Ride & Event Reports (1)
January
8th - New Years Lunch at Quayside Bar
Despite the poor weather ten rangers turned up. After locating a space in the bar to contain us all, drinks and meals were ordered. A good discussion began about Christmas presents and furture group plans.
After an enjoyable time - everyone departed on their ways.13th - Fix Your Bike Event - Newburn Riverside Park
We were invited to take part in this event and assist with the Newcastle Countryside Team.
Several Rangers turned up to man the small display stand brought along by Doug. Stuart brought along Millie, his young daughter, who kept as all amused with her questions.
Phil arrived with his family and an electric scooter he had brought his daughter for Christmas which had fallen apart - after several attempts it was finally fixed and was test driven on the slipway nearby !!!.Although it was not busy there was a steady trickle of interest from passing cyclists. At the conclusion of the day Doug, Stuart (with Millie on the back) set of along the Wylam Waggonway before returning via the Keelmans Way on the other bank of the Tyne - the tracks being muddy saw all of us covered in mud streaks - but Millie enjoyed the ride !!
28th - Annual General Meeting - Sustrans Newcastle Office
A full general meeting was held in the conference room at the Newcastle Office with 12 Rangers attending plus Lorraine from the Stanley Office. This meeting was to discuss the future plans for the group and to set out an agenda for 2006 with rides and events discussed. After a successful meeting a few managed to climb up "Dog Leap Steps" to the Bridge Inn for lunch. Two pints and a packet of crisps !!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February
4th. - Monthly Ranger ride - Newburn to Ovingham and back
Ten rangers attended this ride despite the cool weather. Setting of from the Newburn Visitors Centre we headed up river on NCN 72 passing through Wylam to Ovingham Bridge but having made good time we were too early to catch a meal at the Adam & Eve PH.
We decided to return to Wylam and partake lunch and other essential "restorative fluids' at the "Boathouse" at Wylam Station. the various real ales / ciders were sampled and bacon butties / soup ordered and consumed in double quick time.Also in the pub was a party of ramblers (100+) which we had passed twice already on our travels - having "filled up" we set off back to Newburn this time following the Keelmans Way only to be confronted for the third time the same group of ramblers - who happily allowed us past yet again. After an enjoyable ride we parted company. Photo - Crossing Hagg bank Bridge
10th - Gigantic Hole in Hadrian's Cycleway at Walker
During a check along Hadrian's Cycleway Doug discovered this hole in the track !!!
During building work the old Riverside Railway Tunnel was discovered to be only inches below the surface of the cycleway and that it had been filled in by cutting holes in the roof and pumping in river sludge when the Tyne was dredged. The tunnel had to be removed from under the projected housing development, sludge removed and disposed off safely - before being back filled. Huge piles have had to be driven to support the timber frame houses that are to be built on the site.This has put the work well behind schedule and the diversion will probably last well beyond the 6 month closure notice.
Excavators exposing & demolishing the tunnel
General view showing the tunnel being filled in.
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11th.
This replaced the ride that was cancelled on March 4th due to snowfall, and was originally intended to be from Guildhall to Tynemouth and back but due to poor turn out (Doug & Rob) and impending weather this was curtailed.We enjoyed a fresh pot of tea, kindly provided by Carole & Don Price (Tyne Bridge Bike Hire) before setting off into the snow flurries and along the Quayside towards Walker.
It was intended to remove a superfluous diversion sign for use elsewhere along NCN 72 in North Tyneside but am unwelcomed discovery awaited us.
On arriving at Pottery Bank we discovered all the yellow diversions signs marking the start & finish of the diversion had gone missing, leaving only a couple of mounting bars - the blue direction sign was still attached to the post but had been battered down to ground level.
"Snow" signs of any signs !!
Rob adopts a striking poseRob sprung into action - jumped up on the wall and re-positioned the sign correctly - this time ensuring the bolts were fully tightened.
Continuing on our way we arrived at the afore mentioned sign and were in the process of removing it when a party of walkers stopped - we explained what we were doing and they carried on their way. Next was to circumnavigate the diversion up Mayalya Drive - along Station Road and back to rejoin the old route back to Pottery Bank stopping on the way to chat with the security guards for the housing development. Again we explained why I had a diversion sign on my rear rack. They explained there had been a lot of vandalism around the site and that work was about 10 weeks behind schedule - meaning the diversion will last well into May / June !!!
Rob looking pleased with a job well done !!Arriving back at Pottery Bank we installed the spare diversion sign before finishing our ride and parted company at the Byker Link sign.
Dispite only a short ride and only the two of us - the ride did proved to be worthwhile. On arriving home e-mails were dispatched to various council officials and Sustrans about the missing signs.
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25th Litter Pick Malaya Drive to Wellbeck Road NCN 72
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