Osmotherley

For Nigel's first go at leading a ride we had what has become a familiar scenario of late, where the weather for the few days before our rides has been poor but on the actual day the weather was pretty good. We were to meet at the Sheepwash for a 11.00 start. Len Pope hasn't got used to our late starts compared to those of the walking section, therefore he arrived an hour early. Still, as he had forgotten his water bottle, it meant he had time to go into Osmotherley to buy some. Rather careless forgetting your water bottle I thought as I searched high and low for my gloves. Yes you've guessed, I'd left them at home. I managed to find some old wooly gloves in, of all places, the glove box of my car.

Next to arrive was Kev, with kick off time swiftly approaching, we were afraid there would be just the four but as the clock struck, mountain bikers suddenly appeared from nowhere. Exciting this isn't it and we haven't started the ride yet. My publicity via the Internet bore fruit again with Rob and Graham making their debut rides, it's nice to be able to put faces to emails. Also Vicky and Alex decided to try us out having seen details of the club whilst shopping in Darlington. Last to arrive was Dave Scoones who certainly isn't a newcomer to mountain bike rides but we haven't seen him for a good while. Dave arrived late as it took him longer than expected to dust the cobwebs off his bike. That made a total of nine, another good turnout.

As usual, apologies if I get parts of the route wrong but I think we headed north towards Swainby turning onto the Cleveland Way to Scugdale. From there we must have somehow made it to Barker's Ridge where we headed south. Nothing to report so far, the tracks were in surprisingly good condition and everyone was managing to keep up, mind you Dave was starting to flag a little.

A bit further down the track, Dave decided he wasn't quite up to match fitness and so decided to take a short cut as we headed down Arnsgill Ridge to Low Cote Farm. From here we headed west along tarmac to the foot of Black Hambleton. Where the road crosses the beck named Cringle Ing Slack, we had to stop and wait for Dave to catch up after taking his short cut! We were probably nowhere near 'Cringle Ing Slack' but I couldn't resist mentioning that name.

We stopped at the Black Hambleton car park to stage a democratic vote on whether to call in at the Chequers Cafe, no need for any recounts here. So we headed north over Jenny Brewster's Gill (had to get that one in also) stopping at the cafe. When asked if they would display one of our posters, the two ladies running the cafe seemed very interested with what the S.O.C. had to offer but then came out with comments such as "if only we were thirty years younger". I think I convinced them that we have active members more senior in years than themselves, so if two elderlyish ladies turn up to try their hand at climbing, canoeing or whatever, please make them welcome then perhaps we'll be treated to free scones on our next visit.

Our cafe stops seem to last longer and longer these days which may account for why the mountain biking section is gaining in popularity but we eventually made it back onto our bikes. The only major obstacle left between us and the cars was the nasty drop down to the ford at the Sheepwash. Here Alex took a tumble onto the rocks but it was ok as he is a GP. At the car park we had another lengthy chat, the prospective new members mentioning how relieved they were to see that we stick to a sensible pace to suit everyone. I didn't like to admit that we were actually going flat out.

It seems to almost become traditional to end a S.O.C. Newsletter article by thanking the leader for an enjoyable ride, walk, etc. and to thank evenbody for being such good company, this certainly being very appropriate for Nigel's ride but then isnt it always on our mountain bike rides? You come along and be the judge.

	Search this site powered by FreeFind
	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Osmotherley

Dave Neesam