The Quick Quacks do the Lake District
September 2007
The plan worked at first. Mike was very nearly on time to meet me in Grays at 08.30. The next stop was the M11/A505 junction where we were to meet John and Nigel. We found John eventually and by this time were late. We thought it unlikely that Nigel was late so assumed we had missed him and headed North.
We zapped up the M11 then the A1. We were making reasonable progress up the A1(M) when I noticed there was suddenly a huge gap behind me, at least half a mile with no traffic. Then out of the traffic, in the distance, a lone rather garishly coloured car appeared. Another look in the mirrors shortly after showed it to be gaining ground on me unfeasibly quickly. Hmm, I shut the throttle and dropped to 75 fairly smartly. Yup, a little later a traffic car pulls alongside and makes slow down signs. Yes officer, I indicate.
Thereafter we had a fairly uneventful ride up the A1 to Northallerton where we picked up the A684 to Hawes. This is a nice little road. In Hawes I was a little confused as there were no road signs for Thwaite, on asking a local I needed the road to Muker. Of course. . . . The ride from here to the Tann Hill Inn was a hoot. We met Robbie here and had a fine lunch. Whilst here we discovered Nigel had turned up a little late and waited for us until 10.30, oops. .
From Tann Hill we popped up to the A66 and thence to Keswick. Here we met the motley crew that made up this group of QQs and settled into the Keswick Country House Hotel. Not a bad place, just needs redecorating.
On Saturday group 1 found itself to be very select, just 3 of us, Gary, Robbie and I. We left early, determined to break with tradition and stay ahead of group 2. The morning section was fun and bumpy. The view from the top of Honister Pass was fabulous. I stuck the bike in first and trickled down the steep descent drinking in the view. We stopped for coffee in the sheep and wool centre near Cockermouth. This place made me worry about my fellow man/woman rather more than usual……. However, we arrived before group 2 so all was well with the world.
After coffee we headed for the coast and the B5300. Things seemed to be going swimmingly well. I’m not sure exactly where, I think perhaps north of Beckfoot, Gary and I started to feel somewhat lonely. Where was Robbie? He was right there a minute ago. We turned round and retraced our route. There in the little town at the entrance to the caravan park was a stationary Ducati and a slightly more mobile Robbie. What’s that saying? Something like “Ducati: making mechanics out of motorcyclists for 60 years”. It was clearly an electrical problem and Robbie quickly traced it to some molten wires so the battery was no longer charging. I gave him the connector block that was holding my right indicator wires together and that fixed the wires. We then had to push Robbie and his bike up the sloping driveway so he could bump start the bike. Worked like a charm! Sadly during this interlude group 2 passed us, QQ runs continue true to form.
In an attempt to head the JB Panzer Brigade off at the pass we used our GPS (Gary Positioning System) to plot a back roads route to the B5301 to Aspatria and thence to the A595. A good plan but Blitzkrieg was and remains a devastating weapon, we arrived on the A595 behind group 2, Scheisse! There was only one thing for it, abandoning the noble chase we filtered past in a 30mph limit in town. Outflanking maneuvers have their uses too. Pressing our advantage we completed the dash to the Ratty Arms and obtained first class seats in the trackside “carriage”. Here we were treated to displays of nesting behavior by the lesser train spotter.
Soup and sandwiches were soon downed and we were raring to go. We stopped at the top of the road between Corney Fell and Thwaites Fell for photos and to soak up the magnificent scenery. From here to coffee in the Kirkstone Inn on the Kirkstone Pass was an absolute hoot. I thought The Struggle was great fun. We settled in for a well earned coffee. After a short while we first heard, then saw JB. He’s not stopping! We can see no quarter is to be given. I, however, had my suspicions as to where they went. This was to be confirmed a little later down at Gleridding by Ullswater. There they were enjoying ice cream by the water, but no doubt hoping to stay ahead. Too bad guys, we sailed past and I gave them a cheery wave but I think they ignored me. The run back to the hotel was great fun where we had a celebratory beer whilst watching Robbie complete the repairs to his bike.
I wandered into Keswick with Martin to buy sweets from a large and impressive sweet shop and perused other shops for pressies but most were shut. I joined Martin for a pretty fair beer (better than the hotel’s certainly) in the Oddfellows Arms I think it was. Maybe I should send CAMRA round because when I asked for a taste I was told “we don’t give it away free mate” “the accountant told us not too”. Uhuh, I hope all your pints are full pints you tight sod. My local manages and seems to be thriving, cheaper too. Anyhow, Keswick, nice place.
Dinner was good, the band was good, the company great. Another fine weekend. At the morning meeting Nigel showed us pictures of an impressive Chateau for the post September 2008 meet, impressively cheap too! Huw and Ian gave updates of their planned runs and the booking has started already.
The vaguely southern contingent were led up to Castlerigg Stone Circle, a most worthwhile detour. I love the atmosphere of these places. We then had a fun run to Kirkby Stephen and on to the A684 to Hawes. From Hawes we took a minor road to Buckden through Langstrothdale. Most picturesque, I think it's along here that the Essex boys saw the Battle of Britain flight on a previous QQ outing. I think it was through here that I had to turn up my steering damper as I got a full on tank slapper as I accelerated off a crest into a right hand turn. Keep the throttle open and don't panic..... We stopped for lunch in the George Inn in Hubberholme. What a find and most fortuitous. In Hawes GG said to me "should we stop or carry on?", the place was PACKED with bikers. No food here for an hour or two, thought I. So I said "carry on". Good decision. Good food, fair coffee, great surroundings. Going to go back I think, a walking base I deem. The run from here to Pately Bridge through Grassington was absolutely cracking but we three at the front became separated from the rest who took a detour.... We were one side of the bridge over the River Nidd (Niddersdale), the rest were the other. We waited ages for each other incommunicado (queue guitar) and I walked across the bridge to see if the others were there just as they rode over. Whilst waiting the local police had moved me on from the double yellow lines I was standing by to the car park. It's pick on PtF weekend obviously...
We were tired by now and took a pretty straight run through to the A1 and scattered at various points to find our way home. A final insult was when I approached the A1 / A14 junction I looked back to check on the traffic and where MtSR was only to look up and watch the junction slide by.... damn.... I carried on down the A1 towards London but got bored and grabbed the B1042 then the A603 to Cambridge. This was actually quite fun and woke me up nicely. I rejoined the M11 and got back home at roughly the same time as MtSR who had NOT missed the turning. Considering I stopped to fill up I feel I must chastise myself.....
Roll on May!