There probably shouldn't have been a ride today - we should have declared it a day of rest, at least for the folk who made the trip to the Highlands during the previous week. However, we didn't call it off, and the Gollum was ready at the Cave to welcome anyone who fancied this one on a lovely bright Sunday morning, 27th July 2008.

Some time before the proposed 09:00 kick-off, a car pulled up outside with Chris K in it. That was a bit of a surprise, but after Chris' very successful leadership of the previous Thursday nighter at Chopwell, he was keen to see more of the regular routes we ride.

The pair of us waited around as the clock ticked. Almost half an hour later it became apparent (even to me!) that this was it - so off we went after offering Chris a get-out clause, which he politely declined! So we took the Holystone Farm exit north, then the Cramlington Waggonway up, down and along to the side of Backworth. From there we took the singletrack through to Seghill Tip where we managed to avoid the solitary doggie walker who sensibly ducked into the undergrowth to let us pass.

By this time, the old Gollum's legs began to feel the pressure of all those Scottish trails. To make things worse, he was on his DDG Mutha with two significant faults since it was reassembled. First, the brakes were binding - the front one quite badly! But secondly, and probably worse, the damn saddle is an old Cycle Speedway one, not used for sitting on, and it had the old passageways aching like mad after the first 3 or 4 miles! Didn't let on to Chris, though, who was happily bombing along behind logging the route.

We finished the next secrtion fairly quickly and popped out into Seaton Delaval. As luck would have it, Golly was just too knackered to tackle the river drops, so he told Chris he'd save them for next time. So, staying on the top footpath (I mean path), who just happened to be coming the other way but Ian A, the Speedian, who had left home early to stick in a quick ride to the coast before his family engagement for luncheon.

We had a quick yap and turned back with Ian, following the easy path back through Hollywell Dene and out to the Backworth Crossing. The Gollum led the other two along the railway singletrack and we ducked into the new bypass site by moving a section of fence. All that was left was to navigate from there back up through Holystone Farm again, and then down into Killingworth Village. Ian dropped behind the Church for home, while Chris and Golly toured down past the Percy Hedley School to spend a few minutes getting their breath back at Killy Lake.

We sat there comparing notes and basking in the sunshine until we heard murder being committed behind us. It was a local Chava, as Terry H would call them, and he was absolutely screaming at a young Labrador pup, bounding around in front of him and resisting every attempt at capture. It gave the goon a proper old run-around, with the idiot chasing the mutt all around the lakeside. He obviously couldn't control the thing, and had no idea how to gain it's confidence. He also couldn't tell when a dog was laughing it's dingle off, but we sure could, and so could all the fishermen and walkers around the park who saw the drama unfold. Last I heard he was half way to Carlisle and still couldn't get hold of it!

When we stopped laughing it was time to mount up again and head over the fields to Sandy Lane. Chris had done a bit of Park riding but not on the bits we proceeded to cover, and he was surprised at how many trail options there seemed to be in here. So was the Gollum, as he's always in here in the dark! We emerged at the jump site, which also had Chris standing back in amazement. He didn't fancy taking any of them on, however, so we emerged out the front. Then we dived straight into Speedian's Stretcher Case Run and tried to find at least some of his routes through the jungle. Good fun, but I sure needed a rest at the wooden bridge before finishing it off.

When we emerged from the Park and got onto the end of the Great Lime Road, Chris must have decided he couldn't pedal that slow all day, so he was off at a fair old pace and I didn't catch him until he stopped back at the Cave. A good couple of hours and 22 miles or so (if I recall!) on Chris' bike PC.

 Where were you?

Johnny's back!

Keep watching and if you fancy a ride out with us, drop us a line here: bailout@midaircrisis.org.uk