Just got back this morning from this superb event.
Organised by Petcul (of this Parish) for the BMW Club (but don't let that put you off
)
The weekend was announced in January and filled up very quickly, with 30 bikes and riders entering. Cost was £125 per person and included all the food and drink (coffees and lunches too), plus 2 nights Dinner B&B
Petcul had organised everything to the last detail and all went smoothly, with food and liquid refreshment in copious amounts laid on at all the lunch and coffee stops, plus 2 nights Dinner B&B, so all you had to pay for was beer and fuel
We met up @ 9am in Hexham on Saturday morning and riders had come from all over the UK and Ireland
It was a bit of a 'Boreen' type event
All types of Beemers (and a Transalp) entered and naturally there were a lot of GS's of all types from Airheads to 650's to Oilheads and 1200 Hexheads
Some hardy types entered on road bikes - K100/K1100 LT's and RS's - brave on the fords & offroad sections
The weather started off great and I got off to an early start up the A1 and then the A68 to Corbridge/Hexham
This was the view @ 8am above Corbridge - no traffic and early morning balloonist for company
Not all UKGSERS were @ GOTC..............some of us were in the Borders
Saturday morning around Northumberland was fantastic with roads like this around Kielder
Lunch was at Alwinton
From there on the weather closed in and torrential rain ensued...............but we carried on until around 5.30pm when we arrived at our overnight halt @ Allendale
Accomodation for some of us was in the King's Head and with my XChallenge safely 'garaged' for the night under the Lychgate in the Churchyard of the nearby church (first time I'ver done that).........we all ate at the nearby Denehlme Centre where the majority of the group were staying. After dinner we returned to the pub and sat around a huge log fire, sampling the local Allendale Ales. Rain was still torrential ( a theme was developing )
Sunday dawned bright and Breeeezy!!
We set off at 9.30am and headed for the nearby Allendae ford, which was in full spate after the overnight rain
Not only GS's ford.......................so do K1200RS's
We followed all the byways and minor roads/tracks of Teesdale and traversed Bowes Moor in 80mph winds and driving rain................not nice!!
Passing Tan Hill before lunch @ Keld..............
I was in dire need of fuel on the XChallenge so went over Buttertubs and onto Hawes for fuel
The group decided to head onto the B&B @ Middleton in Teesdale, as the weather was getting worse and the wind was dangerous, making riding nigh on impossible and with debris and powerlines all over the road, it was no fun.
We went over the Army ranges and Grinton Moor and up to Barnard Castle
Civility was restored with wet clothes in the hotel's boiler room and a warm shower.
Everybody congregated in the bar for a well earned pint, before an excellent home cooked supper
After breakfast on the Monday we said our farewells and set on our way home..............
Living only 30 miles away, I decided to return over the Pennine Way over Bowes Moor to take pics that were impossible only 18 hours earlier on Sunday lunchtime
From Bowes Moor, it was home via Arkengathdale/Reeth and Grinton Moor/Leyburn/Middleham/Masham...............all minor and B roads and not a motorway in sight...........it is really superb living in this part of the UK
A big thank you to Petcul, ride leaders Phil Oughtred and Graham for a truly awesome weekend
Organised by Petcul (of this Parish) for the BMW Club (but don't let that put you off
)The weekend was announced in January and filled up very quickly, with 30 bikes and riders entering. Cost was £125 per person and included all the food and drink (coffees and lunches too), plus 2 nights Dinner B&B
Petcul had organised everything to the last detail and all went smoothly, with food and liquid refreshment in copious amounts laid on at all the lunch and coffee stops, plus 2 nights Dinner B&B, so all you had to pay for was beer and fuel
We met up @ 9am in Hexham on Saturday morning and riders had come from all over the UK and Ireland
It was a bit of a 'Boreen' type event
All types of Beemers (and a Transalp) entered and naturally there were a lot of GS's of all types from Airheads to 650's to Oilheads and 1200 Hexheads
Some hardy types entered on road bikes - K100/K1100 LT's and RS's - brave on the fords & offroad sections
The weather started off great and I got off to an early start up the A1 and then the A68 to Corbridge/Hexham
This was the view @ 8am above Corbridge - no traffic and early morning balloonist for company
Not all UKGSERS were @ GOTC..............some of us were in the Borders
Saturday morning around Northumberland was fantastic with roads like this around Kielder
Lunch was at Alwinton
From there on the weather closed in and torrential rain ensued...............but we carried on until around 5.30pm when we arrived at our overnight halt @ Allendale
Accomodation for some of us was in the King's Head and with my XChallenge safely 'garaged' for the night under the Lychgate in the Churchyard of the nearby church (first time I'ver done that).........we all ate at the nearby Denehlme Centre where the majority of the group were staying. After dinner we returned to the pub and sat around a huge log fire, sampling the local Allendale Ales. Rain was still torrential ( a theme was developing )
Sunday dawned bright and Breeeezy!!
We set off at 9.30am and headed for the nearby Allendae ford, which was in full spate after the overnight rain
Not only GS's ford.......................so do K1200RS's
We followed all the byways and minor roads/tracks of Teesdale and traversed Bowes Moor in 80mph winds and driving rain................not nice!!
Passing Tan Hill before lunch @ Keld..............
I was in dire need of fuel on the XChallenge so went over Buttertubs and onto Hawes for fuel
The group decided to head onto the B&B @ Middleton in Teesdale, as the weather was getting worse and the wind was dangerous, making riding nigh on impossible and with debris and powerlines all over the road, it was no fun.
We went over the Army ranges and Grinton Moor and up to Barnard Castle
Civility was restored with wet clothes in the hotel's boiler room and a warm shower.
Everybody congregated in the bar for a well earned pint, before an excellent home cooked supper
After breakfast on the Monday we said our farewells and set on our way home..............
Living only 30 miles away, I decided to return over the Pennine Way over Bowes Moor to take pics that were impossible only 18 hours earlier on Sunday lunchtime
From Bowes Moor, it was home via Arkengathdale/Reeth and Grinton Moor/Leyburn/Middleham/Masham...............all minor and B roads and not a motorway in sight...........it is really superb living in this part of the UK
A big thank you to Petcul, ride leaders Phil Oughtred and Graham for a truly awesome weekend
But that XC is way too clean for a weekend of boreens 
I'm taking on less commitments next year & am definitely doing this one 
