Sunday 29th June 2008 began with a fairly "iffy" weather forecast the night before, so we all had our wet weather gear ready for this one. Gathering at Holystone at 9:00 am were Keith, Steve W, Michael and two surprises - our Jason back from housekeeping chores while his wife's been on holiday, and Steve D who didn't let his soaking a month or so back stop him from trying again. Our first move was to collect Derek at Cramlington, ready to continue his comeback from injury and ill-health on a reasonably gentle ride.

Just look at those cherubic, grinning little mushes - we must be doing something right!

It was Derek who'd mapped out our route today which started and ended in the village of Felton on the A1 about 20 miles north of Newcastle. Unbelievably, we were on singletrack as soon as we left the cars at 10:20. This took us eastwards along single, dual and grassy farm tracks, with the odd high grass plod thrown in to slow us down. Moving pace was steady rather than brisk, and we had plenty of short stops in light of the pie-eyed state of Stevie W, who'd been cuddling wine bottles all Saturday night and could barely see the trail, let alone ride it, but apparently could see pink elephants everywhere. We tried to be gentle with him while he swerved around all the apparitions we passed. I'm sure this was bridleway last time I used it, but maybe it's been downgraded since! Anyway, it took us back to bridleway and byway by High Park on the Coquet as we continued to weave through the fields north east to Warkworth. Here's a nice big map for you, roughly correct.

Steve feeling low! Derek the Shepherd behind and in front

MidAirCrisis/NMBC conquer the Giant Hay Maize (not MAZE, geddit?)

We crossed the river there, Derek trying to trick the Gollum into riding the ford, but on feeling just how slimy it was beneath the water, Golly bottled it and joined the others who'd sneakily crossed over the bridge, but only after a short detour through a very high nettle field right up to Gollum's Goolags. Ouch, ouch. There was a bit of narrow tarmac to be covered before we reached our next target at Sturton Grange to the north before making our way up to Shilbottle.

We stopped for our lunch break on this section in a small wood, out of the breeze. Here's Michael, dressed for the worst (he knows us!). That's where Steve W was finally caught short, vanishing into the bushes for ten minutes as we all listened for the moans.

 

"Will I sit or will I stand?"

"Is there paper or just my hand?"

He rejoined us a happier man, a few pounds lighter and raring to go. Rabbits fled in all directions, pawing their noses. Gillian McKeith would have been proud of him.

Now where's that pot? Aah, much better!

Next up was a rough field crossing taking us to another tarmac climb. On the way up here we had the "Big Match" as Jason took on the Gollum in a hill climb head-to-head but lost out due to lack of time on the bike lately. The silly old Gollum also took on a passing roadie for the second time in a month, and managed to stay with him on the long drag back towards the A1 until the legs finally gave way and putty returned. Once over the road there followed a decent dual track drop to another stream, Hampeth Burn this time, where Keith professed that these bumpy fields weren't exactly his cup of tea. Although next Sunday's jaunt to Glentress was laid on at Keith's request, he now finds he can't make it due to other commitments, so the Speed Freak's gonna have to wait a little while longer for something faster! This was also where both Michael and Steve D had the misfortune to miscalculate the stream crossing, with painful results for the latter and a lost, flying banana for Michael! There'll be video evidence here soon!

The Weir The Weirdos at the Weir The Posers at the Weir

Here's Stevie W with some of his Pink Elephants  

The next couple of field excursions were a little disjointed as we tried to hook up the bridleways which had all but vanished under grass, there being very little evidence of any recent foot, horse or cycle traffic. Eventually we popped out at the right place as we began the homeward, western side of the loop through Shiel Dykes and Newton on the Moor. That left us with a short trek alongside the A1 on the old road before crossing it again over to Guyzance Lea for the last bit of singletrack and the final water crossing before being deposited on tarmac again for the downhill swoop through Acton Dene and Old Felton back to the cars.

This was a long, tough pull, but Steve shook off his blood poisoning to chase the Gollum

Steve Jason Keith & Steve D Derek Michael

It was a beautiful, hot afternoon and as soon as someone mentioned teashop the underarms were being fettled and the combs were out. We spent the next jovial hour outside it, most of which was taken up by the one-cup kettle they must have been using, but at least we were offered a top up on the house. And the toasties, scones and odd cake went down pretty well. As did the young serving wenches. I mean waitresses, and I must stop calling people 'young' when in fact everyone we come across is well below me in the funeral queue. The NMBC Committee was convened for a rare meeting, and once we got off the subject of serving wen..... I mean trivia, it was time to talk about the Highland Fling in July.

Apart from the 5 or 6 definites (goes up and down daily!) already taking the full week between the Toon and the Isle of Skye, Stevie W is now available for the Monday 21st aswell, therefore we're gonna fit him in for an extra ride that day. That means the first weekend, from Saturday 19th to Monday 21st will probably see us doing 5 or 6 of the Seven Stanes trails one after t'other!

Anyway, back to the ride, and it took us dead-on 4 hours to do the route. It's gonna be some time before poor Derek regains enough fitness to challenge seriously on the up-slopes (heh, heh - I get to beat somebody) but as long as he's out there it can only be good for him as long as no more damage is done. And aside from that, who cares if we have to drag him around occasionally as long as he keeps planning decent routes for us! Cheers, Derek. 

Here are the water movies...     Jason    Derek    Michael    Steve D    Keith    Steve W

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