The Northern Duttoneer's Coast to Coast

[The Northern Duttoneer's]

The Northern Duttoneer’s

Coast to Coast Drive

What an amazing weekend, with good company of the other Duttoneer’s, and Car’s which behaved very well apart from a few niggles in my case.

We started the tour early on Saturday morning at our usual meeting place at Bolton west Services, before moving on to the north along the M61, M6 and on to the A6, next stop Truckhaven Truck Stop Carnforth for breakfast. Always worth stopping here good food all day, and as you can see from the photo’s The Northern Duttoneer’s like their grub.

Next stop was the new Lakeland Motor Museum, what a good job as been made here, the lady Duttoneer’s had been told that there would shopping, what we didn’t tell them was it would all be car related. But I heard Marian my wife say to a friend she enjoyed the museum, and Karen even bought presents. Result and a good place for a future get together.

Then on to the first nights Hotel, what a cracker of a place Muncaster School House B&B. Lovely people, good food (notice a pattern developing here with eating). After settling in we drove to Ravenglass about 2 miles up the road for a beer, just to wash the dust down you understand. Then back to check the car’s over before evening meal.

This is where our Service support crew (Steve K) came into his own as he fitted a new alternator belt to my Phaeton, belt kindly donated by Steve H. unfortunately this was to long for my car, so Steve had to re-fit the old belt and see if we could tighten it as best we could.

Sunday arrived and the threaten ring didn’t arrive, we left Muncaster for the 14 mile run up to the start of the Coast to Coast at St Bee’s. We had decided that we would all put our feet in the water and collect 2 pebbles from below the water line, one to keep as a memento and one to throw into the sea at Robin Hood’s Bay on completion of the drive. After a group Photo we were off, 190miles away Robin Hood’s Bay awaited our arrival.

Credit as to go to Karen for her exceptional navigation skills; we made our way along some of the best roads Cumbria has to offer. And apart for a couple of hold up’s with local village fairs we made our way to Whinlater Pass and down to the A66 at Keswick. This is where we parted company with Steve and Kath K (our Service Support crew and Medical officer). Steve had work to go to Sunday night.

So after waving good-bye we tried very hard to catch up lost time, as we were now about an hour behind schedule, and I had agreed to meet Tom at 11am on Hartside Café (Highest Café in England) car park. Luck was not on our side though, as we approached the Alston turning for the climb up to Hartside we were overtaken by we think plain clothes motorcycle cop’s two identical BMW’s both dress exactly the same, and a riding style that could only be police. For the next 4-5 miles they keep us at exactly 47 mph, until they pulled off at the bottom Café, only to leave us with two Sunday driver’s enjoying the view.

What seem like for ever the road opened up with good vision and I stormed past them, arriving at Hartside at 12:20pm, and very late for Tom and Colin, Sorry guy’s we hope to get together again soon, and this time we’ll try to be on time.

I think this is one of the best views in England from the Hartside car park down over Eden Valley, but what a wind it was difficult to stay upright. The café is a Haven for biker’s from both sides of the Pennines. After a brew and a cake, we set off for Alston, after about a mile a group of biker’s came flying up on the opposite side of the road, the lead rider pushed me with a knee about to touch the road, he passed me and approach Ade and Sue in the Leggerra, nearly losing control and trying hard to recover his mistake straight into Ade’s path, he had to swerve hard to avoid him, which luckily he did, and the biker managed to stay on, and continue on his way, Lucky Man.

Leaving Alston on the B towards Barnard Castle 33 miles of the most amazing road I have driven in a long time, clear all the way a part from two cars which we all passed together without changing down. This road has good vision all the way open fast bends long straights, 33 miles with a big daft grin on my face.

More to come...

[Adrian Southgate]

Just got back from a 'last night of the proms' cheese and wine party... Sue had a little too much of one... guess which?
Anyway, I would like to thank all of my fellow travellers for a smashing weekend last weekend. I thought this years Lakes run would be impossible to beat, I couldn't have been more wrong. Some of the roads might have been a little bit bumpy but the weather couldn't have been any better and neither could the company.
Sue seems to have recovered from the mishaps with the seat frame and her ribs and I have apologised for trying to get the car sideways and airborne at the same time, in hindsight it might not have been the brightest idea I ever had.

To the biker who nearly killed himself on the front of my car... You best be thankful it was a nimble kit car and not a transit mate. That one will surely become another nail in the 'speed kills' coffin if he carries on the way he is.

To the guys that waited in vain for us to arrive at Hartside, my apologies. It was a nice Sunday and we didn't allow for the extra traffic, especially the two biker BiB that held us up as Dave said, very naughty unmarked bikes and plain Hi-Vis jackets. Shame they didn't meet the afore mentioned lucky fella, they might have had something to say about his riding style.

I started the trip with new pads on the front of the car... I now have black rims and need another set of pads, that'll teach me to buy cheap ones.

Stafford next week, looks like I will be going Saturday with Dave. I don't think Sue is coming so may have a spare seat in the legerra. I will post back on the stafford show thread when I know for sure.