Richard’s Run 25th September
My re-scheduled run started on a fine but chilly morning and there were 4 riders waiting when I arrived at Auction Eats. We waited until 10:30 and as no one else had arrived we set off. Up through the lanes to Oakenclough and across the hillside to join Long lane and then the Trough Road. It went very chilly as we rode over Cam Brow down to Marshaw where we turned right and rode through the Trough of Bowland down to Dunsop Bridge where we rested a while. We then set off to Newton in Bowland and turned right up the hill to Meanley and turned left into Easington Road. We arrived at the junction just in time to enter the single track road before a tractor and trailer entered which would have slowed us down somewhat! We joined the road down to Lane Ends and bore left down Holden Lane to Holden where I made my first mistake of the day and turned right. After a couple of miles I realised I was going the wrong way so we turned round and went back to get to Bolton by Bowland where we forked left onto the Hellifield Road and after a couple of miles took the right turn down to Paythorne. Here we crossed the Ribble which was flowing very fast and entered Newsholme and turned left on the A682. At Nappa we turned right and rode down to West Marton.
The plan here was to ride through Earby and go to the cafe by the canal at Foulridge. But Bob had earlier been there to find it had closed down so we had to make an on the spot decision to pick up some food at a cafe in Earby. We set off and just as we got to the Leeds Liverpool canal we came up behind an enormous tractor and trailer. Luckily it indicated it was turning off left alongside the canal and we were all amazed at how the driver managed to get this enormous vehicle and trailer off the narrow road and through an even narrower gateway without having to stop and manoeuver. I think he had done it before!! Just as we left Thornton in Craven to enter Earby I spotted a mobile Burger/drinks van in a layby with a bench so we stopped and had our lunch there. It was very nice in the sun and the proprietor offered to take our picture hence we have a picture of the day with all of us on it!
We then set off for Foulridge to continue our ride and drove up to pass below Whitemoor Reservoir. It was my intention to turn right at the Gross Gaites Pub to ride up to Blacko but I completely missed the turn and we ended up down in Barnoldswick. Having missed our turn I headed for Whalley as I was now completely lost and stopped to ask Bob if he could find the way up to Roughlee. This he did in fine style and found my planned route along Back Lane. So from here we followed him along the very scenic but very bumpy in places road, past Sabden, and down to the Spring wood Picnic Site to end the run.
A lovely day and a good ride not spoilt by the being lost at all. Thanks to Bob and the other riders for making it.
Photos Here https://photos.google.com/u/1/album/AF1QipP_NshDblo7D8_BssVGQ4vx0NdemHZcrxyIKS_c
Route Here