was the only damage and after some gaffer tape repairs and another smoke break for Steve we were able to set off again. The Sheep was stunned for awhile then got up and ran into the field.
The run down the A689 was again a good run, but was slightly spoilt, by the now pressing need to get the miles done to get home on time. The run home once on the A1 was fast but dull. Overall it was a great two days, with lots of very good roads, something we have both agreed to do again as soon as possible.
Wednesday morning and the weather was being kind, a quick trip down the B6325 and A616 saw us in Newark for a top up of fuel. Then the first part of the adlibbed route took us to Gainsborough on the A1133/156, those of you who were lucky enough to make the Lincs/Yorks run will know this road. From Gainsborough we headed towards Goole on the A161. After a quick break in Goole we headed towards Tadcaster using the A614/645/1041 to Selby and then the B1223, all good roads not to busy and with lots of twisty bits.
After a quick coffee/smoke break in Tadcaster, a quick look at the map found us taking the A659 to Otley. From Otley it was the B6451 and a fabulous run into the Dales. We followed the B6451 to Summerbridge and then headed to Pateley Bridge. At Pateley Bridge another quick look at the map soon found us heading towards Grassington on the wonderful B6256.
As you will have noticed, from my woeful attempt at a ‘Guess Where?’ We stopped in Grassington for a brew, Steve for a smoke and a quick bite to eat.
Whilst there we made a couple of phone calls and arranged a campsite for the night, nothing like leaving it a little late. With tea and food onboard we headed out of Grassington north along the B6160, (Wharfedale/Littondale/Bishopdale and then Wensleydale) the weather was still being kind, the roads quite and a great run along this road took us to the A684 and a quick dash into Hawes. Following a quick smoke break for Steve and a visit to the beer token machine for me we headed out of Hawes to the Green Dragon Inn, in Hardrow where we were camping overnight. www.greendragonhardraw.com/ . The pub was very good, with decent food and a good range of cask ales. The pitch cost us £8 for the night.
Day two saw us with some sort of plan, hashed out the previous night over a few beers. An early(ish) departure would see us over the Buttertubs pass
and off along the B6270 towards Kirby Stephen where we planned to stop for breakfast, however once through Angram the B6270 was closed and we had to take the detour along Stonesdale, glad we did what a brilliant piece of road. Following the detour we ended up in Kaber at the A685, After a quick chat we decided to miss Kirby Stephen and head to Brough Sowerby for breakfast as we intended to go north from there anyway. This would prove to be decision that would impact on the rest of the day.
After breakfast at the Chofhs and after finding that the nearest fuel was in Kirkby Stephen we headed south back to get fuel. Following a blue vectra along the A685 I watched as the car veered just over the centre of the road and then back into its lane, I think to myself, the driver was either on the phone, drunk or busy doing something other than driving I dropped further back, I’m very glad I did, as not thirty seconds later he veered again this time almost totally into the other lane, side swiping a silver focus coming the other way, The road ahead of me was suddenly full of broken bits of car, glass, fluid and flying bits of body work, oh and a spinning ford focus which went pass me sideways still shedding bodywork. Doing my best emergency stop yet, combined with slalom around bits of car in the road (I knew going round those cones in mod one training was for something) I managed to pull safely at the side of the road. Both cars came to rest off the road, I was closest to the Vectra so went to see if the driver was ok, He was attempting to get out of his car through the passenger door, he was moving fine and when asked, said he had no pain anywhere, I helped him out of the car and made him sit on the verge, Steve had by now pulled up, having not seen the accident as he was further down the road. The car he was following had just continued through the debris and carried on. As Steve was getting off his bike I was running back up the road to see if the drive of the Focus was OK, his car was pointing back the way he had come and was in the ditch beside the road, from a distance it didn’t look good and I was on the phone to the police as I approached, to my amazement and utter relief the passenger door opened as I got there and the driver crawled out without a mark on him. Getting him to stay still I gave him a quick visual check, asked about pain and generally calmed him down whilst watching for signs of shock. Steve stayed with the other driver, after moving the larger pieces of debris from the road. We waited for the police to arrive, strange we were the only two people to stop, all the other traffic just passed the scene. The police eventually arrived and after giving a short statement and my details we were allowed to go. The whole incident had cost us the best part of an hour and a half and our earlier plans to ride a loop north of Alston to Haydon along to Brampton and back to Alston were now in tatters, we decided to head to Alston via the B6276 to Middleton-in-Teesdale, and then take the B6277 up to Alston. Both roads gave us some wonderful ridding and stunning views, in fact it was so much fun I forgot to stop and take any pictures. After a drink and smoke break at Alston, and looking at the time, I had to be home to take #2 son to rugby training at 6pm, we reluctantly decided that we couldn’t fit in the loop as planned and decided to head along the A689 towards the A1 and a quick dash home.
Leaving Alston we took a wrong turn and ended up going north on the A686, realising our mistake Steve took the B6294 back towards the A689, this it turned out would be a costly decision. Travelling south along the road I noticed Steve slow quickly as he noticed a number of sheep on the road side to his left, near to an open gate, suddenly from the right hand side of the road a sheep darted across his path from right to left, the sheep didn’t make it, hitting Steve on the right hand side of his bike, I guess the weight and momentum of his bike kept him upright, as the sheep just bounced off and landed in the road. Steve was shaken but otherwise fine, not so his bike. The fairing had taken the brunt of the impact and had shattered in a number of places. Luckily this was the only damage and after some gaffer tape repairs and another smoke break for Steve we were able to set off again. The Sheep was stunned for awhile then got up and ran into the field.
The run down the A689 was again a good run, but was slightly spoilt, by the now pressing need to get the miles done to get home on time. The run home once on the A1 was fast but dull. Overall it was a great two days, with lots of very good roads, something we have both agreed to do again as soon as possible.
I will keep it in mind the next time we plan a quick trip to the Dales, I'm sure there are many more roads to explore and local knowledge is always a bonus.
3rd time lucky eh? ;D
