Memorial Run 2026
A dry cool day greeted nine riders to the cafe for the start of the run. The cafe was busy with loads of Harley riders arriving for one of their rides. At 10:30 we set off, with Dave leading, out to Longridge, Whitewell, and Dunsop Bridge where that road out to Slaidburn is even worse than last year!! The temperature here dropped noticeably and at Slaidburn we rested at the cafe and car park for a while before setting off up the Skaithe and Lythe Fell road to Wray.
The temperature was definitely even lower over the fell and I was glad to have put on the thermals!
I was on my new mount a 58 G11 and it ran very well but a squealing front brake needs some attention.
At Wray it was the Bank Holiday Scarecrow Festival and many took advantage of the refreshment tent where a hog roast and Aberdeen Angus burgers were available. The burger was superb! We seemed to have arrived before the main rush so we had a relaxed time with plenty of room in the marquee.
After refreshments we set off through the village past all the scarecrows and displays. The village really gets into the spirit of this event and it attracts loads of visitors for the fell run, parade and funfair each year.
From Wray we rode up to the Hornby Lancaster road and turned towards Caton where Lancaster members carried on and the rest headed back to Garstang via Quernmore.
It has become a problem to find a stopping place on return from rides as all the cafes and pubs around Catterall are closed by 2pm or have shut their doors permanently. Even the Roebuck Pub has closed and although Old Nells Tavern went out of business at the beginning of the year the new owner has reopened it and a couple of riders stopped there for a parting drink and chat. We need more cafes!!
Well done Dave, a nice run out.
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