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Post by hodgy on Sept 15, 2014 16:21:21 GMT
Following on from the fantastic ride on the SUW last Saturday it was decided to do an East Cheviots ride this coming weekend.... Although various routes were mentioned over a pint in Selkirk ...if was decided that our man on the ground in that area should be the one to come up with a route ..step forward .. Colin B.M ( the BM short for barkin mad ! ) our very own 'retired' Scottish vet ... That's vet as in vetrinarian .. not veteran.. although he qualifys as both! We thought it might be a nice touch in case we have to send him packing if the referendum result goes the wrong way on Thursday ! I don't have any details of the ride just yet but will post once I do ....
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Post by hodgy on Sept 16, 2014 17:39:02 GMT
Ok ...our resident madman vet ...Colin has been in touch via email and is being very coy as to where he is taking us on Saturday..lets just say it is a magical mystery tour which starts just a little bit south west of Wooler at the car park near to Middleton Hall grid ref. O.S.Landranger 995 257. which is a picnic site with loos! I have absolutely no idea which way he is taking us ( he probably at this point in time has no idea himself ) but I can promise that which ever direction we head off in it will lead to some cracking mountain biking and that is from personal experience...we should already have at least six confirmed starters...but if anyone would care to join us out there in MTB-UK land you would be more than welcome. Kick off is at 10.00am ...so get there a little earlier...oh ..Colin mentioned to bring a spare pair of socks to carry with you so that must mean at least one ford crossing...also some sarnies ...sorry sandwiches if you will..and expect a relaxed pace ..we go out for the day...other than that all I can tell you in Colin's words is that "it is a wee tour of various valleys"...stroll on ....
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Post by Jimbo on Sept 16, 2014 21:30:01 GMT
Wish I lived closer.
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Post by andyr on Sept 19, 2014 11:46:52 GMT
Neil,
Much as I would live to come along mini-me #2 has yet to arrive and the mrs cannot look after Nathan on her own. Whilst I could bring him along I think he'd get a bit bored...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2014 13:31:13 GMT
I'm just confirming my confirmation. Now all I have to decide is will it be baggy or clingy... that should give you some unpleasant mental images for the afternoon. See you there Good luck Mrs & Andy, see you in five years then.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 19, 2014 14:55:25 GMT
Neil, Much as I would live to come along mini-me #2 has yet to arrive and the mrs cannot look after Nathan on her own. Whilst I could bring him along I think he'd get a bit bored... Crikey at this rate she will be holding on until Christmas! Fully understood though! Nice to see you found the website... Catch up soon !
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Post by hodgy on Sept 19, 2014 14:57:02 GMT
I'm just confirming my confirmation. Now all I have to decide is will it be baggy or clingy... that should give you some unpleasant mental images for the afternoon. See you there Good luck Mrs & Andy, see you in five years then. Looks like rain ... You'll shrivel in Lycra !
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Post by ant on Sept 21, 2014 7:47:38 GMT
Excellent day out yesterday, ride, and company only downside was i lost one of my new gloves' you haven't seen it by any chance Hodgy ? Cheers
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 8:45:46 GMT
Having contacted me the previous evening ..I had the luxury of a lift from my door courtesy of Ant Carr who lives in the same village and at just shy of 50 was the youngster for the day ... Well at least among the men as Jean is just 32....( phew got outta that one quick!) . We made good time ...even with a stop off in Rothbury ( some of you daan sauuff might remember this village made national news a few years back .. Remember Raul Moat) for Ant to get a bacon sarnie from the bakers .. The only other stop was to re-direct an Italian Mafia Don to the start point ..having decided in his own mind that where he was would do ...some 2 miles from the actual car park where we were meeting . Think I will see if I can get my hands on some vitamin B12... ( it helps towards memory loss !) Dave and Jean were already there with news from Mr Sleepy (Gramish) that he had slept in and wouldn't make the ride ..I read into that ...couldn't find his baggies and didn't want the piss-take. Our glorious leader for the day CBM... As usual arrived half an hour after anyone else...but sporting a brand new Scott Spark Carbon 650b...very nice... With Ant also unveiling to the group his Orange 5 .650b in a very fluro orange ..which although being bought a few months ago was new to most of us . And so to the ride which started with a bit of a road climb through Earle and passing through 2 closely packed hills Walkerwalls and Earle Whin which give an almost alpine feel as you make your way up to Wooler Common where the ride starts proper on the rough stuff across the moor towards Broadstruther and a range of Cheviot hills come into view . The gentle climbing is soon rudely interrupted as the bridleway changes direction and skirts some woodland on a rough, steep clatter down towards the Carey Burn below .. Before a steep climb out and a hillside traverse to Broadstruther itself .. A recently converted ruin ..now a well appointed shooters cottage. After a nana break the bridleway steadily climbs over the moor to the ridge line between Broadhope Hill and Coldlaw meeting an extended shooters track over the top for a very steep rocky clatter down the other side. It's very easy to get carried away on this ... But to do so would mean missing the highlight of the whole ride as the course of the actual b.way diverts off to the left and is above the road itself by a couple of metres .. Meaning you have to lift the bike onto it .. What then follows is one of the skinniest bridleway descents you will ever undertake..no more than a sheep-track in places ...off camber ..and at this time of year bar height bracken on either side . This came as a blessing ...disguising as it did the sheer drop off to the right if things went tits up ...Ant putting a marker down in terms of speed with myself and Dave in close attendance..less than 1k in total ... But in itself worth the effort of the whole of the ride! This put us in the Langlee Valley where a climb and a moorland crossing past the impressive Langlee and Middleton Craggs to Threestoneburn House..a lunch stop and then an estate track down to the Dod farm and a great traverse over Ilderton Moor with another fantastic grassy descent on undulating terrain to Ilderton itself where a good track with a couple of ford crossings eventually morphs into that smooth blackstuff to get us back to the start. Another great ride with thanks to Colin, Dave& Jean, Don Jaconnelli ..and grateful thanks to Ant for the lift and all for there usual excellent craic! The Tankerville Arms Hotel on the outskirts of Wooler provided the location for the post ride pint and p- take !
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 8:59:50 GMT
Ant ...sorry ..had a good look through my kit .. It's not with me.. Hope it turns up
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 10:34:17 GMT
In case you are thinking my marbles have gone ... The pics which I said I would post are taking an eternity to upload from photo bucket ......
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2014 10:54:30 GMT
In case you are thinking my marbles have gone ... The pics which I said I would post are taking an eternity to upload from photo bucket ...... Sounds like a great day - incidentally I have always used Tinypic - upload photos in seconds to here.
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Post by davet on Sept 21, 2014 11:01:18 GMT
Excellent ride out in some wonderful country, thanks to all, good banter as usual and special thanks to Colin for leading us.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 11:10:41 GMT
Talisker....at last ...short sharp and to the point but at least you are on here now...
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 11:15:12 GMT
In case you are thinking my marbles have gone ... The pics which I said I would post are taking an eternity to upload from photo bucket ...... Sounds like a great day - incidentally I have always used Tinypic - upload photos in seconds to here. Jaysus Zulu Do you know how long it took me to get photo bucket .. And now you are asking me to try something else...seriously the phone would end up down the loo at the first sign of something going wrong ... ?
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 13:52:25 GMT
The gap between the trees in the distance hides the rocky clatter down to the Carey Burn below ... With the trail running parallel to the burn
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 13:56:49 GMT
Bridge...what bridge? Mr.Ant.Carr...proving that the easy option is no option at all !
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 13:58:45 GMT
Ant ...climbing away from the burn
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:00:37 GMT
Barkin mad ....arriving at Broadstruther
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:06:21 GMT
The end of the fantastic singletrack drop into the Langlee Valley.... I had just sent Dave back up the track for this shot ...when the others appeared on the horizon
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:08:20 GMT
Next up ... The Don .. Paul Jaconnelli
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:10:07 GMT
Jean followed closely by CBM
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:12:12 GMT
And finally The Laird Barwise Munro
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:15:02 GMT
Looking back to where we had come from
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Post by hodgy on Sept 21, 2014 14:16:45 GMT
Underneath the Langlee Craggs
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