The weather's here, at long last. A lovely evening on Thursday 8th May 2008 saw a fair old gathering of riders at the Cave. After a trial run of the new GollyPod® (4-bike flatbed carrier for the back of the GollyMobile™) 11 riders got clipped in for another trekking treat around the flattest mountains this side of Utah Salt Flats.

Participants, in order of size of bribe offered were:-

Chris D, Terry H, Ian A, Arthur S, Mick H (yes, he's still here!), Steve B, Tim B and recent newcomers Ben T, Steve D and Rod P. If you count the Gollum as a rider that'll make 11 that set off to pick up strays in the direction of Holystone Farm. We scurried up and over those two crazy fields, which must present an optical illusion to Gollum-type eyes as they are flat for everyone but him, and he's always totalled at the far side.

From the road it was again Ian's newly discovered short but nice stretch of bark chippings that took us onto Cramlington Waggonway and up to Hillheads. Terry led us over the road and down through the fields as we cut through Burradon to Weetslade, then it was up the old Hill for a photo shoot by tonight's nominated camera Bearer, Speedy. After the snaps we went chasing rabbits down the snaking hillside path to see a good many different escape roads being created at the bottom, but no serious damage befell anyone.

Above- Speedian takes the photo of, l to r, Golly, Steve D (shy!), Terry H, Tim, Rod, Steve B, Chris D, Mick H, Ben and Arthur.

We toured through the rest of the waggonway and crossed the road in Seaton Burn before Speedy once again was ushered up front by Terry to pick tonight's basket weaving trail through the trees. Another great little maze followed and the team got pretty well strung out, with riders emerging at the far end from behind every bush for 200 metres.

Next up was the Fence Line over to Brunswick and Hazlerigg where we hit the trees again behind Speedy, at Havanah. Once more he led us to water, but it was considerably shallower than last week so no-one got a drenching this time. Time now to get out of the trees and head for the Airport, but not before there was a "racing incident" involving Ben and Rod, resulting in a bent rod, or more precisely, a cracked rear mech hanger on Ben's Turner. Cruel piece of luck as they clashed while riding side-by-side having a natter, but that's the toilet. At least Ben was able to continue with a few less gears so we moved on.

We stopped at the Terminal roundabout for our snack break, then new man Steve D took the front on his Kona Stuff (I think?) for the blast down to Ponteland, where we must, at last, have burst through the 20mph speed barrier. Regrouping again we headed out the north side of Pont onto the trail along the Ranges, with Speedy trying for some big air shots as one-by-one we all wound up for the bridge. Looks like Ian has the same trouble as I do with digital cameras in the dark! 

Time to take the tour through to Dinnington next, and from there by bridleway over towards the Seven Mile Bridge. Most of the party got there OK. Arthur, Ian, Steve D and the Gollum, however, became hampered somewhat when Steve suffered the night's only puncture, due to a nasty little thorn which he managed to find in his tyre. It took us quite a while to fix as his tyres were extremely reluctant to come off the rims. Not only that, but the first attempt proved fruitless as somehow, someone snapped the end off his Presta valve! Scratch one new inner tube. Speedy offered his spare next, and great care was taken under torchlight not to dismember that one.

Eventually we caught the others, still waiting but bored out of their skulls at the bridge. No time left to include one of our special treats for the new lads as it was 10:00 pm or thereabouts, and time to head straight down into Seaton Burn and back the way we'd come on the Waggonways. It wasn't long before there were bodies firing off in all directions as we split for the homesteads, with Golly arriving back at the Cave around 10:45, and a few with still some miles to cover. Haven't heard of any mishaps or disappearances this time!

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