Flaming June.........the sequel

[JohnnyBoxer]

Another bout of hot weather, so Fritz suggested we go trailriding again.....to a different part of the Dales

Blimey it was hotter than we thought and i'm glad I packed the Camelbak

All the lanes, bar 2 were new to Fritz.................so he enjoyed it

The weather was sublime, yet again and the Dales did us proud

Some of the new lanes that we'd found, were overgrown and this set the scene for the early part of the ride, good job we don't suffer from hayfever because we were covered in pollen

We did a few lanes around Masham, before heading up to Leyburn, to try a few up near the moor above there

They were new to me too and were old 'coffin trails' from the leadmines above Leyburn - which were miles & miles of open tracks (Fritz will add some pics)

However it was up near the Army ranges and the red flags were flying, plus we could hear machine gun fire, so I pictured the scene of us two popping over the hill, like 2 Taliban on bikes and being too good an authentic target prctice to pass up

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Having safely crossed the Moor, we headed down into Reeth for a bit of lunch on the Green and the sandwiches from the Post Office did the trick, before we travelled up to Marrick and Hurst to show Fritz some of Swaledale's finest trails

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Stunning views up above Marrick, with a bit of water thrown in

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Next we went over Fremington Edge, high up at 1300ft, but not the highest of the day yet - it was breezy but the views were truly spectacular

I think Fritz enjoyed it

When we got to the 'Edge', it really does drop down in a fairly sheer way....but we had some awesome views of Reeth and Arkengarthdale in the last 2 pics

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Back up to Grinton now and over into Harkerside (some GS'ers may remember it from my BH Monday in May ride)

We found a lane that nobody ever uses and it was a treat

June makes for typical Swaledale pictures with fields full of buttercups

Sometimes, you find a lane temporarily blocked

 

[rocky burns]

nice. i may come up later in the summer for a spin round there, If your about do you fancy showing me some lanes????
Looks like great riding

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Venturing further up Swaledale to Gunnerside, we doubled back on ourselves just to do another lane to the delightfully named 'Crackpot' hamlet

Unfortunately the lane has been stoned and isn't as good as it was, however we saw plenty of the landscape that Swaledale is famous and photographed for..................buttercup meadows and stone barns

Towards the end of the trail we were stopped by the National Park Ranger - who told us that were were on a bridleway, however I disagreed and pulled out my map with the relevant road number for this lane and a friendly conversation ensued.

I think he didn't mind trailriders really and it's always good to try to keep the NP officials on-side if possible

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

nice. i may come up later in the summer for a spin round there, If your about do you fancy showing me some lanes????
Looks like great riding

Can do, If i'm free

 

[rocky burns]

Can do, If i'm free

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Last lane of the day took us to the highest point of about 1500ft, as the trail took us out of Swaledale and into Wensleydale

We felt on top of the world

Time was pressing, so we went home via the road, but not before stopping for an ice cream at the Brymor ice cream parlour near Jervaulx

Excellent it was too and the perfect way to round off a cracking day's trailriding in Yorkshire's finest

Who needs the Pyrenees, when you've got trails at 1500ft on your home turf

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

JB,
You can fall out wi folk tha knows, nearly as bad as Franco with his French posts.
Not envious in any way.
Lovely that, as an armchair trail rider. Keep up the good work.

 

[Ash]

Very nice JB

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

JB,
You can fall out wi folk tha knows, nearly as bad as Franco with his French posts.
Not envious in any way.
Lovely that, as an armchair trail rider. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Andrew & Ash

Thought you may recognise a few & enjoy the pics

I still enjoy getting out, even after doing it for 20 years, but much prefer summer nowadays - it'd be a bit bleak up there @ 1500ft on a snowy January day

 

[y2blade]

Nice post, great pics


And not a GS in sight....lovely

 

[timeandtide]

Thanks Andrew & Ash

Thought you may recognise a few & enjoy the pics

I still enjoy getting out, even after doing it for 20 years, but much prefer summer nowadays - it'd be a bit bleak up there @ 1500ft on a snowy January day

Very good those JB.
Mich(DB1) and I were out yesterday and could certainly be tempted up your way!

 

[fritz]

Aye, another carcking day - told you it would be John if anything a wee bit too warm Cheers for the day out it WAS wonderful

The first trail - indicated off the 'new' A1 link road by a 'left-turn' sign (bloody hell, overkill or what) and traffic signs on lane end facing the new road...way way overkill.

Anyway, well overgrown, everything springs up feet this time of year.

I was waiting for some dog walker to appear in the undergrowth and give us evils so I could counter with the disgusting amount of dog shite you often find on this roads, filthy pigs (owners than is, PICK IT UP )

Ah, calmer now

 

[fritz]

Up above Grinton John gets into a 'map flap' and didn't understand my photographic efforts compared to kettling the map with him

There were tracks everywhere that could lead to a few miles of riding, but don't pass the red flags...the sound of automatic fire focussed our minds.

Loads of birds about (easy) the curlew is quite a bird close up, large and imposing.

 

[fritz]

At Reeth we saw the other side of a day out in the Dales, shame we couldn't fit the recliners on the bikes so we had to continue rather than take up an afternoon watching the cars go by....eh

oh well, each to there own

 

[fritz]

The signs we like to see, going up onto the moors, a lot of these tracks would be a fair old challenge on a big GS, lots of steep, loose inclines and a section of death defying ruts...a GS would fit in....and take all day to get back out again.

Many of the other lanes would be fine though and I'll retun two-up with Bev at some point.

Stunning scenery, few pics with John luckily without the baboon buttocks on this occassion

 

[fritz]

A great road...not bridleway in Wensleydale, absolute lovely day to be out up there, feilds glorious and lanes lined with wild flowers.

It sure helps having the right information to hand when someone questions your rights, John's a master as he's very personable and has taken the time to research in advance - as should we all to protect our activities.

It always helps to have a chat and paint a good picture for trail riding and most folk (including the ranger) appreciate what we are doing once it's all explained and often we part with frindly waves (the ones using more than one or two fingers).

It helps being on quiet bikes and travelling sensibly.

It's a shame the blame is automatically on 'our' shoulders when often it is actually misappropriated...


I was starting to worry (and burn) as time was getting on and I though John was trying to get out of buying the ices at Brymor