Cheviot Hills ,Northumberland .Saturday 20th August .

[The EMF]

It’ll be blowing a hooolie on the hill tops so hang on to your hats 🌬

 

[The Hodge]

It's actually got a little worse as the week has gone on ..there were no showers showing a couple of days ago ..there's time yet for it to change again ..and I did book sunny but cool with the fella upstairs

 

[Tubby G]

I hope we’re not going to get our bikes dirty! Kind of got used to the glorious Yorkshire sunshine and riding in dry dusty conditions for the past 4/5 months. Forgot what mud & rain looks & feels like

 

[The Hodge]

Well ..if it does transpire ..just look at it as a gentle introduction for whats to come soon anyway !

 

[k2lvn]

Really sorry to drop out last minute - but I've got to work, been let down by courier service on a last minute job, so it's into the office for me tomorrow.

 

[The Hodge]

Really sorry to drop out last minute - but I've got to work, been let down by courier service on a last minute job, so it's into the office for me tomorrow.

No problem ..these things happen..sorry you are missing out ..some other time..

 

[Teriatric]

One day I'll get out with some of you fellas but we're off to Whinlatter on Sunday so won't have time to sleep AND watch my battery recharge for 6 hours! (Toonie). Have a great ride in wild, woolly and beautiful Northumberland.

 

[The Hodge]

Will do Terry ..and the same to you for Sunday ( probably my favourite trail centre on an ebike ) ...

 

[Walkea]

Evening, Can I just confirm the car park we are meeting at.
One post says Barrow Burn car park but I have also seen mention of Wedder Leap car park which according to google maps is about 0.5 miles from Barrow Burn.
Given lack of phone signal I don't want to be sitting in the wrong place.

 

[The EMF]

Definitely Barrowburn

 

[The Hodge]

There is only the one car park in that location ..it is just prior to the farm at Barrowburn ..and it is ( giving it its Sunday name) Wedder Leap...
Look forward to seeing you tomorrow

 

[Walkea]

There is only the one car park in that location ..it is just prior to the farm at Barrowburn ..and it is ( giving it its Sunday name) Wedder Leap...
Look forward to seeing you tomorrow

Great, thanks for clearing that up. When I put Wedder Leap carpark in as a destination it says Alwinton.
See you tomorrow.

 

[The EMF]

When you leave Alwinton along the valley the road is very narrow with passing places. After about 4 mile you will pass a farm on your left with a post box and climb steeply over a bridge with a gorge on your rhs. The road then drops down to an other farm Shillmoor on your rhs continue over the bridge and from here the road is very narrow with blind summits and corners and you will pass a sheer rock face on your rhs with the very close to your lhs the valley starts to open up on both sides do carry on along this road and lookout for the large fir trees on your lhs these trees form the perimeter of the car park and you can’t miss it. Barrowburn Farm is clearly visible on your rhs about half a mile further on. Always keep an eye out for sheep all along the road from Alwinton.

 

[Walkea]

When you leave Alwinton along the valley the road is very narrow with passing places. After about 4 mile you will pass a farm on your left with a post box and climb steeply over a bridge with a gorge on your rhs. The road then drops down to an other farm Shillmoor on your rhs continue over the bridge and from here the road is very narrow with blind summits and corners and you will pass a sheer rock face on your rhs with the very close to your lhs the valley starts to open up on both sides do carry on along this road and lookout for the large fir trees on your lhs these trees form the perimeter of the car park and you can’t miss it. Barrowburn Farm is clearly visible on your rhs about half a mile further on. Always keep an eye out for sheep all along the road from Alwinton.

According to Google I don't approach from Alwinton but I am sure I will find it.

 

[Tubby G]

When you leave Alwinton along the valley the road is very narrow with passing places. After about 4 mile you will pass a farm on your left with a post box and climb steeply over a bridge with a gorge on your rhs. The road then drops down to an other farm Shillmoor on your rhs continue over the bridge and from here the road is very narrow with blind summits and corners and you will pass a sheer rock face on your rhs with the very close to your lhs the valley starts to open up on both sides do carry on along this road and lookout for the large fir trees on your lhs these trees form the perimeter of the car park and you can’t miss it. Barrowburn Farm is clearly visible on your rhs about half a mile further on. Always keep an eye out for sheep all along the road from Alwinton.

If there’s fir trees by the car park does that mean the ride finishes in a loamy off piste descent ?

 

[The Hodge]

According to Google I don't approach from Alwinton but I am sure I will find it.

Whoa..does it have you coming over from Byrness..?..
Not advisable if there is a red flag flying ! This would take you over the Otterburn Shooting Ranges ..and it a torturous singletrack road ..
If you are coming down the A68 then split onto the A697 and approach through Rothbury ..which will bring you through Alwinton ..
Same applies for you @Tonybro ..I was wondering why you were heading into Scotland ..surely the A69 is a more direct route from Carlisle ..?
Please give me a call in the morning

 

[The Hodge]

Further to private message sent to @Walkea and @Tonybro ..last night ..please call me urgently ..I'm up and about ..

 

[The Hodge]

One down ..one to go ..
C'mon Tony ...giz a call..

 

[The Hodge]

Two down ..job sorted ..
Now..can I catch catch up on the sleep I didn't get last night ..
See you all later ..

 

[The Hodge]

First of all many thanks to everyone for turning up ..on what was a pretty horrendous start to the day..when the weather app predicted " passing showers " I really don't think any of us expected a continuous one lasting a few hours ..before the sun peeped through ..torrential being the best way to describe it with most of us soaked before we had even left the car park !
After The EMF ( Wayne) & myself had been banging on about how great these hills are..they weren't wearing their best clothes today ..
It did eventually.. the clouds parted and the sun peeped through and I would like to think that everyone had a good time by the end of the ride..
Tonycrc's power assisted day ended too early when the range extender wouldn't speak to the motor ..which let him join our exclusive club ( EMF & me ) of temporary fkd up motors ..so after the fantastic descent to Slymefoot he cut the ride short and along with Wayne who only had 3miles range left on Tonybro's borrowed Green Hornet took the road option back to the car..
The rest of us did another short loop up past Trows & over Barrowlaw ..but didn't do the final loop to Fairhaugh and down the Usway Burn ( it didn't seem right with two men down )..so saving that bit for a different ride in the future ..
With only one thing left to do after any ride ..refreshments in the pub ( Rose & Thistle , Alwinton .)
My thanks to Wayne for his help in organising the ride / sweeping at the back to keep the group together ..
Also to the new boys & girl for fitting in seamlessly..it felt like we had been riding together for years ..
I will post the pics a little later in the " Pic of the Day" section
Until the next time ..cheers gang

 

[Tubby G]

First of all many thanks to everyone for turning up ..on what was a pretty horrendous start to the day..when the weather app predicted " passing showers " I really don't think any of us expected a continuous one lasting a few hours ..before the sun peeped through ..torrential being the best way to describe it with most of us soaked before we had even left the car park !
After The EMF ( Wayne) & myself had been banging on about how great these hills are..they weren't wearing their best clothes today ..
It did eventually.. the clouds parted and the sun peeped through and I would like to think that everyone had a good time by the end of the ride..
Tonycrc's power assisted day ended too early when the range extender wouldn't speak to the motor ..which let him join our exclusive club ( EMF & me ) of temporary fkd up motors ..so after the fantastic descent to Slymefoot he cut the ride short and along with Wayne who only had 3miles range left on Tonybro's borrowed Green Hornet took the road option back to the car..
The rest of us did another short loop up past Trows & over Barrowlaw ..but didn't do the final loop to Fairhaugh and down the Usway Burn ( it didn't seem right with two men down )..so saving that bit for a different ride in the future ..
With only one thing left to do after any ride ..refreshments in the pub ( Rose & Thistle , Alwinton .)
My thanks to Wayne for his help in organising the ride / sweeping at the back to keep the group together ..
Also to the new boys & girl for fitting in seamlessly..it felt like we had been riding together for years ..
I will post the pics a little later in the " Pic of the Day" section
Until the next time ..cheers gang

Totally f’in soaked is another way to put it

Thanks @The Hodge & @The EMF for organising a great ride out. Really enjoyed it despite the monsoon conditions. Just got home now, sheep shit is absolutely everywhere

 

[Richywalker64]

Cheers guys for yet another great day out
I don't think I've ever ridden in rain so heavy

Just got home and really glad we washed the bikes in the car park because I couldn't be bothered to do it now

 

[The EMF]

WOW what a ride, a tad damp to say the least, four seasons in one day.
great to see familiar faces and to meet new ones. Some canny distances travelled to ride the Cheviot Hills today in character building conditions. Good craic from all.

 

[Tubby G]

See that sunshine , that’s Scotland that is

 

[The Hodge]

See that sunshine ☀, that’s Scotland that is

View attachment 95345

Yeah ..it was a bit disappointing that Alan ( walkea) didn't drag a bit of that with him on his way down from Glasgow ..

 

[The Hodge]

Your pics are on pic of the day now ..

 

[Tubby G]

Didn’t take many photos today as my phone was stuck solid inside my soaking wet pocket but did manage a few …

 

[Gwyneth williams]

Thanks for a great ride and looking after us.on another character building ride. loved the banter and area. hopefully join you again soon

 

[The EMF]

Morning all……just emptied the entire contents of my back pack, everything is soaked even a spare top in a “dry bag”.All the tools and spares I carry are now dried off. Did anyone have any dry kit ?????

 

[The Hodge]

Not me..
I've just returned the hire bike after spending another hour on a final spruce up ..having fully charged it last night ..
Many thanks to Ian & the lads at The Bike Place Kielder for their help..
Now just an anxious wait to see what the outcome is on my own bike (along with Wayne who has the same problem )..
Hope you get your bike sorted quickly too Tony ( crc) ..