This was another early rise because the M1 Tibshelf Services northbound was the starting point. Yvonne and I left home at 0730 hrs in order to meet Jackie and Will at the Friendly Farmer. Peter (B) was due to meet us there but then rang to say he was going directly to Tibshelf. Mollie and Ed were also a possible arrival but this did not happen. As we prepared to leave, Del and Dai passed and pulled in, so making a trio of bikes. On arrival at the Mansfield by-pass we filled up at the Shell garage opposite the Sherwood pub and left with 15 minutes to get to Tibshelf. On a Sunday morning with very little traffic that should have been no problem. However, we had not counted on every traffic light being on red, and there was a hell of a lot of them! Consequently, we arrived at Tibshelf five minutes late, and after a steady cruise round the car parks it was obvious that they had gone!
“Catch them at the second pick-up (next services)” said Will, so the chase was on. As we rode along the M1 (at the speed limit of course) I was thinking about the information Ian had put on the website. I remembered that it said the second pick-up was a ‘roll through’ with anyone simply joining on as they rode through the Service area. Not much chance of making any time there then! As expected, no one was there when we arrived, so off we went again, heading north. We were up past Wakefield when I noticed Dai charging up. “Have you got a map?” he asked at speed. I always carry an A5 size map in the pannier so I pulled off at the next exit so that we could sort something out. I could remember that the first stop was at Ilkley and then along the Wharfdale valley for Bolton Abbey and Hawes, but after that it was the highest pub in GB for lunch and nothing else! Fortunately, Ilkley was on my small map so we could look for a route. As we needed to pass the Leeds Bradford airport, Dai’s idea was to follow those signs to get round Leeds and then pick up the A65 for Ilkley. This we did successfully, stopping at the first petrol station in Ilkley. On leaving, we were passing through Ilkley when an eagle-eyed Del spotted some Harleys in Booth’s car park. A quick turn around, and once inside the car park, we could recognise that the bikes belonged to Sherwood riders. We had caught them!!
After a quick cup of coffee we were off again, but now in the middle of ten other bikes. Time to relax – not! As usual, Ian’s route was up and down and round and round. The scenery was beautiful, at least what I could see of it as my eyes were kept mainly on the road! Bananaman reckoned that his back wheel slid on one of the many cattle grids we passed over, but I think he had been careless and let a banana skin fall. Just before reaching Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in Great Britain, we had to negotiate two of the sharpest and most inclined bends I’ve seen for a long time. On the way down were a large group of Aire Valley Chapter riders who had been held by Dai in order that we could get up first. Many of them and a few of us made it Pimms time; but they declined (TV advert 1).
Tan Hill is a bit bleak but they do have good widow frames and doors (TV advert 2). Inside the pub is as you would expect, but when you walk through to the back there is a large barn type room giving plenty of space for a group of riders. A nice lunch and a drink refreshed everyone enough to line up for the obligatory ‘team photo’. A friendly biker offered to take the shot so that I could get on one for a change. Cheers mate. That is, until I checked it. Nice picture of his helmet on the floor, but not of us. Check the group photograph and you will see who is missing (as usual).
Once off the ‘top’, the weather became quite warm, so when we pulled in for petrol at Marsham, most of us took the opportunity to remove a few clothes, (but not as many as some did at the Beaver!) On leaving the garage I was behind Peter (B). After a while there appeared to be something odd about his bike but I couldn’t put my finger on it. A little time after and a tap on the shoulder from Yvonne with “There’s no number plate on that bike in front” solved my problem. It must have come off on the ride from the inn to the garage because photographic evidence proved that it was still on at the inn car park! Peter is having no luck at the moment (remember Cadwell Park). The last section riding together was on to Ripon, then the A1M, leaving at exit 42 to get to the Squires Biker Cafe. This was the end point of the ride although anyone who wished to could follow Ian back to Tibshelf Services. So, after the usual farewells, individuals or small groups left to make their own way home. The three original bikes at the Friendly Farmer started together and finished together, riding down the A1 before turning towards Lincoln on the A57.
It had been an excellent day out, having everything from a chase, to good company, brilliant scenery and weather that got better as the day progressed. An unlucky number for some, but the ‘Baker’s Dozen’ of bikes on this ride-out were the lucky ones (that’s 13 for anyone who does not know Mr Baker). Thank you to everyone, especially Ian for another spectacular ride.
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