Out around 8.20 and a quick run into Leeds Centre. got there about 8.30. Just a hint of rain on the way down but by the time I was at the Canal Basin in Leeds it was raining proper. Not hard but a steady gentle rain.
@NorthernDave was the next to show and we chatted for 10 mins or so until @Kestevan arrived having ridden over from Huddersfield Way.
We had the pleasure of watching a coach manouver around a brick/concrete flower bed, a line of steel bollards and some parked cars. No photos I'm afraid but while it looked impossible the man driving did good.
@I like Skol and his son Hadyn turned up later than expected pretty much bang on 9am, their first train having been cancelled.
The company having assembled set off in the lessening rain. We took an easier route out of Leeds than the one dodging and weaving the various cycle paths in the city centre and pretty soon we caught up with the A61 and Pontefract Lane as per the original plan.
It's not a pretty route out of Leeds but it's direct and quick. Pontefract Lane is home to the Cross Green Industrial Estate and the Leeds waste incinerator:
Pretty it ain't but it does have plants growing over it, showing it green credentials I guess. At 42m tall it needs something to hide it.
At the end of Ponterfract Lane we cut off the road and made our way into the grounds of Temple Newsham House, which we approached from the right hand side of the photo:
From there it was a zig zag around Cross Gates and finally out into the country. In short order and the by now almost non-existent rain it was Barwick-in Elmete, Aberford, Towton (of battle fame) Ullskelf and to Mrs B's Lakeside Kitchen for breakfast or maybe brunch ( if you like that sort of terminology):
After drinks and grub we said goodbye to @NorthernDave as he turned back for home:
That left four, and the rain had caught us up.
So it was across the the old swing bridge at Cawood which is no less than 146 years old:
and on and across the busy A19 to Wheldrake where Aiden picked up a puncture. Skolly being a good dad did the right thing and fixed it.
Next was Elvington, home of the Yorkshire Air Museum. Also famed for being the place Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond almost met his end,
from there it was north and east through Stamford Bridge and along the flat, quiet, open lanes until the few little hills just before Malton and the second stop of the route.
I'm not sure what time we got there but was we were well sodden by this time and we spent a good while face filling and drinking until @Julia9054 and @Almartino turned up. Equally wet and dripping. I think we stayed until around 2.45 maybe 3pm and it was back out into the rain for the final leg to Scarborough ( or Scabby as it's sometimes known)
Once out of Malton the roads were quiet and easy going being flat and with a tail wind and all was going swimmingly (no pun) when we passed Brompton-by Sawden and we turned a sharp left and climbed up from the A170. And we climbed, and climbed. Not steep, but always uphill. About 4 miles in all, when Skolly had a thought and thought he ought, to tell us we were off route. Debate time, do we run down the way we had come or do we press on right to the top where a road, maybe, looked like it went in the right direction. We pressed on.
At the top we stopped again and maps were checked. It seemed the way to get back on track was the right hand turn, marked as unsuitable for traffic. A forest road.
Well it was rough-ish and muddy but it got us where we wanted to go and after another couple of miles we caught up with the original route.
Up and down a bit and then a cruise down into Scarborough and along the Foreshore and Marine Drive skirting Scarborough Castle where pics were taken by a passer-by looking out to sea.
Fish and chips was the next call and so we pitched up at North Bay Fisheries where unfortunately the outside benches were no where to be seen. So we stood and sat on the steps.
The pub was next and it was uphill to The Lord Roseberry which is situated conveniently near the station.
Gentleman that he is Skolly bought me a drink
and we sat upstairs to drink up.
I like Skol, Hadyn, Julia9054, Almartino and Kesteven
I had a train to catch and so had only 40 mins before I had to make a move and leave the rest of the company to find their lodgings, get cleaned and dry and to enjoy the evening out.
As it happened even though I thought I would have a good 5 mins to spare when I got to the train, I only JUST made it as it was about to set off.
I sat cold and wet for the trip back into Leeds.
Evidence of the muddy diversion:
Once back in Leeds it was a loop around the busy, boozy city streets and back uphill the 3 or 4 miles home.
A really good day out in spite of the wet weather.
Thanks to @I like Skol for leading us the way and to @nickyboy for starting the ball rolling and especially to @ColinJ for giving me his return ticket to Leeds.
The mans a star.
For me it was about 94 miles in all with about 3500 ft of up. Only approximate because I left the Garmin switched on whilst on the train back.
Who knew Transpennine trains did 100mph plus?
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/27561234
@NorthernDave was the next to show and we chatted for 10 mins or so until @Kestevan arrived having ridden over from Huddersfield Way.
We had the pleasure of watching a coach manouver around a brick/concrete flower bed, a line of steel bollards and some parked cars. No photos I'm afraid but while it looked impossible the man driving did good.
@I like Skol and his son Hadyn turned up later than expected pretty much bang on 9am, their first train having been cancelled.
The company having assembled set off in the lessening rain. We took an easier route out of Leeds than the one dodging and weaving the various cycle paths in the city centre and pretty soon we caught up with the A61 and Pontefract Lane as per the original plan.
It's not a pretty route out of Leeds but it's direct and quick. Pontefract Lane is home to the Cross Green Industrial Estate and the Leeds waste incinerator:
Pretty it ain't but it does have plants growing over it, showing it green credentials I guess. At 42m tall it needs something to hide it.
At the end of Ponterfract Lane we cut off the road and made our way into the grounds of Temple Newsham House, which we approached from the right hand side of the photo:
From there it was a zig zag around Cross Gates and finally out into the country. In short order and the by now almost non-existent rain it was Barwick-in Elmete, Aberford, Towton (of battle fame) Ullskelf and to Mrs B's Lakeside Kitchen for breakfast or maybe brunch ( if you like that sort of terminology):
After drinks and grub we said goodbye to @NorthernDave as he turned back for home:
That left four, and the rain had caught us up.
So it was across the the old swing bridge at Cawood which is no less than 146 years old:
and on and across the busy A19 to Wheldrake where Aiden picked up a puncture. Skolly being a good dad did the right thing and fixed it.
Next was Elvington, home of the Yorkshire Air Museum. Also famed for being the place Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond almost met his end,
from there it was north and east through Stamford Bridge and along the flat, quiet, open lanes until the few little hills just before Malton and the second stop of the route.
I'm not sure what time we got there but was we were well sodden by this time and we spent a good while face filling and drinking until @Julia9054 and @Almartino turned up. Equally wet and dripping. I think we stayed until around 2.45 maybe 3pm and it was back out into the rain for the final leg to Scarborough ( or Scabby as it's sometimes known)
Once out of Malton the roads were quiet and easy going being flat and with a tail wind and all was going swimmingly (no pun) when we passed Brompton-by Sawden and we turned a sharp left and climbed up from the A170. And we climbed, and climbed. Not steep, but always uphill. About 4 miles in all, when Skolly had a thought and thought he ought, to tell us we were off route. Debate time, do we run down the way we had come or do we press on right to the top where a road, maybe, looked like it went in the right direction. We pressed on.
At the top we stopped again and maps were checked. It seemed the way to get back on track was the right hand turn, marked as unsuitable for traffic. A forest road.
Well it was rough-ish and muddy but it got us where we wanted to go and after another couple of miles we caught up with the original route.
Up and down a bit and then a cruise down into Scarborough and along the Foreshore and Marine Drive skirting Scarborough Castle where pics were taken by a passer-by looking out to sea.
Fish and chips was the next call and so we pitched up at North Bay Fisheries where unfortunately the outside benches were no where to be seen. So we stood and sat on the steps.
The pub was next and it was uphill to The Lord Roseberry which is situated conveniently near the station.
Gentleman that he is Skolly bought me a drink
and we sat upstairs to drink up.I like Skol, Hadyn, Julia9054, Almartino and Kesteven
I had a train to catch and so had only 40 mins before I had to make a move and leave the rest of the company to find their lodgings, get cleaned and dry and to enjoy the evening out.
As it happened even though I thought I would have a good 5 mins to spare when I got to the train, I only JUST made it as it was about to set off.
I sat cold and wet for the trip back into Leeds.
Evidence of the muddy diversion:
Once back in Leeds it was a loop around the busy, boozy city streets and back uphill the 3 or 4 miles home.
A really good day out in spite of the wet weather.
Thanks to @I like Skol for leading us the way and to @nickyboy for starting the ball rolling and especially to @ColinJ for giving me his return ticket to Leeds.
The mans a star.
For me it was about 94 miles in all with about 3500 ft of up. Only approximate because I left the Garmin switched on whilst on the train back.
Who knew Transpennine trains did 100mph plus?
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/27561234
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TBH I think he was probably short sighted.
Despite weather train cancellations and a puncture we still arrived at Malton an hour early and had to wait ages for Al & Julia to arrive.
