Although the weather was very murky on Sunday morning 59 riders set off into the mist by 9.30 on the 25, 50 or 70km rides across the Moors. You will have to take my word for it that the views are superb and the tracks are a pleasure to ride. Despite the mud and lack of views everyone seemed to enjoy their day on the Moors so the event will be repeated next year - but in September and Jens will draw the map. I only produced a sketch map as I didn’t expect as many riders (and I did expect better visibility). I also thought that Jens had enough on this month with 3 Polaris maps as well as the Dalby MBO map to draw. I thought that the route descriptions would help but a lot of riders got lost in the forest so perhaps the information shouldn’t have just been jammed into a pocket!! It is also probably not a good idea to ask quad bikers or husky sledge drivers the way!!
Thanks to the National Park for not raising any objections to the event. Thanks again to the Forestry Commission for waiving not only the forest toll but also the permit fees and Richard Laley for not charging for parking. Due to their generosity we were able to make a donation of £112 to the Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team – and we didn’t need to call them out. All finishers received a commemorative mug supplied by Pirhana Promotions of Knaresborough.
Thanks to Barbara Willis for her help at registration (and support all year and the previous 34!!) and the checkpoint marshals:-
Les Dixon at Saltersgate Bank and Levisham
The Appleton Family at Breckon How and Cropton Bank
Danny Chan at Glaisdale
Jens & Eileen Strain at Hamer Bridge
Everyone was finished by 5.30 so I was home by 9.00. It’s a good job the weather was drier on Monday as my garden was littered with all of the equipment drying out. All put away now and ready for next season.