A wet ride north.

[SV Andy]

As that old slacker Simon has been dragging his feet in doing a report on our recent trip, I'll set the ball rolling..

The first couple of hours were among the worst weather you could ever be forced to endure on a motorcycle. Thankfully it dried out before we got into Yorkshire.

Our first stop was at a little village called Spofforth. There is an 11th Century castle there built by a French nobleman.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000274.jpg

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The next day was wet again, with lots of low cloud. The town of Pately Bridge sits in Wharfedale.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000292.jpg

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The Leeds to Liverpool canal runs through Skipton.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000308.jpg

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The best day (weather and scenery wise at least) saw us in the Lake District.
The Honister pass.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000332.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000340.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000341.jpg

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Buttermere Water.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000344.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000350.jpg

Crummock Water.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000352.jpg

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http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000370.jpg
(Look closely at the above pic, what has old Si found that is holding his attention?)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/andy_d17/P1000379.jpg

This has been my first post, and done with some coaching from Si. Blame him if you don't like anything.
Cheers!
Andy.

[supermotoC]

Andy, fantastic post (and pics). I use Wharfedale monitors - do they come from.... Wharfedale?

What's Si looking at? His own reflection? Lady of the Lake? Dropped his keys in the water? Sleeping nudist?

[Sir Limpsalot]

What's Si looking at? His own reflection? Lady of the Lake? Dropped his keys in the water? Sleeping nudist?

:eusa_clap::eusa_clap::eusa_clap:

Closer than you might think Collyer. But luckily I do have pics.

Si.

[BobFV1]

Andy -

I really enjoyed your beautiful pics. They remind me of the English weather, even in late spring/summer - "if you don't like it now, just wait a few hours."

Thanks for the great post.

[1MPH]

Andy, I believe the British Tourism Board wants to hire you.
Beautiful travelogue thanks for posting.
I'm sure Simon forgot to tell you about the obligatory food shot.
Great first post. Welcome to the Cafe.

[Deans BMW]

Andy, wow.

Welcome to the "Cafe"

[Rchop]

Wonderful pics Andy, thanks for the post :023:

[JCsman]

Fabulous pics. I particularly liked the Suzuki with the winding road though the beautiful green valley in the background. Looks like a preview of what a motorcyclist might see when he enters the pearly gates.

[martywj]

Andy,
Great pics and ride report. Thanks for sharing. Maybe one of these days we will get to a trip to your country. That is my dream vacation.
Marty

[BobFV1]

Maybe one of these days we will get to a trip to your country. That is my dream vacation.
Marty

Be careful what you wish for - the food there tastes like the charred internal organs - which is what it is all made out of . . . :pot:

[Biff's R]

Thanks for the pics Andy. Who needs to eat when you have all of this :drink::drink:

[Sir Limpsalot]

I think you've covered it pretty well,

Castle ruins shot, check. Atmospheric shots of old towns, check. Hard ridden bikes resting in the great outdoors shot, check. Stunning scenery shots, check. Anything missing? Only food and girls really..

The trip from my perspective follows.

I had an Aunt and Uncle who lived in Spofforth for many years, both sadly now deceased. Imagine waking up to this every morning.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08005.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08006.jpg

Just outside Harrogate a Texan lost some golf balls.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08011.jpg

Riding through the apalling weather we faced on the first morning, the only thing that kept me cheerful (ish) was that we'd had the good sense to book into our favourite B&B.
http://www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/stayat/greenhills/index.htm

Spotless and comfy rooms, a warm welcome and a good breakfast. Top stuff.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08013.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08061.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08062.jpg

If you're ever lucky enough to find yourself in the area, give Sue & Mike a try. You won't do better, I promise. Tell 'em Simon sent you. (They'll charge you extra and frisk you as you leave, well, they do me anyway.)

My Dad is buried in the Richmond Cemetary. An old tree next to his grave had to come down so they've planted this young Tulip tree in it's place.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08016.jpg

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The weather really made photography difficult.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08027.jpg

Another 11th C Ruin. Most of the Castles in this area were built following the Norman conquest. This is Pendragon Castle.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08021.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08025.jpg

Pately Bridge, award winning pies and the oldest sweet shop in England.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08029.jpg

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Andy spends a lot of time like this.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08072.jpg
Wow, that'd make a good avatar..

The "locals" are unconcerned by the arrival of motorcycles.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08070-1.jpg

Random shots of Skipton. The Leeds - Liverpool canal has now been restored after many years of decay.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08043.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08048.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08039.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08047.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08054.jpg

Just north of the town is this rock formation, get the angle right and it makes a good shot. People climb here (and they say motorcyclists are mad!).

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08055.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08056.jpg


We were left with a major cleaning task on the bikes.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08059.jpg

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http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08058.jpg


Some random Lakes shots.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08078.jpg

http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/?action=view&current=Lakestrip08079.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08083.jpg

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http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08094.jpg

Lastly, just what was doing in Andys pic? Taking photo's of course..

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08096.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08097.jpg

I think that's covered it.
Si.

[jamming]

And, first of all welcome! Great first post. Looks like you and Si had a great ride.

The pics are stunning. The one thing that awes me about Great Britain and the European continent is the arciticture and that the cities are seeped in tradition and local flavor.

[SV Andy]

[QUOTE=supermotoC;63988]Andy, fantastic post (and pics). I use Wharfedale monitors - do they come from.... Wharfedale?

It looks like your monitors do come from Wharfedale this link will tell you more http://www.wharfedalepro.com/Default.aspx?dsplType=3&IDMenuItem=5&IdLang=1


Hello all thanks for the great comments, food shot's been sorted thanks Si.

[DarthRider]

Thank you Sir Andrew and Sir Simon...excellent report !
One thing I always think of when seeing your pics of the old towns is how extremely difficult life must have been for the people when the towns were new. Or even very long after, I imagine.
What a beautiful, interesting country you have !
OK, now back to cleaning those machines...

[supermotoC]

Just outside Harrogate a Texan lost some golf balls.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08011.jpg


Nah, I was hitting east from the range. Was I close to the pin?

[Deans BMW]

Andy, or Si, what kind of helmet are you wearing in this pic?

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08072.jpg

Stunningly beautiful pics, what an amazing country you live in.

[BobFV1]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/thruxton120/Lakestrip08011.jpg

Harrogate - Back when I was a young pup in College out in California I amused myself with a little amateur bicycle road racing, I acquired a hand-made frame made by a Mr. Harry Quinn in Harrogate of Reynolds 531 double-butted tubes, forks, and stays. It was a masterpiece. I always liked the frame geometry and craftsmanship on the British handmade bikes - I found them to be on an even par with the Italian beauties of the day. Modern materials have taken away a lot of the craftsman's art in favor of sophisticated manufacturing processes. It's not the same any more.

[1MPH]

Simon, Nice follow up on Andys pictures.
Are those meat pies as delicious as they look?
I see Andy took your advice on the Avatar.
Thanks for posting.

[SV Andy]

Dean my helmet is made by Airoh, cost a little under 100 pounds the visor doesn't mist up and rain seems to run off the outside only needing a wipe with a glove occasionally. I think our wet run gave it a prety good test, here's a link to the web site. Andy. http://www.airoh.com/_eng/products/openface-helmets-opening/mathisse_rs_mtrst11.html

[Deans BMW]

Dean my helmet is made by Airoh, cost a little under 100 pounds the visor doesn't mist up and rain seems to run off the outside only needing a wipe with a glove occasionally. I think our wet run gave it a prety good test, here's a link to the web site. Andy. http://www.airoh.com/_eng/products/openface-helmets-opening/mathisse_rs_mtrst11.html

Thanks Andy, looks good.

[Boxerboy]

Great pics Andy...beautiful country.

Does the RAF still do low altitude training flights up thru that region? I was once on a small boat on Windermere when a jet scared the life almost out of me.

[BobFV1]

Great pics Andy...beautiful country.

Does the RAF still do low altitude training flights up thru that region? I was once on a small boat on Windermere when a jet scared the life almost out of me.

:badgrin:

Happened to me once at Loch Ness - thought I was going to crap my pants!

[Mr. Poopinshoe]

Wonderful post with all those lucious green photos. Living in Phoenix I almost forget what the color green looks like. The whole country side with castles and winding roads looks like something out of a story book.

[supermotoC]

Thanks Andy, looks good.

Dean - Airoh helmets are not (currently) available in the US. Many adventure riders grey-mkt import the Airoh S4 - lighter & cheaper than the Arai XD.

There are many great Shark/Airoh/BMW/AGV helmets we cannot get in the US.

[SV Andy]

Great pics Andy...beautiful country.

Does the RAF still do low altitude training flights up thru that region? I was once on a small boat on Windermere when a jet scared the life almost out of me.

Boxerboy, thanks as BobFV1 says they certainly do i think they use any mountainous area thats sparsely populated.