The roads are still salty, on most days they are uncomfortably wet and the air is still piercingly cold but, there is no resisting the call of the wild and the open road. Against better judgement I ventured out on two wheels on several occasions in March and was never disappointed. The still image is from a ride out to Carrshield and the video from a late afternoon ride to Allendale Golf Club – Home of Golf in the Wild. This is now accessible from the club’s website just in case visitors have difficulty finding the course – follow satnavs to NE47 9DH and you will be taken to High Studdon Farm.
“The course is tucked away in the hills of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and must therefore be discreet. The road south out of Allendale winds down the Allen Valley along the B6295 towards Allenheads, following the course of the East Allen River. A mile or so south of the town, as the road breaks free from overhanging trees, a sharp left turn is signposted to the club. The track is rutted, rabbits run for cover and depending on the time of year, will wear a layer of rich agricultural muck. The track climbs 167 feet in a third of a mile which is more or less the difference between the high and low ground on the course; it helps to be fit. The clubhouse sits at 1077 feet above sea level on the west facing side of Green Hill which peaks at 1374 feet – it is not entirely inaccurate to say the course is situated on the side of a mountain. A wind turbine installed in 2010 marks your arrival. On a plain 9-metre tower with dark coloured blades, it blends into the agricultural landscape in a manner reminiscent of the iconic multi-bladed windpumps of America’s central plains.”
An accidental selfie, captured by the GoPro – I am wearing a backpack, just in case you were wondering 🙂
northumbrian : light 
Ahh, a lovely day for a ride. Thanks😊
Glad you enjoyed it, Cate – I hope you weren’t too cold 🙂
A nice smooth ride, Robin. Thank you. You’re quite a whizz at this now – taking us on trips. And a fine bike pic too.
A pleasure, Tish – the Bonnie is not as wild as the Ducati + the camera was attached to the bike rather than me. I guess that proves I rattle around more than the machine 😉
You rattling – surely not!
Haha, Robyn….we thought you were the hunchback in that selfie! The call of the wild, nothing like it! (And did you read Jack London’s book as a kid?)
I am auditioning for Quasimodo, Sue 🙂 I am embarrassed to confess I never read CAll of the Wild, despite filching the title. My wild inspiration owes much to the film of Jon Kraukaer’s book about Chris McCandless, Into the Wild. Having seen the film twice and read the book, I must read The Wild Truth – his sister’s version of events. If you have not seen/read either, I recommend both.
Ah, well, I have never heard of ‘Into the Wild’….
It has a superb soundtrack too:
Oops, typo, sorry Robin…
Forgiven 😜
the selfie is great…. it looks a little as if a thief jumps on your bike :o)
It does! Who is he – go after that man! 😱 😛
I was going to mention the Quasimodo resemblence, but others beat me to it. 😀
With bikes and cars, it not the bells, the bells, it’s the bills, the bills 😰 😩
I really love the accidental selfie.
Thanks Malin – as close as I get to revealing myself 🙂
the accidental selfie is great, sometimes the most intriguing pictures come about by accident
Indeed they do – thanks for stopping by.