Romp to Easingwold, Richmond and beyond - 18/6/22 - PeteT

All familiar stuff he said, nothing too hard, bit of a romp.  Heard it all before and then you end up on some mountain track with an incorporated Brazilian!

Anyway we'll see they were thinking.

Usual briefing, we're off to either Easingwold or Dalton Diner (what?) then a burst up to Richmond and then you know where for Pud.  Keep bunched up at junctions; don't mark right up to the junction especially on left turns etc.

To borrow a phrase from one of our esteemed leaders M. Rodger esq., it was same olds or almost, right and over towards Stamford bridge but via a bit of a detour to Wilberfoss via a few nice wiggly bits.

On up to cross the road to the Buttercrambe TT (you could sense the disappointment as we turned off that road) and again to cross the A64 through Flaxton up to Sheriff Hutton and....the next bit of romping proper to Stillington through Farlington etc.  Not, however, before the 1st U-turn of the day just outside the village (pretty much obligatory historically speaking).   Cruising from there into Easingwold where miraculously be slid into the square all parking in front of the bandstand together, result!

Pete rambled over to the Olive Branch cafe to ascertain there were enough outside spaces to congregate.  Result #2, we were in but had to leave within 1/2 hour as the space was booked.  It's not the cheapest spot but the drinks and food were OK, although the order of service was a bit of a mystery.

Another mystery was then solved when a rather agitated looking bloke turned up saying there was a band about to arrive and the cordon they had erected to prevent parking for their own access had been pulled down by some mischief maker, ah, parking mystery solved!

We obliged the very anxious looking bloke by returning to our steeds but suggested he could take a piccy of the team before we left, he complied with some alacrity ;-)

So we shot off across the A19 towards Raskelf but for reasons unknown to all, including the route planner back to the A19 again and then off it again in a meandering route to end up in Thirsk where another strange and very short U-turn occurred before disappearing into some back lanes of Thirsk that no-one had ever seen before.  This turned out to be the next 'romp' up the A168 into the back of Northallerton.

Round the Southwest edge of the town passing the North Yorks seat of Gov we struck across country to Yafforth before joining the B6271 up to Richmond, romp or what?  Those of you who know this road will agree, those who don't, well what are you waiting for...go do it!  Climbing into the market place in Richmond we all actually managed to park pretty much in the Bike designated area, obviously designed/allocated by a biker hater and all round sadist, it is very difficult, very small and very dangerous!

Plenty of choice for eaties, pie shops, bakers, chippies etc.  We would reconvene in about 1/2 to 3/4 hour, more the former as it turned out.  Some more of the crew split off to leave about 6 of us to scoot down the A6108 to Leyburn and thence to Brymoors for the promised pud (definitely defined as a romp too in my view).  So much choice, Black Cherry wim wam, Wensleydale and ginger, clotted cream, rum and raisin, stop!  Enough already, one of us got a freebie cos of a full loyalty card ;-)

The final romp encompassed Masham, West Tanfield, Rainton and Topcliffe and of course down to Thornton Bridge and Helperby.

Hey romp city, the perfect day in perfect weather, with of course the perfect team, oh yas.

Here's the route:

Tootle pip
Pete