11th April Kettlewell Run
The first run of the year, led by John I. saw 11 riders turn up at the Bluebird on a sunny but chilly day. Rain was forecast so most had their wet weather gear on. John led us up the A59 and turned off at Worston to Downham, then on to Rimington and back to the A59 at Gisburn. We followed the A59 and stopped off for a break at the Dick Turpins Cafe before carrying on to the turn for Bank Newton. So far the weather was fine and the run to Gargrave was good. Out of Gargrave we headed for Cracoe and then Grassington. The temperature dropped quite suddenly here and continued colder for the rest of the run. From Grassington we rode along the east of the river to Conistone and Kinsey joining the main road (B6160) to Kettlewell past Kinsey Crag.
At Kettlewell we parked up in the main car park and went over to the cafe for teas and hot sandwiches.
A pleasant half hour was spent here while we refreshed ourselves and then just as we started to make the move back to the bikes it snowed and hailed on us for a minute or so. We set off back towards Kinsey and just past Long Ashes Park we turned right to Arncliffe and then up and over Malham Moor past the Tarn and down through Malham.
From here we headed over the moors to Settle. On the way the clouds rolled in and the rain poured down. We stopped in settle at the petrol station and car park where I put on my waterproof trousers as it didn’t look like it was going to brighten up anytime soon. Peter left us here and headed home to Morecambe and the rest of us set off in the rain to Wigglesworth, Bolton by Bowland and back onto the A59 at Sawley. At the Northcotes roundabout at Langho I left the group to go home via Ribchester only to find the road to Dinkley was closed so I came back onto the A59 and met up with the rest of the group that had stopped at the Bluebird. The rain had eased by now and we all went our separate ways back home. As usual at Lytham it hadn’t rained and the sun was shining so all the wet gear was taken off and hung out to dry.
A lovely ride organised and led by John which tired me out. My shoulders ached and I think over the winter recess my riding muscles have atrophied!
140 Miles for me today. Photos Here: https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNE8Udv6cnOWA6W0JDgHUpf4g6AZyiBJXw-XTTC
Richard