Mindful yesterday of impending bad weather from ex hurricane Bertha arriving on Sunday..........I decided yesterday was the day for a ride
Sat here and it's persisting it down, it was a wise move
I took the BMW 650 XCountry, fresh from its MOT on Friday, because it's so good at exploring the back lanes and byways of the Dales
Weather was bright and sunny, but it was a bit breezy.............maybe Bertha's approach
Out from home and up to Masham and onto Middleham, then up through Coverdale via Braidley and Horsehouses
As I was parked up in Horsehouses, taking the pic above a mixed group of bikes (touerers/sports bikes and Adv bikes) overtook me, but I soon caught up with them well before Park Rash and just followed them, however the F800GS rider who was tail ender - stood up for miles on end, like a Dakar racer..............quite bizarre
Down into Kettlewell, they paused so I headed south to Littondale, taking in some minor roads
and did an easy trail near Litton itself
Climbing up to Halton Gill, the views over Littondale were simply stunning
The weather was so good, I stopped and laid on the grass for 20 minutes..............just watching the 'light & the land' - a local term for the way the clouds create shadows and bright spots on the surrounding Dales Fells, like dancing shapes and fascinating to see it on a summer's day like this.
Pen Y Gent, peaking out of the clouds
Never saw another vehicle in the 20 or so minutes - peaceful bliss, just a few kites looking for a supper
This minor road takes you past, Pen Y Gent, one the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, however this is the less well known or photographed rear side of the famous Peak
Down into Stainforth and onto Horton in Ribblesdale, then the famous viaduct at Ribblehead
After that brief picture stop, I took the road back to Hawes , which sinews it way over Blea Moor and Newby Head, past Dodd Fell on the right
Coming into Hawes, there were a few Police cars as a biker had come off on the bend, just as you enter the 40 limit - he seemed to be ok and walking wounded
Hawes is a brilliant place just to watch the world go by, on a sunny summer Saturday afternoon, thronged with all manner of folk - bikers/farmers/walkers/campers/tourists - plenty of hustle and bustle
Good to wile away an hour, with an ice cream and a pot of tea............chatting to anybody or nobody, in particular
6pm came, so it was time to mosey on home, back via Aysgarth/Wensley and Middleham to Masham
Not a bad way to spend an afternoon...............about 110 miles or so, plenty of relaxing time and with a bike that average 74 mpg, all those happy miles for less than a tenner, with just enough spare change for an ice cream cornet
A cheap date, that's the BMW XCountry
Sat here and it's persisting it down, it was a wise move
I took the BMW 650 XCountry, fresh from its MOT on Friday, because it's so good at exploring the back lanes and byways of the Dales
Weather was bright and sunny, but it was a bit breezy.............maybe Bertha's approach
Out from home and up to Masham and onto Middleham, then up through Coverdale via Braidley and Horsehouses
As I was parked up in Horsehouses, taking the pic above a mixed group of bikes (touerers/sports bikes and Adv bikes) overtook me, but I soon caught up with them well before Park Rash and just followed them, however the F800GS rider who was tail ender - stood up for miles on end, like a Dakar racer..............quite bizarre
Down into Kettlewell, they paused so I headed south to Littondale, taking in some minor roads
and did an easy trail near Litton itself
Climbing up to Halton Gill, the views over Littondale were simply stunning
The weather was so good, I stopped and laid on the grass for 20 minutes..............just watching the 'light & the land' - a local term for the way the clouds create shadows and bright spots on the surrounding Dales Fells, like dancing shapes and fascinating to see it on a summer's day like this.
Pen Y Gent, peaking out of the clouds
Never saw another vehicle in the 20 or so minutes - peaceful bliss, just a few kites looking for a supper
This minor road takes you past, Pen Y Gent, one the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, however this is the less well known or photographed rear side of the famous Peak
Down into Stainforth and onto Horton in Ribblesdale, then the famous viaduct at Ribblehead
After that brief picture stop, I took the road back to Hawes , which sinews it way over Blea Moor and Newby Head, past Dodd Fell on the right
Coming into Hawes, there were a few Police cars as a biker had come off on the bend, just as you enter the 40 limit - he seemed to be ok and walking wounded
Hawes is a brilliant place just to watch the world go by, on a sunny summer Saturday afternoon, thronged with all manner of folk - bikers/farmers/walkers/campers/tourists - plenty of hustle and bustle
Good to wile away an hour, with an ice cream and a pot of tea............chatting to anybody or nobody, in particular
6pm came, so it was time to mosey on home, back via Aysgarth/Wensley and Middleham to Masham
Not a bad way to spend an afternoon...............about 110 miles or so, plenty of relaxing time and with a bike that average 74 mpg, all those happy miles for less than a tenner, with just enough spare change for an ice cream cornet
A cheap date, that's the BMW XCountry
