Rant

So the CEO of RBS thinks that making a thumping great £multi-million loss (twice that of last year) is a sign of success, and therefore justifies paying out even more in bonuses, despite the people that actually own the company (and take the risks) getting nothing. I suspect that if I approached them with a similar business model and requested a loan I would get shown the door?

Here's to the crazy ones...

I had forgotten this...

"

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

"

I'm loving the book 'Steve Jobs'. (Thanks Marg XX) Some have said it's hard to like Steve Jobs after reading this book. I disagree. What is hard is not to thank him for caring so much about the products and experiences that Apple has enabled us to have. Thanks for for reality distortion field Steve.

A Sting in the Trail - Day 5

DAY 5 - STANHOPE TO SUNDERLAND

After the debacle of the previous day and still suffering from the disappointment of having to seriously depart from our intended route, we set off on the final leg of the journey in good weather, confident that the worst was now behind us.

Apart from a daunting but ridable (makes a change) climb up Crawley Side out of Stanhope, from then on it was 35 miles of mostly downhill with the wind behind us. Our route took us along Waskerley Way, a disused railway track now cycleway over the spectacular Howns farm viaduct, beyond which the route changes its name to the Consett to Sunderland Railway path.

Apart from crossing a couple of roads, this is a stretch of pleasant cycleway and footpath, complete with sculptures. A short climb at Cox Green where we cross the River Wear to join up with the River Wear Trail for the last three miles of the railway path and eventually the track gives way to tarmac three miles from the coast. Across the river again here and we head for the north pier at Roker, and nearly a mile along the pier to the lighthouse, and we're there!

 

After a pleasant evening in a motel just outside Durham and yet more Theakston's, we travelled back to Newport on the Tuesday, dropping Chris off in the Midlands and returning the bikes back to Saracen. It must be said that the bike served us well over some difficult and testing terrain and suffered no mechanical failures whatsoever and not even a puncture between us.

The task was then to set about collecting the money people so generously pledged, particularly the staff of Newport Council. We raised in excess of £1,000 for the Stroke Association and we were well pleased with that. I would like to thank my fellow rider Chris Moody and Ashley Davenport for their support and companionship, in particular to Chris for his planning and organisation. The three of us would like to thank Paul Crumpton and Sarah Thackaray for driving the support vehicle and 'being there'

We would also like to thank......

SARACEN MOUNTAIN BIKES of Warwick for the loan of the excellent Sahara Elite front suspension bikes, spares and clothing.

PEDALAWAY, Llangarron for the saddle bags and bar bags.

THE HANDMADE FLAPJACK COMPANY of Coventry for their generous donation of my favourite food in assorted flavours!

W BEN EVANS CHEMISTS, Caerleon Road, Newport for the First Aid materials.

SPAR SUPERMARKET, Caerleon Road, Newport for Mars Bars, Lucosade Sport Isotonic drinks and Bananas.

McCANN ERICKSON for the mobile phone.

ROBERT BROWN for the cellnet phone.

STANDARD TRAFFIC SIGNS, Newport for the decals on the support vehicle.

DEREK PURDY & ADRIAN GIDNEY for researching the route (although there must have been times hen their ears were burning!) and MOUNTAIN BIKING UK for publishing the route details.

A Sting in the Trail - Day 4

DAY 4 - DUFTON TO STANHOPE

It had rained all through the night and was still raining early morning. The forecast was for continued rain throughout the day and cloud cover at 1,000ft. We knew that our route over the northern Pennines that reared up before us would take us above this and therefore knew conditions would be poor. Wet weather gear on, we soon began the climb just out of Kirkland. Initially there was a good farm track, but it started to bite after a few miles. Unfortunately we were going against the grain of the strata which made it more difficult and we were again reduced to walking. By now the rain was driving and visibility decreasing as we continued to climb. As we reach the top, visibility is no more than 50m.

It was becoming difficult to distinguish track from stream owing to the volume of water coming off the fells. What should have been a well-defined track that linked to the Pennine Way above Cross Fell suddenly disappeared, with no obvious route in any direction except the way we had come. It was here that we make a foolish error of judgement. Instead of re-tracing our route to see if we had missed a turning, or taking account of the appalling conditions in such a bleak location and resolving to complete this section by road, we continue in the direction the route should have taken us by compass bearings in an effort to recover the track.

Lost in mist near Cross Fell!

The next four hours proved to be the most miserable and desperate I've ever spent as we push the bikes, which by now were becoming a serious hinderence to our progress. We wander for six miles like this and were by now well and truly lost, with no features to pinpoint our position on the map. The only option was to take a direction that would bring us down from this dreadful place (who said Hell had to be hot!) which was to be north-east. After what seemed like a lifetime and with constant detours around deep gullies we came upon a dry stone wall. Somehow making the correct decision as to which direction to follow the wall, we begin to descend. Our spirits rising, we eventually drop below the mist and see a tarmac road below us. Never can mountain bikes have been so please to see tarmac!

After much needed cups of tea in an oasis of a cafe, we get our bearings and are shocked to see just how far north we are of our anticipated position we really were. We make our way to Stanhope by road and arrive safely though somewhat late at our accommodation - the Queens Head - and it sells Theakston's

Day 5 (final day).....

A Sting in the Trail - Day 3

DAY 3 - AMBLESIDE TO DUFTON

The morning greets us with fine weather so we stow the wet weather gear and reassemble the bikes. The first few miles out of Ambleside are a mixture of good farm roads and bridleway to Troutbeck, with a superb view over Windemere on the way.  Out of Troutbeck our route takes us to High Street, an ancient road first documented by the Romans and used by traders and drovers.

Chris heading for the top of Yoke!

Here we are to make our first navigational mistake. We are not sure how we managed to miss it, but we know now that the bridleway split, with High Street proper following the valley before making its ascent. We took the higher route, perhaps through following the many walkers that were out that day.

This route was to take us along the ridge line, up and over at least three crags, and whilst the views it afforded us were good, the going was difficult after the rain of the previous night and it was back to shouldering the bikes. It was not until we were within a mile of rejoining the correct route that a walker enquired as to our presence on a footpath. After studying the map further we realised our mistake. A look back along the route we had just taken and we were not in the best of humour after our efforts. Chris commented to the walker that it didn't make much difference us being on the footpath as we had carried the bikes for the last six miles!

Chris and I enjoy the view over Kentmere reservoir

Picking up the route again at Thornwaite Beacon, we climb steadily, now thankfully on the bikes to the summit of High Street (828m) the highest point on the whole ride. From this ridge there is an incredible view of Haweswater reservoir as we ride the straits of Riggindale, bearing right towards High Raise. Here you get an amazing feeling of height and space. Thereafter the plateau ride was mainly downhill, but crossed by boggy strips where, if the wrong route is chosen results in almost sunken bike - guess who always took the wrong route!

Across Loadpot Hill we start the long descent down to Askham, cross over the M6, through Temple Sowerby and on to the Youth Hostel at Dufton. Lo and behold the only pub in Dufton happens to be right opposite the Youth Hostel, and after more Theakston's and darts, we retire to our bunks for a well-earned rest.

Day 4.....

A Sting in the Trail - Day 2

DAY 2 - WASDALE HEAD TO AMBLESIDE

Me shouldering my back on the long climb out of
Wasdale Head to Sty Head

With a little trepidation, but the advantage of a full English breakfast, we set off for on the next leg, to Ambleside. Notwithstanding the description of the route in the magazine, and a study of the map and the converging contour lines, there was no substitute for the real thing to convince us of our task. A few miles along Lingmell Beck we started the gradual, but nevertheless unridable climb up to Sty Head.

By this time we literally had our heads in the clouds, so no views to compensate for the climb. Alas, when we reached Sty Head the climb wasn't over. There was another 260m of height to be gained before we reached Esk Hause at 75m. This was to be where Ashley achieved an incredible 'head plant' after failing to successfully negotiate a stream, resulting in his bike being stuck vertically, wheel deep in mud, his feet firmly in attached to his pedals and him forming a human bridge over the water!

Chris and Ashley negotiate the rocky climb down Rossett Gill

After a technical, loose downhill there was another climb up to Rossett Pike. Unfortunately there was not to be the usual reward for gaining so much altitude as the downhill into Mickleden is an incredibly broken and rocky climb-down the top section of Rossett Gill. The well worn track along the valley bottom had been 'improved' by the addition of loose stones. This made it drier but not any easier for walkers and even more difficult for bikes - thank heaven for the suspension!

A welcome sight along the valley is the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. After an orange juice and lemonade (no not a pint of Theakstone's, though the temptation was real) and a short rest, we continued, with the onset of rain, with the remaining section to Ambleside and the Youth Hostel on the banks of Windemere. 

Arrival at Ambleside Youth Hostel

The rain was forecast to continue throughout the night and the following day so we were resigned to the prospect of wearing waterproofs for day three. We spent an our or so on some routine maintenance on the bikes and lubricate the now dry chain and gears. In the absence of any secure storage for the bikes, they had to be partially dismantled and locked in the van for the evening.

Day 3 .....