12 April 2025
Our first run of the year started from Samlesbury on a bright warm morning. 9 riders arrived and at 10:30 we set off following John for a run to Kettlewell and Settle. We started by travelling East on the A59 up to Chatburn where we turned off into the town to get onto the Downham Road to avoid riding to Gisburn on the rather boring A59. Just before Downham we turned left to go to Rimmington and on to Gisburn to rejoin the A59. Along this road Richard’s siamese exhaust pipes decided to separate themselves and with smoking gloves and burning boots they were re-attached, the first of about 3 times it happened on the ride. When we arrived at Gisburn it was very busy with cars caravans and loads of bikes out enjoying riding in the lovely weather. We joined the A59 again and about 4 miles East we turned off to stop at the Dick Turpin cafe for a rest. More siamese pipe work took place here again!
On leaving the cafe we soon turned left to Bank Newton and on to Gargrave. In Gargrave we had our major upset when John’s bike lost sparks. A test of the usual culprits seemed to show the electronic ignition system had died and although there were suggestions on how he could be recovered by the group he decided to get Secretary Bob to continue to lead the ride as Bob knew the route where we were intending to go. John decided to spend a while longer trying to isolate the problem and if the fault could not be found he would contact his recovery service and tell us of his situation when we arrived in Kettlewell. So following Bob we set off for Hetton, on past Swinden Quarry to Grassington then followed the river Wharfe over to Conistone and Kettlewell.
Kettlewell was quite busy with the car park full of cars and bikes and it was nice to sit overlooking the river eating our lunch listening to the flock of birds chattering above. I think they were Common Sandpipers. While we sat there Pete’s phone rang and it was John telling us that he could not fix his bike and that his recovery service would pick him up within an hour so we would continue with Bob as our leader.
After resting at Kettlewell we set off to Settle and 300 yards on Richard stalled as he had forgotten to switch is petrol back on! We then followed a very nervous driver for a mile who stopped for every car coming the opposite way. Obviously the driver did not know the width of the car! A while later we turned off to travel through Long Ashes Park a lovely area for recreation along the river Skirfare where there were people having a picnic and camper vans parked with children playing in the river. A lovely park.
At Arncliffe we turned left towards Malham Moor up the steep valley containing Cowside Beck to Langcliffe and Settle. We didn’t stop in Settle, which was absolutely packed with people and bikes, but turned right to go through Wigglesworth to stop at Holden Clough Nurseries just outside Bolton By Bowland. We spent a good half and hour here sitting in the now hazy sun chatting and refreshing ourselves. We then set off for home via Waddington after which Alan and I left the group to go home via Hurst Green, Longridge and Broughton while the remainder headed down to Whalley and the A59.
I covered about 145 miles home to home and had a super day. I hope this is a portent of the riding season to come.
Richard
PS. John was recovered within the hour and arrived home safe.
Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8o3QeDrGQZhgZed97