Day 4
Coxwold to Whitby
48.2 miles with 3,422 ft of climbing
We expected our last day to be tough, taking in some hard climbing on the North Yorkshire Moors but at least weather wise, it promised to be a fine day with clear sky's and what breeze there was would be in our favour. Within what seemed to be only a few minutes we came to a view overlooking Byland Abbey so an early photo stop seemed in order, the views from the road were ample for our purpose so we had no need to look for viewpoints. The abbey is, or rather, was quite an impressive building and must have been awe inspiring to the ordinary people of the day and I often wonder what they thought of it and did they even get the opportunity to go inside.
A few minutes later, we passed another abbey at Ampleforth, this abbey & the attached school is still very much in use today and is home to around 50 monks.
Not long after leaving Ampleforth we joined the main road to Helmsley and for the first time since leaving home we experienced some heavier traffic. When we arrived at Helmsley, Mal wanted to do a little shopping but unfortunately, while he was inside the shop his bike was blown over by the wind, resulting in a bent hanger. We found the nearest bike shop to us was Big Bear Bikes at Pickering which was about an hour away. Mal's bike was still rideable but he could not select his bottom gear so off we went to see the Big Bear. As I expected they did not have the correct hanger in stock but the gentleman could not have been more helpful, He gave the bike a quick check over and adjusted the limit screw so Mal would not accidentally select bottom gear and destroy his wheel before sending us on our way without charge.
From Pickering we took the Stape road, pausing at the ford over Rutmoor Beck before pushing on over Wheeldale Gill and up to Murk Mire Moor. From there we had a fantastic wizz down to Egton Bridge where we stopped at the Postgate Inn for a refreshing drink. Afterwards, we walked up Egton Bank, (the first time that I ever remember Mal walking up a hill) where we then joined one of our regular routes along Aislabyside then back to Whitby.
A few minutes later, we passed another abbey at Ampleforth, this abbey & the attached school is still very much in use today and is home to around 50 monks.
Not long after leaving Ampleforth we joined the main road to Helmsley and for the first time since leaving home we experienced some heavier traffic. When we arrived at Helmsley, Mal wanted to do a little shopping but unfortunately, while he was inside the shop his bike was blown over by the wind, resulting in a bent hanger. We found the nearest bike shop to us was Big Bear Bikes at Pickering which was about an hour away. Mal's bike was still rideable but he could not select his bottom gear so off we went to see the Big Bear. As I expected they did not have the correct hanger in stock but the gentleman could not have been more helpful, He gave the bike a quick check over and adjusted the limit screw so Mal would not accidentally select bottom gear and destroy his wheel before sending us on our way without charge.
From Pickering we took the Stape road, pausing at the ford over Rutmoor Beck before pushing on over Wheeldale Gill and up to Murk Mire Moor. From there we had a fantastic wizz down to Egton Bridge where we stopped at the Postgate Inn for a refreshing drink. Afterwards, we walked up Egton Bank, (the first time that I ever remember Mal walking up a hill) where we then joined one of our regular routes along Aislabyside then back to Whitby.