The 26 assembled Cloggers on the Saturday at the Keilder break are:

(L-R)  Precious Metal (Gareth & Sue), Silverone (John), Villager (Anna & Chris), Mrs Quiney (Sandra), Mrs Lensman (Polly), Roxxo (Paul), Lensman (Paul), Mick Young, Mrs Canary (Julie), Mrs Silverone (Dawn), Grey Wolf (Del), Canary (Rob), Quiney (John), Janice Young, Fodder (Paul), SteveG (Steve), IanR (Ian), Chimes (Debbie & Simon),  Kit, Stuey (Lainey & Stu).  Not in picture:  Mrs SteveG (Julie) and Clive.

The first time anyone thought to take some shots, no doubt rightly sidetracked by meeting up with old and some new friends, was at Ripon.  Unfortunately Canary and Silverone were delayed by a road closed diversion and were late arriving so the first opportunity for them to have a decent break was at Ripon.

So the run up from Skipton to Ripon comprised Stuey, Clive, Quiney, Canary, Chimes, Silverone, SteveG & Villager, who were on their first Cloggers' run and to whom we extend our warm welcome.  Missing from this group was Skippy who had the day before found out that he was unknown-to-him uninsured as the result of a bank error and also who couldn't get out any cash!

By the time Skippy could get his bike insured it was too late in the day to even make Berwick upon Tweed so he was sadly forced to withdraw.  Bad luck mate, you were missed and missed out yourself on some truly wonderful weather, roads, scenery and company!  At Ripon we met up with Grey Wolf and IanR on his first ride with the Cloggers - welcome Ian.  Lensman, Roxxo and Mick & Janice Young also joined us here, but unfortunately Carol wasn't well enough so Paul was riding solo.  

We'd ordered the weather well in advance, so weren't at all surprised by the quality of it, or the quantity of sunshine but what was a wonderful surprise was the clarity which delivered some rare and spectacular views as we went further north and climbed into the northern Pennines :-)  This was the first time I'd ever seen the Scottish hills from northern England!  A truly awe inspiring run over the 'top of the world'!

It has to be said that the heat was a tad unbearable leathered up and not moving, so the delay waiting for the convoy escort through road works on the way up to Leyburn was somewhat trying!

So our arrival at this traditional Cloggers' break location (!) was indeed a relief, and where we had the pleasure of meeting up with Precious Metal (Garf & Sue).

Normally this would have been a lunch break but for this run we still had a way to go before we could stop for food and a decent break.  So it was back into the leathers, on-board and away north to Barnard Castle.

The roads across this whole area are wonderful, the views very picturesque and in the great weather a simple joy to experience.  And the growing numbers of bikes all in flight together just added that extra tingle - wonderful!

Leyburn did appear as though it was suffering shock at the intensity of the sun and almost took on a Mediterranean look!

Obviously everyone's major concern was food as this is the only shot submitted of the hour's break in Barnard Castle, where our last joiner, Fodder, was met.

After Barnard Castle the excellent route that Stuey, with a little help from Grey Wolf, had put together for us all went from the increasingly to the amazingly spectacular!  We seemed to steadily climb high above the rest of the world with the hills of Scotland appearing crystal clear ahead of us and glimpses of the North Sea away in the distance to the east.

As a break from the glut of increasingly perfect biking roads bathed in gloriously bright sunshine we made another stop off for freshly picked strawberries, ice creams and a chance to chill out as much as the heat would allow at Brocks Bushes near Corbridge.

We were now riding well into the best kept biking secret of the country, on into Keilder and the unspoilt countryside of Northumbria.  Our next stop at Keilder allowed the full flight of Birds to be appreciated!

And for yet more fluid intakes to replace what the sun had sweated out of us all!

As we left this break, and all peeled seamlessly away in formation we certainly looked a sight to behold.

And this is just a small sample of the views that continuously accosted us all as we swept through the forest.