Saturday: The chili is cooking and the pancake mix is done. All that is left is to
clear the house. What? Well, this ride coincides with a new kitchen - and the house
is a mess. [And, we do mean a MESS]. So, most of the day is spent dusting, hoovering
and moving boxes of food and crockery around so we can cater for a few friends (assuming
we have any, of course).
At last , the day dawns- our first “annual” ride (one we do every year) and the weather
is decent [Have you noticed how bikers always seem pre-occupied by the English weather
system - weird, isn’t it!]. I’ve been looking at the forecast for days now, hoping
we don’t get a repeat of the previous two rides. But, it’s all OK - we are ready
for the off. Well, we would be if a certain wife of mine would stop faffing about!.
But, at last, we set off, via the petrol station, for Birch Services ready to see
who else will brave the 10c cloudy day.
As I go past the services (we have to turn round at the next junction, I see Mark
fly past and have already conversed (via the radios) with Geoff and Lyn - so I know
we won’t be alone. We also hear from Paul and Mandy as we head in - so that’s another
lot. And there’s bikes there when we arrive. Ah, it’s going to be a good turnout.
By the time we are ready to go, there are 19 bikes and 5 pillions; which is good
for a February. We’ve even got some Chester HOC members along - obviously, they know
a good thing when they see it. So, only 10 minutes late, we set off.
[And now an apology. I have a movie camera on the bike and had set it off to look
backwards. What I forgot was to check that there was free space on the SD card. It
got 3 seconds of film before it stopped. So, for those of you who were waving frantically
at my camera - SORRRRYYYYY]
We shot up the motorway, and off into the hills. It did get a bit foggy over Blackstone
Edge, but apart from that, the ride was fine. The buddy system worked well apart
from one marker who set off too early (I won’t mention his name, but a red VFR was
involved). Poor Dave (who was late because of a glove problem) missed the turn and
Norma had to go and find him. Once again, radios to the rescue - we knew what was
going on and stopped to wait until it got sorted out. Then, over the hills and moors
to Haworth and then left to Colne and out tea stop at Boundary Mills. This, of course,
was the opportunity for the girls to do a bit of shopping (“Come on John, you have
to buy me a coat”), but amazingly, nothing was purchased. What is the world coming
to?
After a cuppa and some cake (no lunch - there is chili and pancakes waiting), we
set off for the next stage. At least, we wanted to - but we had to wait for our tail
ender who was still trying to shop. But she did eventually turn up and we zoomed
off. This time, it was over some B roads back to Hebden Bridge, then Todmorden and
finally 4 miles of great twisty roads over to Bakup before heading to “chez nous”
for the food.
Which was lovely - I think everyone agreed. It must have been good because there
was no chili left at the end and the pancake mix finally ran out after Gary’s seventh
one. Conversation was rife - and thanks to Lyn for looking after the teas.
All in all, a short ride, but a wonderful day. Have a look at the pictures below
for what we got up to.
