John M’s Run to Malham 9 July 2022
Seven riders turned up for John M’s run on a beautiful sunny warm morning. We set off down the A6 and turned off towards Inglewhite where a very deep pothole in the middle of the road caught out one rider and the shock dislodged his centre stand from its clip. (I Must report this to Lancashire Highways Dept) At the Alston Pub in Longridge we turned left and passed through Littletown and turned right to Chaigley and on to Waddington. There were many groups of cyclists on the road, all imitating the Tour De France race I think, but they caused no problems for us. At Waddington we turned off to West Bradford, Grindleton and at Bolton By Bowland turned up Forest Beck to get to Coars Farm tea Shop and Garden Centre. (* map link below)
We visited here last year and since then the place has been re-vamped and now has a nice patio sitting out area and the reclamation bits and bobs have been reorganised into a space beyond the garden centre plants area.
We were met here by John’s friend on his matchless G80 and he rode with us for the rest of the day. After consuming gooseberry pies, bakewell tarts and cups of coffee we set off again and rode through Rathmell, Stainforth and down into Halton Gill. Along the road through the Gill we stopped at Park Bottom to rest and have lunch at the Queen’s Arms. It was a glorious day now and we all sat outside on the grass or on the benches and had our various lunches and drinks. (** link to this pub below)
After lunch we set off again to Arncliffe where we turned left and followed the climbing valley up to Malham Tarn and then down towards Malham where we could see Gordale scar to our left. As usual Malham was very busy with walkers everywhere and the fields near the village full of cars parked for the day.
A few miles out of Malham we came to Airton Farm Shop and Cafe where we sat in the shade and enjoyed drinks and ice creams and after a short break we got back on the bikes where I caused a short hold up because I had misplaced (lost) my glasses but as they were only reading glasses we carried on anyway through Otterburn and joined the A65 northbound. At the Black Horse in Hellifield one rider peeled off to go home and the main group then rode to Bolton By Bowland and we re-traced our outward journey to Longridge. At the Alston Pub we stopped and thanked John for the great ride and he and his friend left to go home. Another rider left at this point to go home via Garstang and the remaining three rode to Broughton and the A6 where we all made our separate ways home.
Another great ride planned and executed by John in super weather taking me 124 miles for the day. (PS Found my glasses inside my top box when I arrived home)
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