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Yorkshire Freezer write up
Posted by : Bogger (92.234.156.209) 
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On Tuesday 19/03/13 at 03:05:18
I predicted that on this ride out I would arrive home frozen and soaked at 7.30pm. You know what, that is precisely what happened……..yet again.
The trouble is it all started so well. When I had finally convinced myself I was well enough to go ( got a cold, maaaah) the sun was starting to shine and all was good. I’d looked at the Cd200 and the Cub in the garage and did a quick eeny meen y miny mo and wheeled the Cub outside. I’d togged up proper good. A thermal base layer then one of them thin technical fleeces followed by long johns, armoured winter trousers, and topped off with an all in one suit with a winter jacket on top. On the feet were socks followed by a Co-Op carrier bag on each foot then the waterproof (not) boots. Obviously I was taking no chances. If I got too hot I could always take stuff off.
I wanted to get to the meeting place, 80mls away, as quickly as possible, well as quick as a Cub could take me anyway. So I trundled down the East Lancs towards Manchester at a steady 50mph. Hmm, it looked a bit dark over Manchester. I peeled off onto the M60 and then onto the M62. As I left Manchester, Rochdale and Milnerow behind me I started the climb towards Yorkshire . It got darker and much, much colder. Then It started to snow. ******g great. Aha but at least I was warm and dry, for the time being. As I dropped off Saddleworth Moor I then hit freezing fog and could see nowt. 3 miles later it had cleared and the weather bucked up a bit. The tedium of the M62 soon passed as Leeds came and went and I turned off at J35 towards Selby up the A19 to the meeting point. Unfortunately the A19 had been shut so a quick call to Crunch put me back on the right track. I was chasing down a Pantheon scooter…and failing and sailed past the waiting Cubbists at the Café.
Strawberry Field Cafe
Met some of the old faces from previous ride outs and a few new ones as well. I think from recollection there were 15 of us. After we had been fed and watered Crunch led the assembled throng towards the Humber estuary and bridge. I’d never been to this area of the country before and was surprised at how flat it was. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t expecting mountains or anything like that, just flatter than I expected. I have no Idea of the exact route we took , I do try and remember place names and look them up when I get home. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Some of the names I do remember seeing quite a lot were Market Weigthton, North Cave, South Cave, North New Bald etc. It was a mix of back country B roads and fastish A roads. At least Crunch seemed to know where he was going. We had a couple of stops on route and somehow lost Amie at one of the fuel stops. Luckily she found us. Personally I think it was the poor maintenance of her machine which let her down, again.
Amie eventually turns up
HondaBoy finds a new way of preserving the Cubs rear frame, by spraying it directly with oil from the engine very novel We did suggest he check his oil. 'oh' came the reply,' never thought of that' priceless
We had a quick regroup and decided we would head for one of the small car parks next to the Humber and the bridge itself. I have to say I was quite impressed by the size of it, oh and the bridge. Much bigger than I thought.
We took a few snaps I indulged in an ice cream and had to buy Russ one as well. ‘I’ve only got me credit cards’ Yea whatever, handy that. I’ll have to remember that one. Someone remarked that the bridge was toll free for bikes. Well come on it would be rude not too.
This is my favourite image of the day, taken through Speed Donkeys back wheel or more correctly, what's left of it The bridge is iconic Speed Donkeys bike however is Icronic
Harry has infuriated his Mrs by Cutting part of the ////kitchen//// linoleum away to effect hand guards
I think Josh took a video of us so we may see that soon. As soon as we were over back we came, toll free of course and headed for the Humber bridge Country Park for a natter/brew/pee break. When we left after half an hour or so, it was raining by now, Little John came a right cropper. We were coming off the side road to a major roundabout and he was third from the back just behind me. Crunch bang ouch. I looked back and he was sprawled across the road, not moving much. Oh dear. I thought someone had run in the back of him sending down the road. Turns out he had hit a grid and I suspect lost the front end and then went down for a shoulder, knee and face planting session. Luckily he got up nursing a very sore shoulder and right knee. Thankfully most of the impact had been taken by his head so not too much to worry about…….only joking. We were only doing about 10mph as well. When he got his senses back, no forget that, when his shoulder and knee had stopped hurting so much I kicked his right foot rest back into position and we were ready to get underway. The only trouble being everyone else had not seen the calamity unfold and buggered off. We sent a few messages and txt etc and Vic came back for us. The rest of the group were waiting on the dual carriageway for us. We headed along the A63? And into Hull itself…..land of the traffic lights. It took us ages to make any progress and we all got split up due the traffic light sequencing. We regrouped at a fuel station and once fuelled up headed back towards York on the A164, it was really pouring down by now. I still felt dry, a bit clammy (yuk) but dry. Fish and chips were called for and Crunch headed for Wetwang (no it’s not a euphemism for a damp c**k) it’s a village with a good chippy. On the way there the weather got worse and we lost Amie, again, Black sheep radical and little John, maybe some others. We waited a short while then did the honourable thing said F*** em and carried on. By the time we reached the chippy over 20miles away it was very wet and very cold. My appetite for chips somewhat diminished my appetite for home 90 mls away still, somewhat heightened. We bade our farewells and five of us rode for home. The next thirty miles of riding has to be the worst I have ever ridden in. Mine and the other images do it no justice whatsoever.
I can assure you it was a lot worse than these images suggest.
Basically we were in a massive snowstorm of epic proportions. It was a total whiteout. As soon as you cleared the snow from your visor you had to do it again straight away. It was horrible. As I said this lasted for about 30 miles ,all I could think of was home and a warm shower, well over 3hrs away. Me and Russ stopped for fuel and Bollybird, Harry and Josh carried on past. Me and Russ continued past York and onto the A59 Past Harrogate, skirted Skipton and took a well earned rest at Clitheroe Mc Donalds, to try and warm up for the last 50 ml leg of the journey. I put on some dry warm gloves, heaven and set out for the M6. No real drama from here on in just 15mls to the M6 then another 20 or so to home. I did get in at exactly 7.30pm having covered 289 very cold wet but enjoyable miles.
I just can’t remember the last time I went on the bike and it was warm, not hot, just warm would do. I must be mad at my age. Matlock, bring it on, it’s for pussies.
Bogger
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