*GS Event* Kelso weekend 17 to 19 April

[Rev Chuck]

Personally I liked the badge on Mikey's fleece.
And you could put the forum name underneath it.
But I think it may well have been done before.

 

[retroman]

Papahayd and I returned home yesterday, a great weekend, thanks to all, especially Baz for the Saturday Rideout to places we'd not seen before.

We broke our journey on the way up at Appletreewick, staying at the New Inn. I last stayed 21 here years ago and it's gone somewhat upmarket, but it was absolutely superb, especially the breakfast. I was sorry to learn that the guy who used to run the place (? John) a keen mountain biker, passed away a few years back.



Wonderful to be woken in the night by an Owl hooting, then a Curlew crying as our alarm clock.



Our bikes. My first outing with my new(old) TT panniers, bought onboard this forum.

Just down the road is the amazing Craven Arms Hotel, with a full complement of Real Ales and four roaring log fires, including this wonderful old Range with obligatory Labrador.



Retroman approves.

 

[retroman]

The next day and onto Kelso, I did take a few photos but everyone is always on their phones these days, so didn't bother keeping them!!

In Stanhope I asked directions to a decent cafe from a giggling Yummy Mummy, it did not disappoint.



Hayden gets stuck into a rather good fishfinger sandwich. I made do with an enormous slice of Biscoff Cheesecake.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Fish Finger Sarnie looks a solid 7/10

But the one from Marshalls Cafe where we stopped, south of Berwick on Saturday, (that Baker had??) looked epic !

 

[retroman]

We met up with the team at the arranged RV, 17:00 in the 1905 Bar. Nice to meet some new folk and others we've met before.

These two were on at Cobbles, just around the corner.



Returning back to our AirBnB to find a bleddy pigeon had got in, flying around in a panic, dropping feathers and shit everywhere. I played Dastardly in a game of Catch the Pigeon, whilst Hayden laughed like Mutley and took photos before I cornered and ejected it. We named him Pedro and were amused to see that he stuck around for the next few days, he clearly liked us.



The next day and the rideout, I've never been to Lindisfarne and the tide was against us for the Causeway, JohnnyBravo did give it a go and returned with wet feet, not sure how far he got??!! Sod that for a game of soldiers.



Back to Kelso and a wonderful pint of Fyne Ales Jarl at Rutherfords's, which became my favourite Kelso pub over the weekend.

 

[retroman]

On Sunday, H and I took the backroads to Moffat via St Mary's Loch, what wonderful motorcycling country this is.



Again, very few photos, we were too busy enjoying the ride.

The following day we departed Kelso for Pickering in the North Yorkshire Moors, again via B roads that took us over the North Pennines. This is south of Stanhope I believe.



We stayed at The Old Manse in Pickering, a grand old B&B, extremely comfortable with a warm welcome from Val the owner and her lovely staff. Great breakfast too, apparently this place is very popular with Classic Car enthusiasts on their regular meets. Secure parking around the back is a bonus.



Best fish and chips either of us have ever had at Cappelman's Fish Bar, deep cooked in Beef Dripping, my absolute Lords, three days off the end of my life but worth it.



Another highlight in Pickering is the wonderful Sun Inn, which is a Real Ale lover's paradise. H prefers his beer in Keg Craft format which is not catered for, hence the expression.



We headed home on Monday via B roads to the Humber Bridge (a first for both of us, so it had to be done), nice clear roads, even the motorways south of there were fine, so arrival back home (Hampshire and Cardiff) was at a reasonable hour.

Another great weekend, fantastic riding, amazingly the weather gods smiled heartily upon us, looking forward to the next one. Cheers chaps

 

[Northern jock]

Bike finally washed after the weekend

 

[PapaHayd]

1398 miles door to door and a great tour. Some of my photos to accompany @retroman’s post.

Spotted - Appletreewick






Accommodation - Kelso. (Bikes too fat to fit through the gate!)


Crossing paths in a random cafe heading south!


North Pennines… somewhere



Bodge - wanted post incoming

 

[mspenz]

That was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, massive thanks to Alastair for organising.
It was great to see some of the usual suspects again, and also some new ( younger ) faces ..

The ride down on Friday was probably one of the worse trips I've had in a while..rain, gales, roadworks and traffic..but eventually some sunshine once closer to Kelso.
Myself and Maureen decided to head West on Sunday morning, taking all the small roads to Ardrossan, then ferry to Arran with a night in the Lochranza Inn.
Another ferry to Kintyre on Monday before heading to Tayvallich, and a night in a camping pod..some beer was enjoyed and the sun actually made an appearance !
Home via Inverary, Dalmally, Tyndrum ( for a bacon roll ), Glencoe, Fort Bill, Aviemore and others. Dry and bright, but chuffing cold .

No photos, my phone camera focus has gone bad, and I didn't record mileage, but it was a reasonable run around..happy days

 

[Rev Chuck]

Question for all you guys who were staying in the Edna’s House hotel - no-one mentioned getting into the wedding on the Saturday night or was that missed because your memories failed?

 

[mspenz]

I don't recall seeing any wedding related activities, other than a car in the car park covered in balloons

 

[Santa-2512]

All I can tell you about sat night at the Ednam

There was a very large table set for a private event, and they managed to loose my table booking for Saturday night

But as others said , some decorations on a car

Wedding, nope I didn't see a thing

 

[Doc]

That was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, massive thanks to Alastair for organising.
It was great to see some of the usual suspects again, and also some new ( younger ) faces ..

The ride down on Friday was probably one of the worse trips I've had in a while..rain, gales, roadworks and traffic..but eventually some sunshine once closer to Kelso.
Myself and Maureen decided to head West on Sunday morning, taking all the small roads to Ardrossan, then ferry to Arran with a night in the Lochranza Inn.
Another ferry to Kintyre on Monday before heading to Tayvallich, and a night in a camping pod..some beer was enjoyed and the sun actually made an appearance !
Home via Inverary, Dalmally, Tyndrum ( for a bacon roll ), Glencoe, Fort Bill, Aviemore and others. Dry and bright, but chuffing cold .

No photos, my phone camera focus has gone bad, and I didn't record mileage, but it was a reasonable run around..happy days

Good to see you and your lass again pal. Keep us posted on your travels.

 

[Wrinkly]

Question for all you guys who were staying in the Edna’s House hotel - no-one mentioned getting into the wedding on the Saturday night or was that missed because your memories failed?

Had a couple in the bar after getting back. I didn't see any wedding celebrations.

 

[fatbaldbob]

Had a couple in the bar after getting back. I didn't see any wedding celebrations.

I thought all celebrations stopped after you get married, or is just me

 

[Northern jock]

All I can tell you about sat night at the Ednam

There was a very large table set for a private event, and they managed to loose my table booking for Saturday night

But as others said , some decorations on a car

Wedding, nope I didn't see a thing

The large table was set for breakfast on Monday morning but it sounded more like a walking group than a wedding party

Bags ‘droit de seigneur’

Simon should know if there was a wedding

 

[retroman]

I should have mentioned in the above, SatNav took us south through the Kielder Forest on a fantastic road, but there was a road closure in place. Like the TransAlp boys, H & I have always regarded closures as a challenge, so gave it a go.

On the approach to the closure we spoke to a local Coalman who advised that the closure was actually a river bridge and suggested an alternative. We avoided the closure via a superb single track gated lane, speaking with the TransAlp team later at Hexham, turns out this was not the recommended diversion!

Nay worries, it was epic. Gravel in places. Tempted to write a book.

 

[simondippenhall]

I should have mentioned in the above, SatNav took us south through the Kielder Forest on a fantastic road, but there was a road closure in place. Like the TransAlp boys, H & I have always regarded closures as a challenge, so gave it a go.

On the approach to the closure we spoke to a local Coalman who advised that the closure was actually a river bridge and suggested an alternative. We avoided the closure via a superb single track gated lane, speaking with the TransAlp team later at Hexham, turns out this was not the recommended diversion!

Nay worries, it was epic. Gravel in places. Tempted to write a book.View attachment 497861

As one of 'the Transalp team' along with @nick may I say it was great to bump into you two at the subsequent lunch stop. We also enjoyed a very scenic diversion through Kielder, and earlier in our trip up to Kelso a 'Road Closed' sign en route to Buttertubs gave us the chance to thread our way along a "Pedestrian only" section of the closure....Nick with his panniers behind me did well to get through.

Great to meet you all, the time went all too soon so sorry not to have met and chatted with everyone. Next time, hopefully.

And to my amazement, in our 8 day road trip we only rode in the rain for one morning (unfortunately that was the Lake District crossing of Wrynose and Hardknott passes, and as the visibility was very limited we decided to skip Honister Pass thereafter). Conditions were such that one of the bikes blew off its stand...