Day 1
Great Ayton to Brignall
50.3 miles with 2382ft climbing
What a start to our break! We had been planning for some time and had everything sorted,(or so we thought). Our plan was to catch the first train out of Whitby with our bikes, proceed to Great Ayton, Have breakfast at Stamps Cafe and then set out on a four day tour of North Yorkshire. It started well enough, I left home in plenty of time to freewheel down to the station where I arrived a few minutes before Mal. We boarded the train, stowed our bikes and settled down for the trip. Suddenly, Mal discovered that he had forgotten his credit card & cash. I assured him that we could manage with my card and in any case I had a sufficient cash with me. However, still uneasy he phoned his wife & asked her to run down to the station with his card. This was at about 09:40 and the train was due to leave at 09:45 so he was cutting it rather fine. Andrea, (his wife) arrived just in time to see the train leaving with Mal, sans argent on board. This was when I discovered that I had left my credit card at home too so Mal had to leave the train at the next station to walk home, collect his card cash and car, then drive to Great Ayton arriving just as I was unloading our bikes from the train.
After breakfast we set off for our first days ride to Brignall, near Barnard Castle. We anticipated a nice relaxed day with very little in the way of hills to slow us down and we were not disappointed. Our route meandered across the northern edge of Yorkshire on quiet lanes for the most part but often catching glimpses of the River Tees as it wended its way towards the sea. I was on a nostalgic trip in this area because my early years on two wheel were spent here. We paused for a few minutes at Neasham to take some photos and then carried on towards Brignall, gradually gaining height as we went, though without any of the fierce climbing that we know so well on the Yorkshire Moors.
Our final destination for the day was Lily Hill Farm. On our arrival we were met by Frank, who showed us to a very pleasant room where we settled down to enjoy a cuppa together with a home made scone. A few minutes later, Karen, the lady of the house discovered that we had been given the wrong room and a few minutes were spent sorting everything out. We decided that for our evening meal we would ride the 4 miles or so to Barnard Castle for a fish & chip supper, and very nice it was too.
After breakfast we set off for our first days ride to Brignall, near Barnard Castle. We anticipated a nice relaxed day with very little in the way of hills to slow us down and we were not disappointed. Our route meandered across the northern edge of Yorkshire on quiet lanes for the most part but often catching glimpses of the River Tees as it wended its way towards the sea. I was on a nostalgic trip in this area because my early years on two wheel were spent here. We paused for a few minutes at Neasham to take some photos and then carried on towards Brignall, gradually gaining height as we went, though without any of the fierce climbing that we know so well on the Yorkshire Moors.
Our final destination for the day was Lily Hill Farm. On our arrival we were met by Frank, who showed us to a very pleasant room where we settled down to enjoy a cuppa together with a home made scone. A few minutes later, Karen, the lady of the house discovered that we had been given the wrong room and a few minutes were spent sorting everything out. We decided that for our evening meal we would ride the 4 miles or so to Barnard Castle for a fish & chip supper, and very nice it was too.