well on Thursday I finally cracked had to go out on the ten. in Preston it was blue sky and sunny so set off for the Yorkshire dales, By settle it was getting a bit cloudy by Hawes it was grey gloom and the chip shop was shut| Disaster Luckily I had plan B in the former of a caf� 50 yds down the street upstairs they serve great food and hot chocolate with marsh mellows and cream. headed towards Tan hill (the highest pub in England and has its own snow cat) luckily this time the single track road was drift free but there was plenty of snow drifts by the side of the road. The sky by this time was black and the rain was starting headed for Reeth and got the compulsory air over the hump backed bridge! Headed over the moor via Low Row and nearly lost it going thro the ford it must have been a foot deep and very fast running. By leyburn the rain was Biblical but continued to Carlton and down the single track road towards Kettlewell it was now near darkness and the road was like a river. Heading towards skipton and then home it brightened up slowly and just got back home before dark. But the bike what a mess it was caked all over with white salt it looked like it was covered in flour. I still enjoyed the ride but the bike and my pants needed a dam good hose down to remove the crud. Roll on summer|

The route (in good weather is fantastic) for guys in the north west here is the breakdown, settle to hawes to Thwaite over butter tubs pass to Muker then Keld turn left then then right up the 1in three hairpins to Tan Hill pub, right towards Reeth as you near civilisation there is a very small sign sign posted Low Row which climbs over the moors again be very carefull going through the cobbled ford its usually 6 inch deep but the bottom is very slippery no braking or acceleration. Continue and follow the signs for Reeth then Leyburn go through leyburn over the river in the valley and take the first left sign posted carlton follow this narrow lane until you come to a t junction turn right following the signs for Kettewell its a fantastic ride with more 1 in 3 hairpins on a single track road. At kettlewell head for skipton. 160 mile round trip from preston and well worth it.

We all feel your pain. Hate having to come in from a ride and spend near an hour washing the bike of salty crud caked on everywhere

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Plough on

NOthing but wind and (heavy) rain here with the occasional frosty nights to get some more salt on the roads

C'mon, let's get some decent weather here already.

Great write up. ...and good to be out on the bike whatever the weather! Having said that. ...I agree. ..roll on summer! ! Steve