wiggydiggy
Guru
Again small apologies to the Leeds lot who I backed out of a ride in favor of this:
I'd wanted to do the Transpennine route for a while, combination of things made it favourable to do the route this last weekend so I set off to do the 135(+14bonus) miles on Saturday.
Aware I had the rain behind me somewhere I needed to cover the 60+ miles of day 1 to be at my hotel by 1600ish. Afraid lack of pannier meant camping was out although TBH I wanted the warm room!
Its a nice windy trail from Leeds down to Wakefield on a mixture of trail/quiet roads. Nice scenary and a good start with some highlights including a look at a different part of the Aire and Calder Navigation and a surprise find of the Barnsley Canal (now closed) which I followed for a short few miles.
Unfortunately the next few miles through Barnsley were marred by grim surroundings and an abundance of glass on the paths, was lucky and the fairy stayed away!
The route here meets the East/West trail with also a choice to head south to Sheffield if you wanted. Heading east towards Doncaster I had possible the best scenery as you pass through RSPB 'old moor', a reclaimed coal pit now a wetland I hunkered down in a spotters hut for my butties before continuing.
Turning north at Doncaster for some miles of mostly forgettable scenery before meeting another canal the 'New Junction Canal' which gave me a good run onto mostly B roads through small east Yorkshire villages. Several gated railway crossings (with keeper!) are in the area and had a breather at one whilst I waited for 2 trains to pass.
Coming to the end of Day 1 I hit Snaith and with a quick stop for an evening paper I headed to my hotel 'The Royal Oak Pub', which was shut!
No panic though as a quick call to the owner who was down the road running an errand, opened up for me (stored bike inside thank you landy!). Later in the evening the chasing rain found me but by then was safely inside by the coal fire. Had a quiet but nice evening and went to bed looking forward to the slightly longer Day 2.
Day 2 opened with a full English to fuel the day and a slightly gloomy start but no rain as I headed north to Selby. Turning East here you follow the River Ouse or roads near it until you hit the Humber for the first time. Even at low tide it is still a huge river and the mostly B/single track road meant I was making excellent time.
Definitely a less scenic beginning than Day 1 with the exception of the Wolds Way Country Park, contained a memorial to two boys who discovered some of the earliest known boats dating back to 2000BC! Certainly made interesting reading whilst chomping down on the chocolate refuel.
Leaving the park it became grim again as several miles though Hull had to be covered before following the Hornsea Rail Trail to, well Hornsea! Several disused stations along this relatively short line show how important the train once was but no time for sight seeing as the clocks had Brough night time a little closer so at more or less sunset I hit the 135miles and Hornsea! Done(ish)
I had to turn around to go back to Hull (for the extra 14 miles) for my bed at a friends, night really did draw in and I could have done with my Magicshine that's still somewhere in the internet but the Smart/Halfords combo coped and were certainly better than the 2 ninjas I met. Kinda funny but in a cruel way one of them fell off a at style as they presumably couldn't see it!
So....
All in all a good but hard (for me) trip. My Carradice Barley was a squeeze but being able to mount the unused waterproofs on the top straps helped, cleverer packing next time will put more on the bike than the bag (a small handlebar bag would be ideal) or even looking ahead mounting a pannier rack to carry tent/bag combo.
So 150 mile, mostly track/B roads and at worst grotty but best beautiful coupled with cool but dry weather meant for a nice first tour, no idea on average speed as computer packed up last week but spent an average of 8 hours ish a day in the saddle/resting. Happy I was able to cover the 70/80 miles days without too much pain but I'm acutely aware it is a very flat route compared to some. Will have to build up my climbing skills!
Bike was an rigid Carrera Subway, with Barley Bag and no backpack.
I have some pics to share once I upload from phone.
I'd wanted to do the Transpennine route for a while, combination of things made it favourable to do the route this last weekend so I set off to do the 135(+14bonus) miles on Saturday.
Aware I had the rain behind me somewhere I needed to cover the 60+ miles of day 1 to be at my hotel by 1600ish. Afraid lack of pannier meant camping was out although TBH I wanted the warm room!
Its a nice windy trail from Leeds down to Wakefield on a mixture of trail/quiet roads. Nice scenary and a good start with some highlights including a look at a different part of the Aire and Calder Navigation and a surprise find of the Barnsley Canal (now closed) which I followed for a short few miles.
Unfortunately the next few miles through Barnsley were marred by grim surroundings and an abundance of glass on the paths, was lucky and the fairy stayed away!
The route here meets the East/West trail with also a choice to head south to Sheffield if you wanted. Heading east towards Doncaster I had possible the best scenery as you pass through RSPB 'old moor', a reclaimed coal pit now a wetland I hunkered down in a spotters hut for my butties before continuing.
Turning north at Doncaster for some miles of mostly forgettable scenery before meeting another canal the 'New Junction Canal' which gave me a good run onto mostly B roads through small east Yorkshire villages. Several gated railway crossings (with keeper!) are in the area and had a breather at one whilst I waited for 2 trains to pass.
Coming to the end of Day 1 I hit Snaith and with a quick stop for an evening paper I headed to my hotel 'The Royal Oak Pub', which was shut!
No panic though as a quick call to the owner who was down the road running an errand, opened up for me (stored bike inside thank you landy!). Later in the evening the chasing rain found me but by then was safely inside by the coal fire. Had a quiet but nice evening and went to bed looking forward to the slightly longer Day 2.
Day 2 opened with a full English to fuel the day and a slightly gloomy start but no rain as I headed north to Selby. Turning East here you follow the River Ouse or roads near it until you hit the Humber for the first time. Even at low tide it is still a huge river and the mostly B/single track road meant I was making excellent time.
Definitely a less scenic beginning than Day 1 with the exception of the Wolds Way Country Park, contained a memorial to two boys who discovered some of the earliest known boats dating back to 2000BC! Certainly made interesting reading whilst chomping down on the chocolate refuel.
Leaving the park it became grim again as several miles though Hull had to be covered before following the Hornsea Rail Trail to, well Hornsea! Several disused stations along this relatively short line show how important the train once was but no time for sight seeing as the clocks had Brough night time a little closer so at more or less sunset I hit the 135miles and Hornsea! Done(ish)
I had to turn around to go back to Hull (for the extra 14 miles) for my bed at a friends, night really did draw in and I could have done with my Magicshine that's still somewhere in the internet but the Smart/Halfords combo coped and were certainly better than the 2 ninjas I met. Kinda funny but in a cruel way one of them fell off a at style as they presumably couldn't see it!
So....
All in all a good but hard (for me) trip. My Carradice Barley was a squeeze but being able to mount the unused waterproofs on the top straps helped, cleverer packing next time will put more on the bike than the bag (a small handlebar bag would be ideal) or even looking ahead mounting a pannier rack to carry tent/bag combo.
So 150 mile, mostly track/B roads and at worst grotty but best beautiful coupled with cool but dry weather meant for a nice first tour, no idea on average speed as computer packed up last week but spent an average of 8 hours ish a day in the saddle/resting. Happy I was able to cover the 70/80 miles days without too much pain but I'm acutely aware it is a very flat route compared to some. Will have to build up my climbing skills!
Bike was an rigid Carrera Subway, with Barley Bag and no backpack.
I have some pics to share once I upload from phone.
