It's always a busy and tiring week when it includes a return to school after the holidays.
Throw in work for Mummy and Daddy, combine with builders on site and a house where everything feels upside down and you are dreaming of the weekend before the end of Tuesday! The amazing thing is that we all seem to reach Friday night and our minds throw off the events of the week and we all feel energised for a weekend of fun.
This weekend had the added bonus of new toys and, therefore, some new adventures.
It turns out that three of us were on new bikes since the last time we had a proper mountain bike ride (sorry Mummy, yours is still affected by pandemic shutdowns and/or the Suez canal blockage) and we had received our new TowWhee tow-rope which should save Daddy's arms when it comes to the uphills.
Plus, because M&D had not got their act together with any prior planning (and therefore no campsite booked - spaces are still like hen's teeth - rare!), a wild camp (in the van).
Our previous mountain bike adventure was along the Quantocks ridge in Somerset last October half-term holiday. A brilliant, slightly (very!) damp, day out that certainly taught us a few lessons. Mainly that small bike wheels (16 inch) really are small, especially when bikes that size don't have gears. My legs survived the day but pushing Little Chap #2 almost constantly whilst negotiating mud and rocks at the same time absolutely ruined my arms! However, the main lesson we all learnt was that mountain biking is ace! And after the winter, with both Little Chaps growing into the next bike size (a 24" and 20"), mountain biking would get easier! The TowWhee should solve the arms problem (also helped by some extra Joe Wicks workouts in the lockdown that was to follow!).
Our area of choice for this June weekend was the North York Moors National Park. A "proper" mountain bike ride towards the North of the Park, followed by a nice wild van-camp and a second easier ride utilising some of the abandoned railway tracks around Rosedale. We set off from home early on Saturday morning and were saddled up and departing the car park around 1030. An initial easy farm track led to a bridleway down to a stream crossing and a steep uphill. Time to try the new TowWhee. Easy to fit (review to follow soon) and we (Daddy and Little Chap #2) got about halfway up a steep rocky track - to be honest, it would have been hard enough without the towing part! An easy downhill and a short country road section led to a steep descent down to the River Esk. Unfortunately, the stepping stones had been part washed away so it was paddling time for M&D ferrying the bikes and Little Chaps over - not a ride for high water levels (although we knew this in advance)! With me halfway across the river, hands full with bike, shoes and rucksack, Little Chap #1 stood on the far bank, secure in the knowledge that he was across and dry, and uttered the words: "Daddy's getting wet. It's just another family adventure!"
A second crossing (with a foot bridge), lunch and then a longer uphill section took us towards the top of Danby Beacon, the high point of the ride, and an opportunity to use the TowWhee properly. Then a single track moorland blast through the heather back to the carpark. We all agreed that this is what mountain biking is all about and arrived back at the van absolutely buzzing with excitement!
We found a great "campsite", high up on the moors and enjoyed a peaceful night surrounded by bikes (can't be too security conscious!). Porridge and honey for breakfast and then we set off to tackle the Rosedale loop. An old railway line provided over half the ride and we covered it quickly. This is a great bit of track for all children (young and old!) with the added interest of trains, iron-ore kilns and great views of the whole Rosedale valley. It feels really wild and amazing that there was ever such industry in the valley. Instead of returning the same (easy) way and with time, weather and a good biscuit supply on our side, we took the option of dropping into Rosedale village and climbing (walking and pushing bikes) up the valley side, south of Rosedale Chimney. A short but amazing, fairly flat, singletrack section, that the Little Chaps enjoyed immensely, took us to Ana's Cross where we re-joined the railway to return to the van.
All that was left to do was to try and make ourselves look presentable after a weekend away because Granny had invited us for a bbq! All in all, what more could we have asked for from a weekend?
Link to our routes here: Day 1 Danby Beacon, https://andycavill81.wixsite.com/wildwayswilddays/rosedale-railwayDay 2 Rosedale Railway
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