Christmas Coach Ramble 2011

We always used to go on the Coach Rambles but they got more expensive and Peter got three slipped discs and we got a major dose of CBA where these were concerned so we got out of the habit.

However Isobel has been nattering at me to join in again so I got my (very late) finger out and booked to co on the Christmas walk. Last Friday I almost wished I hadn't as it was snowing and sleeting and hailing all day and Saturday it rained, a lot!

Sunday morning I had got everything sorted and off we went. There were several people who got on the coach in Bradford and we were warmly welcomed back after an absence of err 11 months!

Isobel decided she was going to do the A walk which was about 10 miles but I wasn't confident about walking so far at the moment so opted for the B walk of 6 miles especially as when we pulled into Giggleswick Station car park it was raining cats and dogs. The A walk set off from there and we were dropped in Settle car park. It was still precipitating it down when we set off and boy was it wet and muddy underfoot!

When we got to the weir we were amazed at the amount of water coming over it and the force of it. I was glad I was NOT canoeing over that one.



The river coming down from the top of the picture is normally just a small beck.

The walk was pleasant but uneventful. I got to talk to lots of different people about lots of different things. I caught up with peoples lives in the last year and as we plodded back to Settle I was glad we had done the walk.

I got changed at the side of the coach as I am not shy that way! We then went to the Falcon Crest Hotel to start the festivities. We usually have a meal and a dance but this year was a new venue and we didn't have dancing facilities. Oh well never mind.

The meal was nothing special but nothing awful either. The we had a multiple faceted quiz. This descended into much chaos as we were supposed to swap the picture quiz with a neighbouring table and we ended up with it going all wrong! One of the tables didn't swap correctly. What a scream. Then we ran out of time as the coach driver had to be back for a certain time.

Oh well in terms of exercise I walked 6 miles so it's all good. We booked to go on the January walk. No idea where we are going but who cares.

Training Starts Again 27th November

Okay so I am signed up to another charity bike ride to Hamm in Germany and back again.

Sunday 27th November was the first actual training ride and a special occasion as both the Leisure group and the Sports Group were meeting up at Guiseley station. We had had a social get together a few days before when we went to an Indian restaurant but when everyone turns up in Lycra, waterproofs, helmets and glasses you can't recognise who they all are.

When the excuses had come in (Deano you know who you are) for those who couldn't make it. We all mounted our steeds and the Sports group disappeared into the mist (proverbially).

I set off at the front of the pack but as soon as an incline appeared the pack slowly overtook me until Richard and I were at the back. Richard is the support rider so at the back by choice.

I've got to say that the weather was not the best. It was blowing a hoolie and was hard going so I was at a disadvantage as I am a big lass so there is more to blow about!

Up the first steepish hill Sean had bike trouble so I was no longer at the back. We had a rest at the top and waited until they caught up. Then we all trucked off again towards Bolton Abbey and the Cavendish Pavilion. A nice hot cuppa and a scone or a cake and then we set off for the return journey.

All was going well when we started the steepish climb up a hill that always creases me. Sean again had a problem with his bike and I wasn't therefore last to the top of the hill.

We waited around for a while but then Mike told us to go on as we were getting cold. We set off again without Mike and Richard and eventually bumped into some of the Sports group who had returned without the rest of the group. Someone had bike trouble hence they were stopped. Again I took the decision to carry on but I noticed there weren't many people following me. When I got to the bridge over the river I waited and most them caught up with me there. We then pedalled off in the direction of Burley in Wharfdale where we started the long climb up to Menston. Ok I was at the back again but I didn't need to stop so that was a bonus.

Back to Guiseley and everyone seemed in good spirits.