and i'm feeling a bit more energised!

There is a lot to catch you up with starting of course, last Wednesday. I was up with the larks, everything was packed already but i didn't want to get into a last minute tiz! It was a glorious day which made the six hour journey north to Leeds more visually appealing if you can say that about a motorway journey. Eventually we reached GOC, a brief stop at Sheffield then up past the tallest freestanding structure in the UK, the 319m tall Emley Moor TV/radio tower (which is built at 275m asl), and on to chav city Yorkshire style, Leeds.

It was great to have some extra time with the kids, the sofa far more comfortable than camping!

Thursday was a sort of realignment exercise. My original plan was to drop down from Swaledale to the campsite on the edge of the North York Moors, instead i was coming from the south past Harrogate through Knaresborough and Boroughbridge to join the original route at Thirsk. The morning was bright, it was good to be riding in Yorkshire again even if it wasn't quite what i had planned. The roads bobbed across the easternmost lumps of the Dales before reaching the Vale of York, a mostly level tract used by road and rail routes going north/south as well as the Swale, Ure and Nidd rivers as they head towards a rename and GOC's capital city, York.

By the time i reached Thirsk it was getting quite warm but despite that, knowing i was self catering at the campsite, i had a huge serving of pie and chips for lunch. As the crow flies its only about 10km on to the campsite but the road is thankfully not straight, i say thankfully, its a climb of @ 260m , the last bit being a veritable cliff! The road routes sway about on their approach which takes out some of the sting but even so, grades of at least 25% are still required to breach the summit. Rather than the busy main road, i took the quieter lanes to the north which were still hard work with a well loaded bike, i'll admit to walking the steepest pitch near the top, there being no prize for grunting up on two wheels.

The campsite was glorious, cheap (always a plus), quiet and surrounded by great views and tons of wildlife. Okay, it might not be to everyones taste but i was quite content to sit in the evening sun watching the wagtails flitting about, the curlews kicking up a rumpus and i even saw a hare calmly hopping about.

Day two was the ride down to York but not before a short stop at Rievaulx Abbey. Then it was on through Helmsley before the surprisingly lumpy journey through the Hambledon Hills. I arrived in the city a little after two and at the rally site by half past. And so commenced a weekend of meeting old friends, watching the racing, eating and drinking - and sleeping in a tiny tent to boot! Sunday was a break from two wheel frivolity as i spent the day with my kids, doing a circuit of Yorks cuty wall under the blazing sun. There was ice cream of course but that did little for my sore feet.

Monday came all too soon, an early start for the ride to Sheffield in the hope of missing some of the heat forecast. I've used many routes for this journey over the years but this was a new one which i hoped would avoid some of the exposed roads of the Doncaster Moors. After breakfast at Selby i started on this new route, it added some distance, climbing and regular map stops but i made my Askern tea break about when i thought.

From there i used a new to me bike track to miss Doncaster before tackling the big climb of the day up to Micklebring, from whence Sheffield can be seen on the horizon. It was certainly quite warm by the time i reached my destination, a quick shower and change then it was off to find the parent. By the time i got back i was well tired. So there's no new news to report other than a move from the nursing home back to the bungalow.

And Tuesday was slated for stuff relating to that move, delivery of a hospital bed and other stuff to allow Pater to return home. That all happened much earlier than i expected so i had time to go to the Swedish Shop for a mooch and lunch taking in the canal towpath to reach and return from the store.

I had today organised, a morning ride then stop to see the ol' codger on the way back, however that all changed as they decided to take him on an excursion to the hospital for more tests. So instead i took a ride out into the Peak District, Ladybower was looking great but instead of climbing back past Stanage to drop back into the city, i took the less steep but longer option to come in past my old home. It only came to just over 60km but that included best part of 800m of up - i only need another 1000m to finish the challenge, the challenge now being doing that by Sunday.

So there you have it, we're up to date on my travels, it might be after the weekend before i return to Brizzle as there is stuff to sort out regarding my fathers return home, more furniture moving for sure.

I'll bring you all the latest at the weekend, but for now,
Wiedersehn,
Madeline Anafrid