Richard’s September Run
A pleasant morning greeted 6 riders at Auction Eats for Richard’s run around Bowland and Wyre.
After refreshments we set off through the lanes to Longridge and up through the town to take the Higher Road along the fell. This is lovely lane climbs up to Join the Old Clitheroe Road with lovely views down over Knowle Green and Ribchester to the hills around Blackburn. A right turn at the top of the rise took us down to Stonyhurst College where we stopped for a photo looking down the ponds and lawns to the college. Then the short ride down into Hurst Green where we again stopped for a photo and where an interested walker chatted to us about the bikes. From here we turned east and headed for Mitton Green crossing the Hodder at Cromwell’s bridge to arrive at the Edisford Bridge Pub. Just before the bridge we took a left turn up the narrow lane which took us up to Waddington. It was very quiet as we rode through the village and on up the steep Slaidburn Road and down to Newton In Bowland. Here we turned left and took the scenic road down to Dunsop Bridge this part of the ride was particularly scenic today as we had the sun on our backs and it lit up the fells on the Whitewell Estate to perfection.
A few minutes rest for toilet and refreshment at Dunsop Bridge was followed by the ride up an over the Trough of Bowland. Half way up we were startled by loud bangs and there was chap waving a white flag. Not sure what we were supposed to do but it was obviously a shoot up on the hill but we just carried on regardless. We passed Jubille tower and ran down through Quernmore and up the other side of the valley where we turned left to Blea Tarn road and turned right towards Lancaster. The reservoir was very full, not surprising considering the rain we have had! At Hala Hill we turned left down to the lights at the A6 and crossed over to get to the Conder Green Road and Glasson Dock. The cafe on the far side of the dock has been improved and so we bought lunches there and sat on the benches on the green eating. It was here that Dave arrived on his AFS bike. He was giving it an outing after some serious maintenance and it sounded very sweet.
After lunch we set off for Pilling and after half a mile I noticed I was all alone. I waited abit and the rest of the riders came into view. It seems Tony had left his Specs on the bench at Glasson and had returned to pick them up. At Stake Pool we took the road through Skronkey on to lancaster road down to Cartford bridge where Alan left us to head home and the rest Carried on to St Michaels along the river road behind an enormous tractor towing a huge trailer but at last he turned off to let us carry on at a little more than 20MPH.We arrived at Myerscough Garden Centre to find nearly all the parking spaces taken. This was unusual but even more unusual was that the garden centre was deserted and in a state of disrepair. A builder told us that they were flattening the whole site and the cafe was gone! After a little discussion we went back to find the cafe on the approach road to the college but this was also closed, so we took the next best option and went Guys Thatched Hamlet for a coffee before setting off to our respective homes.
A very pleasant ride on a dry autumn day without too much mud on the roads!