Ogden/Haworth ‘Walk & Ride’ Festival Event

Click on the photo above for more of Mike's photos from the ride.

Seven intrepid riders set off from Ogden in the face of the remains of Hurricane Ali. Only five returned.

After battling against the gale, following the wreck of a very flooded bridleway crossing Thornton Moor, Sol and Graham made an intelligent decision and looped back to Ogden. They have no idea as to how smart that was.

Four Rough-Stuffers and Neil, the sole and brave participant from the Walk & Ride Festival, decided to continue contouring the moor but following the lower of the two conduits leading to Stairs Lane. Even so, we were leaning 45 degrees into the wind at some points.

At last we had the wind behind us and climbed over the hill for lunch in Haworth.

By this time, Dave had demonstrated his local knowledge and steered us uneventfully through the village and along the bridleway to Cullingworth. There we joined the Great Northern Rail Trail and up to the top of Manywells.

Meanwhile, the rain had been gathering pace until it was coming down in stair-rods. We had to retreat to the shelter of a garden centre.

The ride back to Thornton Moor along Trough Lane was horrendous. The gale had picked up to hurricane speed and we were riding against it. The huge wind turbines had stopped turning (60+mph?) and at one point we had no alternative but to crouch behind a low stonewall. Eventually reaching the Dog and Gun, I was blown off the bike and was hanging onto it for grim death. Tied to a string it would have flown like a kite.

We battled back onto Thornton Moor and then rattled down the nice single-track back to Ogden. If that was Wuthering Heights, we had been well and truly ‘wuthered’. Thanks to everyone particularly Neil who had travelled all the way from Horsforth for this new experience!

Mike Bly

(My thanks to Mike for leading the ride and providing a vivid ride report with photos.  Rob)