It’s been many years since I did any bike camping. I’d spent the last couple of days getting my Dawes Galaxy touring bike ready by re-fitting the touring wheels and renewing the tyre inner tubes. Fortunately I found out on Sat that they were past it when the front wheel seemed to develop a slow puncture. I stopped to pump it up and the whole valve separated from the inner tube. Two replacement inner tubes were bought on Sun. Today I set off at 8am in overcast and cold conditions. Having rear and front panniers on took a bit of getting used to again. Today I’m heading for the Marston Moor area near Wetherby for no particular reason. My first objective was the ‘Hot Stuff’ lay-by caravan cafe near Todmorden. I wasn’t looking forward to the long climb from Lower Darwen over the Grane Rd to Haslingden because of heavy traffic during the rush hour.

My first objective was 'Hot Stuff' near Todmorden.

After an hour of riding I’d got used to riding slower because of the extra weight I was carrying. Taking a more leisurely pace than usual was quite enjoyable. The long climb out of Bacup wasn’t as difficult as I was expecting. By the time I reached Todmorden I was ready for a snack and in just over a mile I’d reached the Hot Stuff cafe. I had a Tuna Cheese Melt on bread but the price had gone up again to £2.80. I shared the one table with three men who were tarmac contractors and had just finished a local job and were now on their way back to Bradford. Shortly after they left so did I.

Entering Mytholmroyd.

Mytholmroyd to Clog Factory.

A wet Wetherby

My next call was Halifax and I passed through Mythomroyd on the way. A feature of stones and flowers commemorated the late Ted Hughes, the poet laureate, who came from here. I didn’t see much of Halifax before leaving north on the A629. I turned right at the B6145 to head for the Bradford Ring Road. ‘A’ roads are not nice to cycle along I was trying to avoid them whenever I could. Unfortunately there wasn’t much opportunity. The A6120 through Horsforth was still busy and even the A61 north. I stopped for a while to eat a couple of sandwiches I’d brought then continued along the A659 east to Wetherby. The overcast cloud now started to rain and by the time I’d reached Weatherby town centre it was raining quite hard.

I was planning to camp near Marston Moor and I knew no water would be available so I called in at he Co-Op and bought a couple of 2lt water bottles for £1.20. With those strapped to my bike I set of in the rain past the race course to the village of Tockwith. Continuing along the lane I came to the obelisk marking the location of the 1644 Civil War battle of Marston Moor. I left the road and followed a hedge line into the field to find an unobtrusive spot to pitch my tent.

On Marston Moor, the area occupied by the Royalists

Marston Moor troop layout.