Pretty crappy sort of month, only three rides and then everything turned to crap. A written off car and a chest infection pretty much put paid to the rest of the month

5^th. Me and Howard decided to lash out on the parking fees and go to Sutton Bank for a change. The obligatory juggernaut climbing the road bank at the speed of a tranquilized sloth had slipped my memory but nonetheless it was present. A quick downhill road blast to Scawton, then a sunken bridleway to the ponds in Nettle Dale, crossing a narrow bridge brought us to a tricky climb through Callister Wood before a field edge bridleway which leads to Hill Gill and Old Byland. Some more tarmac and we got to woods at Caydale Mill, somewhat drier than when I first rode this track last year. The relatively downhill nature of the ride so far didn’t last and from Tylas Farm to Murton Bank via Barnclose Farm and Prest Wood it was uphill all the way - naturally at this point the sun decided to put in an appearance. A quick blast, followed by a gruesome push through Murton Wood, a bit more tarmac and we were on The Escarpement, on a fine, sunny afternoon and not a rambler in sight. Our passage was only interrupted once, when Howard had to pull up to let a badger amble off the track.

6^th. As the saying goes what a difference a day makes, drizzle, mist and a ten degree temperature drop made riding somewhat more pleasant. We hauled up the hill from Lordstones over Carlton Bank and to Heathwaite via Live Moor. The big climb through Clain Woods brought us to Swainby Shooting House and an increasingly damp ride across Whorlton Moor to Arnesgill Ridge and back across Carlton Bank to Lordstones, heads down against the rain.

12^th. Another lonely ride. And the weather has got back to somewhere near decent. Shouldered the bike up the steps of Carr Ridge, heading for Round Hill, a nice steady pedal across the moor to the Incline Top, then across to Burton Howe, Middle Head Top. The distinctly bike unfriendly Flagged Road was followed north to Battersby Moor and a descent of Coleson Banks brought me to the road at Battersby. A speedy bit of tarmac bashing to Bank Foot and then the regular ride back through the woods to Clay Bank.