Seven Riders met up at Spring Wood Picnic Site and we left on time to drive east on the A59 to Skipton and Bolton Abbey and then turned left at Beamsley. This saw us heading along the east river bank of the river Wharfe for Howgill towards Stump Cross Caverns. The slippery ford at Pickles Beck nearly dismounted Jim but he skilfully held the bike upright and was recovered to the road by the team with no ill effects.
Then on through the grand countryside of the moors to the Cafe at the Stump Cross Caverns. This was very busy with groups of riders all enjoying a warm break from the biting wind.
After refreshments we moved off and had gone only 100yards when Richard’s Camera jumped out of its holder and flew into pieces when it hit the road! Oh well lesson learnt, use the waterproof carrier to carry it in when you buy a new one! So on we went towards Pately Bridge.
Leaving Pately bridge we travelled along the picturesque road beside Gouthwaite Reservoir to the moors and then past Leighton Reservoir and on to Masham.
Here here at Masham we sat in the market square and ate sandwiches drank teas and bought sweets from the stalls. As usual a few locals came over to reminisce on their youth and riding such fine machines and other marques!
After half an hour or so we set out on the return journey via Kirkby Malzeard and back to Pately Bridge across the moors, which by this time were very, very, windy indeed. A quick stop for refuel in Pately bridge and off we set again heading for Grassington, Gargrave and Gisburn to reach the A59 and home.
Only a few miles out of Pately Bridge disaster struck Richard’s bike at Greenhow Hill. The engine lost all power and seemed to be using the carburettor as the exhaust. On examination the engine seemed to have 2 compression strokes per revolution so a quick check was made of the valve gear by looking at the rockers on the pushrod tops. The fault was instantly found as the exhaust valve rocker shaft had sheared off leaving the rocker loose inside the cover.
Now understanding this was terminal we tried to phone the recovery service but in the valley there was no mobile signal so Peter secured the bike with his security chain and Richard got onto the pillion of Peter’s bike and they went a mile up the hill to a farm gateway where there was sufficient signal to call the recovery service.
Contact was achieved and promises of recovery made so at this point there was nothing more the team could do so Peter went back to the group to relay the news and off they went to finish the run. As a parting gesture good old Tony J. lent Richard his hat as the wind was so strong and cold and was better than the crash helmet when using the phone.
My report on the run ends here as I didn’t get to enjoy the rest of Jim’s run. What I did ride of the run great, so thanks go to Jim and Bob for the research and planning for it.
After the group left I waited a while and then checked again with the recovery people. They assured me that there was a van on its way so I left my windy hill top position and walked back down the hill to the bike in the relatively calm valley. About 5:15 the rescue service arrived and my homeward journey began,
I arrived home just after 6:30.
Thanks to all the group for the help and support and thanks to Footman James and the SOS rescue service for their efforts.
By Richard.
Below is video of Jim’s excursion down the ford.