Just a little jolly out up to the Yorkshire Dales for the Russian Bike Rally, for those who haven't heard of Russian bikes don't worry as there will be pictures later.
Normal route up North; A49 then M56 to M6. This time though I wanted to get an ice cream and some sweets and I knew of a cracking little sweet shop in Gargrave. Up the A59 a way then, past ****heroe and Gisburn. I never knew there was a viaduct along that way. I was wanting my ice cream though, so didn't stop.
At the sweet shop and ice cream in hand I allowed myself to relax a little.



Delicious chocolate ice cream. A quarter of Army and Navy were purchased for me, quarter of Sparkles for the girlfriend and a quarter of liquorice torpedoes for her mum as a thanks for letting me borrow her sewing machine to make a performance blanket.



From Gargrave along Eshton Road to Malham and then up to the Tarn.



There was a bridleway that ran to the Tarn, but I was on road tyres and didn't fancy taking a chance after the rain we'd had. Plus I was on my tod. It was so big and empty up there. Proper bleak scenery that makes you feel rather insignificant.



It's good to be reminded that you're not all that once in a while.
The road from the Tarn down to Stainforth was a rather enjoyable singletrack, in good condition and with plenty of crests. The sort of crests that will have the front wheel kicking up in fourth. All a jolly good wheeze until you meet a car coming over the blind crest. I toned it down briefly after that.
Stopping briefly in Helwith Bridge for postcards the weather was still blowing hard. Thankfully the misty drizzle that had blighted the journey from home and through parts of Wales had disappeared, and although the skies were a little grey they never amounted to much.

Up then past the Ribblehead viaduct, though not stopping this time, then more moor until the Dent turn off. Along the Cowgill road and this time I stopped to snap the Dent viaduct, which you have to pass under and then alongside after you've dropped down the blind road.



The thing with singletrack roads is that unless you are really lucky you'll meet a car. I met an M5. They were crawling along as they had the width that I was bereft of. After pulling over twice for oncoming traffic, they kindly waved me past and I was able to travel unslowed. This of course meant I was able to admire the road that wove through the countryside like a small grey thread, and keep sight of the river alongside. The river that was wider than the road.
at one point there was an obvious ford, which should absolutely be used for photographic purposes. One cannot have an Adventure bike and not put them in Adventure situations after all.



After taking the photo I was faced with the task of turning the bike around, as the exit into the field was gated. This meant a sharp left turn on the bedrock.
On road tyres.
Wet and muddy road tyres.
I managed to get stuck twice. Once had the rear tyre spinning up enough to shed the wet mud, and the second I had to dismount and wheel the bike backwards to avoid getting it stuck in a sizable fissure.
So somewhat blunted I rejoined the road and toddled down into Dent, along the cobbles and into the farm campsite.
Crikey there were a lot of bikes here this year. Three times the previous.
That extra number was made up mainly of BMW GS's.
After being collared by a fellow TC member I pitched up alongside his tent and Tenere, and soon enough the Tipi was up. Mat and sleeping bag inside and performance blanket distributed. I was going to be comfortable tonight.

Ahhh the Cossacks, I remember it well, and a great weekend for it too.


Is that a stock set of cans back on your bike.... .... again ?

__________________
>-------<

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

So, onto the bikes. I'm afraid there aren't any pictures of the many GS's there, nor the three Teneres.
Several bikes stood out for me. First off was this pretty standard Ural-



Just so simple. I could see myself chugging about in one of them.
Next tent along had a couple of BMW's outside. One was a Ural with a BMW motor in, and the other a modified R80.



Russian bikes look spot on in utilitarian colours, you can keep your shell suit graphics thanks very much.
What's this? Sidecar on the right hand side?



Ah that means the joy of two wheel drive at the rear. Fantastic. The sharks mouth paint on the sidecar was a rather decadent touch I thought.
Decadent paint wasn't reserved purely for Russian vehicles either, this MZ ETZ had a fantastic juxtaposition of olive green and hand painted flowers and bugs.





British stuff was represented as well, an Ariel Leader smoked crisply in to the site sounding fantastic



and there was an original Hinckley Tiger tucked up with a Cossack on the back slope



I still think the first Tiger's are the toughest and most robust looking.
Finally the best 'til last. A Cossack with a homebrewed Daihatsu turbo diesel engine in.



Sporting also a Morris 1000 front drum as well as a useful tool box (ha stick that in your ornate pipe Kimura), kickstart and clever rear subframe that allows the bike to be split in two for accessing the clutch and gearbox.



Lovely.

The evening was spent in the Sun Inn, a Chicken and Ham pie washed down with Hambleton's Nightmare ale.



Back to the site and batten down the hatches for a very blustery night. I was woken by the sound of people sorting their tents out midway through the night, but the Tipi held firm and I was comfy in the performance blanket.
The beer I had rented the night before became determined to return to nature at around half six in the morning. After answering it's call I munched on a fake Snickers and decided I didn't want to hang around until half eight for breakfast from the farm, so broke camp and whispered from the site a little before half seven.
Just after half seven I was cresting the Barbon road over Whernside and decided to have a short contemplation break. Leaning the bike against a wall and enjoying a smoke on the pipe I chatted to the disinterested cows about nothing much. The wind whipped the air and the thistles as I could see the valley lightening up down the road



Onwards then.
Plump Grouse pudgily broke cover from the verge as I whooped my way down the bare road, taking full advantage of cracking visibility and long travel suspension.
I was the dawn rider and I felt about as free as I could get.
The sky was letting go of the grey veil of pre dawn and just outside Burrow the sun finally broke free from the horizon and began the daily duties.



As if answering the visual whistle of the sun, the roads began to fill up with people, either on horseback or in cars. I was beginning to rue my breakfast missing, even though it would still be waiting in the fridge.
i thought there must be a butty van along by Kirkby Lonsdale, but no, nothing there. To early for the solar powered riders. The Post Office in Hornby was till shut up as well, so no bacon roll and tea for me there.
Even Lancaster centre held no joys of caf�s.
Enough, cried my stomach, and I gobbled another couple of munchy bars.
It would have to wait until Beeston to get a breakfast filling it.
After spotting a friend's distinctive van on the A49 I wheeled around and joined him for a brew at his gaff.
Back on the road I caught the debris of an incident with just a copper on scene and the ambulance a few miles away wailing across the landscape. Nothing I could do to help, so onwards.
The later part of the journey saw a bit of fun with a Guzzi Le Mans MkII, a Sport and a new VMax. The Princess coped admirably, but those VMax's certainly have some stomp in them. Come a straight line he went off like I was stood still.
Nevermind, the next set of bends evened things out.
Home in time for lunch and a pint in the sun. Just shy of 500 miles all in.

Good stuff mate, wish I could have made it. Came back down through Dent and Malham after the Lakes weekend, nice bit of country.

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

Yup it was nice, if a little breezy! Back on stock pipes again. No need to change them again yet. I see little point in spending out �500+ to get 5-6bhp. I can still get the most from the bike.

good report and pics,love those tyres on that triumph.This is one meet at Dent i was sorry to miss,top place with two good pubs

Nice one Tom and great pics, sorry not to have made it enjoyed it last year and looks to have been even better this time.

Fantasic looking photos

__________________
Plough on