Wensleydale Cheese Ride

As mountain bikes out numbered road bikes on Lizzie’s latest road ride, I’m told I have to do the write-up, so here goes. On January 16th. a clear blue sky greeted us as we all gathered at Aysgarth Falls. We again were faced with the confusion of two Liz’s on the same ride, see December’s Newsletter for the solution, I’m sure you keep them neatly filed away in special binders. Lizzie was to be our Leader for the day. Making up a total of five were Pete and Roland. “It must have been good weather if Roland was out”, I hear you all say but I think this reputation he seems to have acquired must be false as a fortnight later I’m sure I spotted him at the top of a very windy Helvellyn tramping across snow and ice with rain teeming down, unless he has a twin brother who also wears silly hats.

We set off west along the quiet road through Thornton Rust towards Bainbridge. The lack of traffic meant we were able to admire the glorious views of the snow topped hills as we pedalled along. At Worton we ventured on to the main road for a short distance until turning off just before Bainbridge to head for Semer Water. We now faced our first climb of the day but were well rewarded at the summit with fine views of Semer Water.

Once upon a time a city stood where Semer Water now lies, and all the citizens were so selfish that when, one day, an angel disguised as a beggar asked for alms, all refused him. Angered he called down the wrath of heaven on its inhabitants. The rains came, the city drowned and Semer Water came into being.

Anyway, back to the ride, we gingerly descended the steep and icy hill down to the lake but as my Grandad used to say, what comes down must go up and sure enough, after crossing the River Bain, the shortest river in England, we were climbing the very steep hills to Burtersett.

On reaching the main road we turned left to Hawes where we made a slight detour to visit the Cheese Factory. After the predictable Wallace and Gromit impersonations, we paid a visit to the cafe. Faced with the hefty financial outlay of £1.90 each we foregoed the traditional cyclists cup of tea and made do with soup followed by our various choices of snacks which invariably included cheese.

There’d be no more Bunny Hops over dead rabbits (pardon the pun) from Pete as his bike was now well laden down with Wensleydale Cheese. We left Hawes and headed to Appersett where we started the return leg through Hardraw to join the Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way which follows the River Ure back to the falls. With all the rain there had been lately the falls were quite a spectacular sight. We still had one hill left, this being the short sharp climb from the bridge to the top cafe car park. After loading bikes into cars etc. we visited the Visitor’s Centre Cafe where we paid £1.50 each for tea, this included two crumpets and as much free sugar as you wanted!

Thanks to Lizzie and all participants for making it a very pleasant winter’s ride.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Wensleydale Cheese Ride

Dave Neesam