'Twas a cold Thursday night, the lampposts shone bright, and the moon was a demon.

Ooops, sorry about that, another relapse.

At last poor Terry H managed to lever himself back onto the trusty Cannondale for this night ride on 13th March 2008 after being smitten by a nasty bug some weeks before, and it was great to see him back out again. Still not recovered fully, but desperate to give the old joints a gentle workout. Joining him tonight were Arthur and Derek who arrived promptly at Gollum's Cave before 7:00pm, and around that time Jason rang to say he was on his way after a delay. The Speedian waited around at George Stephenson's Cottage to pick up strays before touring along to join the rest of us when no strays appeared, so we were six for this one.

Decisively, Golly decided to plot a course from which terry could get home easily, as he wasn't yet ready for a full session and was treating this as a test. So we headed up through the fields at Holystone Farm before taking the Waggonway over Hillheads before heading east into Backworth. Then it was north again via bridleways to the north side of the village and the railway crossing.

Into the fields now as we approached the eastern end of Hollywell Dene and Golly led over the bridge and along under the recently fallen tree on the riverside. The end of this trail comprises of a spiral concrete staircase, and it was here that the Gollum stopped half way up to water a poor, dry tree. The others continued up the steps carrying their bikes, and when he'd finished Golly picked up the trusty decathlon and began to carry it the rerst of the way up the steep stairway. Now bear in mind it was pretty dark in here, and somehow the twit managed to step off the side of the concrete stuff, falling down the side of the bank and banging his right knee and elbow hard on the way over. He let out a shriek, well, more of a whimper, but no-one came. They were all up top nattering, and maybe the wind carried Gollum's croaks in the opposite direction.

Whatever, he was forced to rescue himself from the undergrowth, in agony, and attempt to drag himself and the bike up to the road. When he got there the others didn't even notice, and all he could do was hang himself over the fence to try and recover, finding it very hard to put any weight on the right leg. But did anyone care? Nah! Eventually he yelled at the rest demanding to know why they hadn't missed him. Not much sympathy in the replies, but quite a bit of hysterical merriment. Who needs enemies?

Anyway, it was Golly who made the first move in an attempt to keep the damaged muscles working, so we picked it up again through Hollywell down the dip in the road and back into the Dene at the start of the juicy bit. Not too many of us made it up the two severe climbs without dismounting, and it was Ian, I think, who led away into the blackness to the far end and the Waggonway to Whitley Bay. That's where Terry left us to get back home, having taken just enough exercise for his first outing in ages.

The rest of us then became slightly lost in the dark, and may have accidentally ended up on one of those paths for feet which are often placed right at the end of our bridleways. Whatever, it took us to new Hartley with the Gollum now nadgering his left knee on a very wet and slippery wooden bridge. Once onto the Beehive Road we crosssed the coast road and hit the headland over to St Mary's Island. Just like the last time we were here a few weeks ago, it was a beautiful clear night and we spent 5 or 10 minutes there snacking and absorbing the atmosphere.

Jason now led us away as we retraced our steps back to the road at Hartley before descending back into the Dene, this time taking the high path all the way back to the Waggonway. We dropped down to the jump area and with derek taking a wrong turn, Gollum got out front and headed back to the west end of the Dene. Somewhere along here, Arthur managed not only to shed his front Cateye lamp bracket, but also to find all the bits again in the pitch black. Amazing.

We backtracked some more over the fields to the old pit at Earsdon then again onto the bridleways that the road builders have managed to completely scramble with diversion signs and road blocks. So confusing is it in the dark that we managed to become separated from Arthur and Ian and it wasn't until Gollum had put his bike away safe at home that Ian rang to tell him they's looked for a shortcut to the road but hit a dead end and had to backtrack, losing 15 minutes!

Not many miles covered, Terry H gets back out on his bike at long last, and a little bit of damage to someone, but so what, nobody cares! Still a good ride though.

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