trac club ride report - hawes 20/11/05

Riders met up in the cafe in Hawes on a clear, crisp morning before unloading vans from the car park opposite. Paul was colour co-ordinated in blue to match his shiny new gas gas, which like all the bikes were not to stay clean for long. Evan had a new bit of bling for his bike-a handlebar controlled chain oiler. No one wanted to ride in the oil slick so Evan had to ride as back marker. Mark had the first puncture of the day before leaving the car park-his camel back had sprung a leak.

After topping up with fuel we followed part of the coast to coast route used in may and made for Appersett and towards Hardraw Force before turning left onto the Pennine Way. Heading steeply uphill before dropping down through a forest and fording a stream back on to tarmac was a taste of things to come, with icy ruts and frozen turf making for interesting (hairy) riding requiring maximum concentration.

Back to the A684 and a close look at Lady Anne's Lane - Anton gave us a history lesson about how the lane was named, apparently it was used by some rich old bird to pay wages to the hired hands, but who would live up there I don't know. Although this had apparently been repaired, it  was already cutting up badly up due to riders struggling to ride up it from the Hawes end. It was therefore decided to carry on up the road towards Kirkby Stephen, again following the c to c route and leaving the road at Shaw Paddock map ref 7853 9514. It was only when we got to the other end at Hell Gill that there was a sign saying this has a tro until 18/3/06. I think Nick is to post further details showing alternative route on trac website. It did need some drainage work though, Anton's bike disappeared into a bog like he was riding a horse that was shot from under him. We turned right and followed the lane back towards Hawes which gave a mixture of easy well sufaced trails with easy river crossing to incredibly icy bits and the drop down the last bit which was deep muddy ruts which was a challenge to ride down never mind up.

 Nick shared his flask of coffee while Anton and Evan plotted the next bit using a combination of local knowledge, maps, gps and the drift of smoke from Evans roll ups. We next did some roadwork (in freezing fog) which took us past Dent Station and round the back of Whernside from Dentdale onto Great Wold. The first bit off the tarmac was tricky with most needing some assistance and everyone certainly warming up again with the effort. Up onto the top past some walkers who were having difficulty steering their walking poles to one side to let us pass and again onto frozen grass, ice and icy ruts. Adam did a good Torvill and Dean impersonation skating along about 30 meters of ice before piroueting and laying the bike (Jayne) down elegantly while he remained on his feet. I came down a bit harder and fractured a small bone in my hand which made the descent to Ribblehead rather painful (I'm blaming a crap front tyre). I was relieved to get to the butty van near the viaduct and after a tea and mars bar I went back on the road to Hawes leaving the team to finish their burgers before doing the last trail across Cam Fell and down into Hawes before dark.

Ian O'Brien