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BRIDGE
ARTS
Click HERE to find out what Emma
our Arts Development Worker has planned for the town centre exhibition
centre.
Ever
fancied a bike ride to Filey? Three of our intrepid
staff did...all in the name of raising money to provide better access
to Bridge Arts....read on.....
Day
One
Castleford to Fangfoss
"It's
not flat to Filey!"
The trip started out with great fanfare as a crowd of well-wishers
waved us off from the eaves of Marks and Spencers. Eric waved the
flag and we set off on what was without doubt the easiest leg of the
trip, the downhill run through Sagar St. We though it fitting that
we should cross the new footbridge as we made our way to the other
side of the river.
The first few miles breezed by and our confidence was bolstered despite
Eric's news that the road to Filey wasn't flat as we'd been led to
believe. However, no more than 5 miles out and one of the riders developed
a technical problem. The staff of The Chequers Inn, Ledsham came to
the rescue with the use of a ratchet set and we were back on our way.
The problem continued and it forced an emergency stop in Squires Cafe,
a famous motorbike bar in Sherburn. Surely these people would have
a ratchet set we could beg, borrow or steal? Apparently no. Instead
we were given a map to a car parts shop in Kippax. It was decided
that our support driver, Karen, should make the trip to Kippax, whilst
the others settled down for a cup of tea, comparing "hogs"
with the leather clad bikers.
Finally we got on our way and made incredible progress only occasionally
stopping for photo opportunities. It was when we reached Escrick for
a photo on the fish fountain that our progress became apparent. We
were well over half-way there and we haven't even thought about lunch.
We decided to stop in Wheldrake and find a pub.
Our rather excellent organisational skills shone through when we sent
our support driver on to scout ahead for possible locations. It was
a wise move as they were due to stop serving but the lovely Andrea
at The Wenlock Arms promised to keep the oven on for our arrival.
We all shared an enormous portion of the most incredible chips ever.
A portion that we shared with Andrea's singing Labrador, Guinness.
As we were about to set off on the home stretch, it became apparent
that one of the bikes had a puncture forcing an extended stay in the
pub. What a shame.
Despite being weighed down with lunch, we cycled the remaining 10
miles with surprising ease and breezed into Fangfoss Park where we
were greeted by the owners Jo and Simon. After pitching our tents
and settling down for a lovely dinner (as made by our other support
driver Emma.), it was brought to our attention that the huge black
clouds on the horizon wasn't a cloud but actually the range of hills
we were to negotiate first thing in the morning....
Day
two
Fangfoss to Filey
"Look
ma, I'm on top of the Wolds!"
Day two
started with bright sunshine and a cloudless sky. Spirits were high
as we set off from Fangfoss only to be diminished by the impending
hills of the Wolds. A few miles down the track there were a couple
of technical issues that were sorted on the fly but other than that
it was easy going until we reached our first climb out of Bishop Wilton.
I'm reliably informed by Google that the road on which we travelled
was a 7.14% gradient. I don't know if this is a lot but it was more
than enough! After scaling these heights and freewheeling down the
far side, it was decided that we should stop for refreshments at a
little pub called the Cross Keys in Thixendale (after having a look
around the Robert Fuller gallery, sort of a busman's holiday!)
After our short stop we were treated to a series of punishing climbs
and grateful descents which tested the riders to the limits of their
endurance. The hills had put the schedule back by a few hours which
meant that our arrival at the Three Tuns Inn, West Lutton was about
an hour after they had stopped serving lunch! So we made a meal of
all the camping leftovers from the night before and sat under the
tree in the middle of the village.
After lunch (and another session of bike repair) we set of resolute
that we would accomplish the last 16 miles without a stop. It's worth
pointing out that Eric had been waiting in Filey for us since about
midday and was getting sick of eating ice-cream whilst he waited.
We pushed on as hard as we could and rejoiced when we could finally
see the sea. At around about 5 o'clock we sailed into the Crescent
Gardens in Filey where a small crowd had been pacing for hours awaiting
our arrival. Eric was nowhere to be seen but there was a note pinned
to the bandstand that read, "Got bored waiting, gone for me tea.
Peddle faster next time. E".
Our jubilation
was short lived as Auntie Anne and family, who had very kindly granted
us use of their garden to pitch our tents for the night, informed
us that their house was a few miles away... Back on the bikes then!
Thank
you to Ben, Karen and Emma, we couldn't have done it without your
help, and to everyone else who helped us out providing advice, accommodation,
directions, tools and sponsorship, we raise over £1000 which
has seen us well on the way to providing the access to Bridge Arts
that we all wanted.
........Scott,
Emma, Barry
Workshops at Bridge Arts
JANUARY 2010
Thursday 21st Jan
Knit n Knatter 1 - 4pm
Drop-in Free
Thursday 28th Jan
David Cawthorne runs his monthly art workshop
10 - 4pm
Drop-in £1 per participant
