I've had an idea which I could come to regret given my current lack of fitness. Here goes [GULP] it would be lovely if you fancied joining in...
I have long wanted to cycle up to the legendary
Tan Hill Inn which is the highest pub in Britain at 1732ft (528m) above sea level. Plus you can camp up there as many yacf members have already done. I've also wanted to visit the Carradice factory in Nelson, Lancashire; I've just emailed them to ask if its possible to pop in for a quick peek. So my cunning plan is to combine the two unrequited ambitions in to one mildly audacious endeavor.
I'm still working on the details but the rough plan looks like this...
Wednesday 30th October - having enjoyed a regular Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series (MEMWNS) visit to a Mid-Essex hostelry we set off into the night heading north, destination York or maybe Teeside.
Friday 1st November (evening) - hook up with some northern based yacfers for drinks and food. If we end up in Teeside maybe we can get on the outside of a
parmo. Perhaps one of the aforementioned northern yacfers will have kindly offered us a floor to sleep on?
Between
Wednesday and
Friday evening we will have camped along the way if campsites have been located or bivvyed in a wood or ditch snuggling up to BoJo's lifeless corpse if we're still in the EU.
Saturday 2nd November - ride up to Tan Hill Inn and camp overnight. Apparently they have bands every Saturday night. The Inn was taken over by new owners relatively recently and a huge amount of effort has been put into renovations so it sounds ace. Camping costs £5 per person/night and all proceeds go to local charities.
Sunday 3rd November - head towards Nelson and find somewhere to stay (B&B, Premier Inn etc) or camp or bivvy
Monday 4th November - Hopefully visit the Carradice factory in the morning.
Between
the remainder of Monday and
Wednesday 6th November - we head south getting back in time to enjoy another MEMWNS session. It has been suggested that we incorporate some of the brand spanking new
Great North Trail into route back to Mid-Essex. Along the way we can camp or bivvy depending on what we come across.
IMPORTANT NOTE #1 - If it all gets a bit too much due to borked legs or unhelpful weather or both I have no problem with letting a train take the strain.
IMPORTANT NOTE #2 - Its absolutely fine if you only want to get involved with part of this
mildly audacious endeavor really stupid idea.
So, what do you think???