Rich Rothwell

Finally getting to Newcastleton….

April 5th, 2010

As you may have read earlier Josh and I were beaten back by the snow in an attempt to reach Newcastleton… That was some time back now… and you wouldn’t expect snow to rear it’s head this late in the year. But guess what? Mr Leitch joined me for a Northern soiree and… 15 cms of snow fell on the borders the day before! Incredible! Anywho; always one to make the most of an excuse to go and muck about on bikes in the name of ‘training’, we hooked up with Glen and headed for Edmunbyers in the Pennines (the warmer South). A fun ride but incredibly wet (Ian’s choice of shorts was ‘optimistic’ (no, not the style, just the general decision over something cosier). We rode down several streams that were not on the map…

Next day was the traditional Thrunton trip and we were joined by Sustrans Area Manager James Adamson (who I will be working with very soon). James turned up on “the ideal Thrunton” bike – a rigid slack angled steel hardtail with big tyres and widest bars I have EVER seen! Stable! James’ claim proved true as he rumbled down the steep rocky stuff with unfaltered control. Goodbye to those two and return home to an email from…. Ant White.

“Fancy checking out Newcastleton Rich?” 

OK. Soooo… Char and I set off early with Ant following in his ‘Magnificent Mystery Machine’… : ) The rain got steadily heavier…. the roads turned to rivers… I was cruising. And Ant was following…. A little pressure on the accelerator. The Mystery Machine bounced happily through the flooded roads behind us… A little faster. He was right up there all the way. I was assured at Newcastleton that “It is a later model”. Ah. That explains it!

Ant set off in torrential rain to do 43 laps (or something). Char and I cruised round in the ‘atmospheric’ rain forest. It was wet…

Well, sitting typing this several hours later, Ant is still out there. With a bit of luck he’ll wear himself out…. We’re doing 6+ hours ’steady’ at Dalby tomorrow. Wish me luck!

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