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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Cycling > Youth Hostel Cycling Weekend |
Youth Hostel Cycling Weekend(kindly organised by Ray & Lil - 20th-23rd June)Rendez-vous-Bellingham Youth Hostel Thursday evening. First port of call the pub: Mike & Ernie (already having had some drinking practice outside the hostel) were off to a head start, the rest of the group exchanged pleasantries around the table. The hostel warden, a real character with a dry sense of humour, administered a strict 11pm curfew so everyone obliged by returning to the hostel on time. The next morning he kept us up to date with the world cup score England v Brazil while we were having breakfast. Cycle panniers packed and all present and correct we headed out to Bryness along pleasant country roads. Slow progress was made(something like 6miles in 2hours) due to 2 bikes needing roadside repairs: thanks to the mechanics for their expertise Mike & Ernie split off to take the off-road route through the forest whilst the rest of us (Liz, Melanie, Chris. Doreen, Yvonne, Ray & Lil) continued North East to join the less desirable road A68.Cloudy and cool with a threat of rain called for a coffee stop in the pub. Back on the A68 and another few miles brought us to a Roman museum that entertained us for an hour or so. On arrival to Bryness the midges attacked us with a vengeance. We walked to the pub cloaked and covered in repellent. They still allowed us in and we supped well. Liz seemed out of luck, her main course arrived late and then she was served with the wrong sweet twice. The bill even after 10 minutes of calculations arrived with an extra sweet on it, and still managed to be £10 short, just for extra measure on leaving the pub Liz was called back under mistaken identity. This aside the food & company were good. We returned to the hostel to find John, Norma, and the two Davids, who had arrived to complete our group. On Saturday we climbed up to Carter Bar in wind and rain and were met by bagpipes and kilts as we crossed the border. The scenery changed to forests and glens and we had a good ride down to Kielder. Saw deer, yellow flag iris and some sunshine Kielder hostel was extremely comfortable having only recently being refurbished. After an enjoyable hostel meal some of us went for a walk well armed with carcinogenic repellent. Later everyone gathered in the kitchen for a good crack. There were lots of tales and there are no prizes for guessing who told the most! Once again Dick provided a source of much amusement as we reminisced with fond memories. Perhaps the best day of all was Sunday, fabulous flowers, meadows of yellow rattle, buttercup, clover and wonderful patches of ragged robin and orchids. A botanist oasis! Alas the group split up to start with and 'never the twain shall meet'. Both parties were waiting for each other at different cafes. We took the high route arriving back at Bellingham before the others but all drank in the lovely scenery and felt refreshed by the border country. Well done to Doreen, Norma and David junior on their first cycle touring weekend. Thanks again to Lil and Ray for a most enjoyable and well-organised weekend. The Border Bunch |