Sunday 12th November 2006 and as on many occasions this year we were reduced to two. We decided that because the Reivers had changed their planned trip to Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire to what looked like just another slog over the Northumbrian high ground, we would do without their company today.

John and Terry left John's for a short one, just to stay mobile in readiness for the expected first run out of John's new Kona Kikapu Deluxe next Sunday. You'll no doubt have noticed I've predicted this a good few times over the last month or so but surely, please God, the time has finally arrived (almost).

Anyway, we headed out past Arcot Hall but found the road blocked at Seaton Burn where they're rebuilding the bridge over the A1 for the next 27 weeks. That meant a detour up the edge of the A1068 and west across to Blagdon, then taking the  drop west again to Horton Grange. We then headed south towards Dinnington, turning right just short of the village to run along Prestwick Carr. Here we turned north up the bridleway that crosses right over the centre of the Army's firing range. Luckily they were firing blanks today, but we still crossed the range as rapidly as tired legs would allow with our heads down. A short hop west into Berwick Hill and we jumped on another bridleway north. This one doesn't see much traffic and it got as hard as it gets when it diverted west near its end. It was fun trying to miss the cowpats while avoiding the dung spray from John's back wheel.

I never thought I'd hear myself say it was good to get back on tarmac, but today it sure was. We got a little relief with a downhill drop to Kirkley Mill, and it was there that a poor unfortunate couple smilingly asked if we were carrying a spare Renault Clio clutch cable. Damn, I forgot to pack it. Anyway, the poor souls were awaiting rescue by Green Flag so after a few minutes sharing some sympathy with them we were off again to complete the western part of today's loop. This took us past Kirkley Hall College up the steepest climb of the day to Saltwick, then through West and Middle Duddo and into the back of Stannington.

Once again we were on the A1, travelling south along the path outside Blagdon Estate, onto the Olde A1 (from when I wor a lad) back to the point we'd turned north at a few hours earlier at Shotton Grange Cottages, and retracing our steps back to the A1068. This was a reversal of the route we'd came out on via Arcot Hall.

Amazingly, we'd covered an unexpected 26.4 miles and been out for 4 hours, quite a bit longer than planned. We must have been enjoying it too much! At least the weather didn't spoil it, although we were glad that the wind stayed in the west for the return leg. Why not join us for our next one.

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