TPT Day 5

2012 04 20 Friday Thankfully today isn't last Friday, Friday the 13th. Mind you, after yesterday and the day before I don't think things could get worse but let's not tempt providence. Susan, our landlady at Hazeldene, the one with the quirky haircut continued to entertain us this morning with her ways and her banter. When she confirmed she came from Barnsley I knew why. I'd loved listening to the accent when changing buses on a Friday in the early 70's. I'd be on my way home for the weekend from Sheffield Polytechnic, and I'd positively look forward to changing buses there. Indeed, I would chose a bus that forced me to change so that I could go into the market to watch the salesmen's patter. (footnote: fell asleep and woke exactly two hours later, yet again) Ah well, all good things come to an end. Also, last day on the Trans Pennine Trail. We were soon gathering our belongings. Thankfully, nearly all my last night's washing was dry as I'd kept the heater on, sweating buckets into the bargain. Outside, preparing the bikes went well because it was dry and as soon a photos taken we were away. The first part of today's ride took us onto the Selby Farms estate along concreted farm tracks through acres of well tended arable land where we splashed through residual puddles, and there were still plenty of them. In the distance Drax Power Station still dominated the scene tho' today the plumes were painting the horizon in totally the opposite direction. We were in for a good day with a following wind. The farm tracks soon gave way to flat, largely unfenced country lanes with little traffic. They occasionally passed through small, peaceful villages such as Hemingbrough, fortuitously supporting The Bread Bin, a perfect little sandwich shop. Dinner was in the bag and something to be looked forward to! And, where today would Michael's coffee fix be satisfied? Howden is the answer to that perennial conundrum, a sleepy East Yorkshire village. It calls itself a market town but, until we got close up and realized the magnificent church was what was left of a Minster remodelled by Henry VIII there was no way! Taking directions (yes folks, men asking the way!) we ventured on The Cheese Shop Cafe in the buzzing Market Place. What a good find. Great coffee plus cake shop. As Michael assiduously pursued his toasted teacake research Stephen and I made mincemeat of a rocky road, if that's possible. Before this ride you'd never think crossing a major road could be a significant event but here you go. We then climbed the local "hill" and passing over the M62 again upset drivers with our florescent jackets. Our route this morning was taking us eastwards north of the swollen river Ouse. For a while we cycled what was potentially a boring bit at the base of the man-made river flood control embankment but even here passed over huge engineered locks and sluices controlling tributary rivers like the Derwent, and big dykes. Strangely, even at the boring bits there' s always something of interest like Stephen losing and retrieving his "needle in a haystack" odometer or curious or informative place names like Saltmarshe or Yokefleet. Then there was Faxfleet which drew my attention as the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Trent, a hugely significant location in geographical terms, yaw! Not for me though. We went up onto the embankment to admire God's handiwork and, to my surprise were impressed. We also encountered Netta. While I was busy tweeting about the confluence Michael was being jostled and made very nervous by a veritable pack of long haired Alsations in the charge of armless local character Netta. No, not harmless, but armless. Netta had no right forearm. She lost it at birth and has triumphed over it. And, in its way this meeting defines another of the joys of our rides, the real people we meet on our way. The examples set by them living their lives as given to them by the fickle finger of fate. I will never forget Netta. As ever, time was marching on. The only shower if the day at Weighton Lock, another Intercity Train at Broomfleet level crossing, a heap of biomass masquerading as cut branches for the boilers of the industrial acres of greenhouseas, a leggy hare running for cover, a nervous deer watching from a safe distance, common courtesies of drivers familiar with single track roads including Maureen Pat and so on. Todays hill climbing was always going to be limited but this was it. Up onto the lower levels of the Wolds which provide a backdrop to this extensive flatland scene. Back down again and, after numerous bridge crossings of the M62/A63 we zig-zagged our final traverse on a dedicated cycle bridge to get to the estuarial foreshore at well-to-do North Ferriby. Failing to ignore the precocious globe water feature in front of one of the aforesaid we arrived at a Country Park. But not just any. THE Humber Bridge Country Park. And what a sight to greet us: the huge Humber estuary with the sinuous catenary of the bridge stretching over the muddy waters. Magnificent. The perfect place for a picnic watching the everchanging, weather-driven landscape. This year I’m off to France to the wedding of a very good friend Benjamin Grellier. I’m reminded of his visit to Read around ten years ago when we took the opportunity to come over to Hull simply to cycle The Humber Bridge. Opened in 1981 it was the longest suspension bridge by span in the world at 4626 feet, a record it held until 1998. I remember watching the bridge being build when we visited my polytechnic friend John Holland with the children. Very impressive and a fabulous experience to cycle, or walk over like the Ormonds did a few years ago. Not to be today but even passing under it by the leg of the massive north pier still warranted a photoshoot. And now for the urban bit. Hull, with a relatively small population of a quarter of a million is the most densely populated urban area in the uk. Wow! Not! but it still has its own Corporation-owned telephone system with unfamiliar white telephone boxes. Next! We picked up speed on the western boulevard into the City Centre and lingered for a tea and much needed cream scone before legging it up the disused railway to Hornsea. And that's it. The TPT all over and unlikely to be repeated by us. Indecent haste do I hear you say? OK the final details. Michael fell off his bike. Yes. And whilst discretion is the better part of valor he did properly fall off. Mind you, even though he was nearly stationary at the time, it proper hurt. Well, he did complain a lot anyway! As for the old railway line cycleway, it is almost the perfect environmental solution. It links Hull and Hornsea centres and is almost totally straight. At 14 miles long that's quite impressive but it's bone-shakingly bumpy near the trees lining it and like many former railway cycle routes, a bit boring. The good news was the speed it delivered our tired bodies into the arms of Judith ?! and then the bosom of Whitehead's fish and chip emporium, and we still avoided the rain. Another puncture delayed my arrival at the b&b, probably a pinch puncture, until after dark but all was well and not too problematic. The incident at least more than adequately proved the success of my new tyre pump purchase from good old Halfords at Elsecar, my souvenir from the trip! The verdict over tea: another good ride of mixed weather and fortunes with some real highlights, see above! The TPT is actually quite an old long distance route and only the end part of the massive Trans Europe Trail to Poland and I think its age shows. Modern versions would be better designed from the interest viewpoint but I'm really glad we did it. We discussed the choice of bike but conclude that it's personal. I'm really glad I used my mountain bike but maybe that just sums me up. No not rugged and bouncy and always breaking down! The only disappointment was the absence if our buddies. Next time eh lads?! To be continued! Trans Pennine Trail for Rosa Day 5 Route: Selby to Hornsea Distance: 55miles Height gain:765 ft Time: hrs Av.speed: 9.6mph Weather: sunny spells Wind: SW 10mph Route features: all gge abovenamed places and THE Humber Bridge. As for our beautiful Rosa, she had an anasthetic-induced traumatic mri scan today and we have to wait until next week for the results. Here's continually hoping. She so deserves a fighting chance. Thanks again to all for their generous support of our chosen charity CLIC Sargent for Children living with Cancer. Well over £1000 will be raised.