Day 12

Day 12 near Thirsk to Appleton le Moors

Thirsk Clock
This day had to be one of the most glorious of the summer and, once I got back on the puppeteer's route I had a easy ride on the flat land into Thirsk. Was caught by a speed trap as I left the town and the officer in charge of the speed gun looked up and with only the merest trace of a smile said, "Nineteen miles an hour - think on!" I was 'thinking on' - it was a great achievement for me to reach those dizzying speeds. Must be getting fitter.

Walter Wilkinson had been told that he'd be insane to think of attempting to push his 'Old Encumbrance' up Sutton Bank and so he'd decided to take the less hazardous route via Bagby, Coxwold, Ampleforth,
Oswaldkirk & Sproxton to get to Helmsley. It may have been less hazardous but, by my reckoning, it was probably harder work. Instead of one rock face to climb, there are several very steep smaller hills all of which were not quite long enough or steep enough for me to give up and walk. Consequently, I just gritted my teeth & almost exploded with the exertion on each incline. Perhaps I'm not THAT much fitter.

It was good to get so close to the White Horse since I've been catching glimpses of it over the last few days. I'm sure I'm not the only one in this area who, on returning from a long stay away, always looks out for the horse as a symbol of being on home ground. I think that the independent minded, & not to mention eccentric, school teacher who took his pupils out to build the horse would have been a character that our Walter would have approved of. Wonder if the kids enjoyed their 'Double White Horse' lessons?

I also love the first glimpse of the ruins of Byland Abbey when approached from the Coxwold road - makes me think of fairytale German castles. This is such a beautiful neck o' the woods which I've grown up in and almost take for granted. It's good to have the chance to view it from the different perspective of a bike.

The route down the hill at Duncombe Park & then along the fairly flat road along Ryedale was a joy which set me up for the final hills from Kirkby Moorside to Hutton le Hole & Appleton le Moor. Oh the pleasure of a beer at the end of such an exhausting & exhilarating day!


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Much needed beer !