Middleham

The snow had fallen overnight and so I was feeling dubious about this trip before even leaving home. Only Nigel, Dave and I braved the weather and perhaps the awful news about the foot and mouth disease spreading across the country had put people off venturing out. We decided to start off with a warm drink, and whilst in the cafe our consciences got the better of us and so we altered our route to avoid any farmland. We set off with freezing toes out of Middleham on the Leyburn road and just to prove we are MT bikers we took a small track for half a mile and returned back to the road. From there the route kept us on road through Wensley and up into Coverdale (I had to walk just to warm up my toes, may I add!) Down into Melmerby and Canton looking for a pub lunch. On arrival in Carlton we felt that the wonderful menu there was beyond a MT bikers purse, so we were satisfied by a pint and crisps and a warm fire for our feet and bottoms.

Then it was only a matter of miles until we were back in Middleham, but again we felt we should be alright to venture across the tops of the gallops. After debating about where the bridleway began, because Tup Gill Park obviously are trying to discourage any such visitors, we climbed onto the gallops and enjoyed the short stretch of off-road that we had so missed out on today. After a lovely long, but cold descent we were soon warming our cockles (and toes!) in the cafe again with banana and bacon sandwiches. A strange combination I thought!

Anyway it has now worked out to be our last mountain bike ride for a while; ironic that now we are an official section we are all resorting to riding with the 'roadies' after all!

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Middleham

Liz Copsey