VMCC South Durham
Anniversary Social Run 2018
Five hardy riders assembled at Reeth for lunch
Where's the Northumbrian lot this year??
Well what a surprise, arriving at the cricket club on a cool but sunny morning to find three other bikes awaiting the start of the run. I had the feeling there would only be two of us, but no.
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Brian, Terry Anderton and Stuart Bell who rode all the way from Crook, were ready to go, Reeth being the destination followed by Tan Hill if time and weather permitted.
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I arrived at Reeth before anyone else as I ended up going a slightly different way - slight error with the drop off system, but it wasn't a problem.
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The others turned up eventually and we proceeded to the Buck Inn where some of the TRF members were assembled for their Christmas get together.
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Well, then another surprise, Paul turned up - not in the car but on his Bonneville!! most unexpected. After a few cups of coffee we decided it was a bit late to go up the dale to Tan Hill so off we went over the Stang to finish at the Crown at Manfield where we were entertained by Terry after eating two mince pies - see the forum for the gory details.
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An excellent day out, sunshine, no rain, not too cold - see what you all missed
Anniversary Run 2018
A few hardy riders at the lunch stop at Malham It's stopped raining at last but Brian still looks glum - unlike me
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The two oldest bikes on the run: 1933 BSA 600 cc Sloper - Brian Smith
& 1929 Ariel 557cc - John Robinson
Twas a dark and wet morning when 8 riders plus me set off from the Crown at Manfield, the entry being a lot less than usual for some reason, couldn't have possibly being anything to do with the weather - could it?
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The first part of the route took us through the villages to Richmond and over the tank road via Preston under Scar to Wensley where a checkpoint and coffee/toilet stop was welcomed, and of course the usual easy questions administered by a wet Dave and Shirley.
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The rain continued as we carried on to the turn off to West Burton and over the hills to Kettlewell via Cray, Buckden & Starbotton. Through Kettlewell and turning off to the small village of Arncliffe then on to Malham to dry out and have lunch.
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Miraculously the rain ceased as we emerged from the pub, but no-one took off their waterproofs as that would make the rain return as it usually does!
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After more questions - easy again, we set off back through a couple villages past Grassington back through Kettlewell and returned towards Coverdale and Leyburn via Park Rash with it's 1in4 gradient climb. At least most of us went that way. However Steve on his mighty 80cc Yamaha, for which this hill would have presented no problem, decided to turn off for Grassington and ended up in Pateley Bridge. Eventually we all met back at the Crown at Manfield for a welcome beveridge. The rain fortunately did not return after the lunch stop and for the last few miles we saw blue sky and a bit of sun
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Thanks to those who turned out and also the marshalls Dave & Shirley Allison and my little helper Linda
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Results are here
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