It may have been sweltering in Paris but it was distinctly chilly in Kirkby Malzeard -a leaden sky, a temperature of 10°C and a stiff northerly breeze. The weather forecast had promised 15° so everyone was scrabbling around to try to find some warmer gear.

Our first destination was the Druid’s temple near the village of Ilton. This is a replica of an ancient monument such as Stonehenge built in about 1800 by William Danby the owner of the Swinton Park estate in whose grounds it stands. After visiting the temple, we quickly repaired to the nearby café, as much to get a warm as to get some refreshment.

From here we headed to our lunch stop at Jervaulx Abbey Tea Room. Out route took us along a nice bridle path that crosses a beautiful, hidden packhorse bridge and then near the village of Ellingstring. Some may remember a small Youth Hostel of the type that has virtually vanished that was there.

As we were running a bit behind time, as much because we were sitting around a bit too long enjoying a bit of warmth, George decided to leave us here as he didn’t want to be late picking his wife up. For the rest of us, it was a pleasant ride through the Abbey grounds and a pleasant bridle path alongside the River Ure interspersed with some quiet lanes to Masham of Theakston’s brewery fame and back to our starting point.

Thanks to George, John and the two Steves who provided excellent company for Jane and me.

As a postscript I found a huge thorn in my front tyre when I got round to washing my bike two days later. I ride with tubeless tyres and in my experience, whereas they’re by no means foolproof, I’ve found that they’ve saved me from having to repair a puncture more often than not.

Neville Cohen