The Finish

I wasn't the first one back at the finish, I could have stayed out longer and got more points but I was feeling a bit tired by then and was looking forward to getting some dry cloths on and something to eat from Wilf's Kitchen (the regular outdoor caterer for the Polaris).

With bike on the car and me changed it was just a case of sitting back and waiting for Paul and Paul to finish.

All in all I had a good couple of days and enjoyed the downhills but a few lessons that I will try and remember:

1. Try not to do the Polaris if you're feeling unwell e.g. with cold
2. Don't try and keep up with people that are fitter than you
3. If you go into the event as a solo try and do that, you can make your own decisions based on your own ability and stop/start when you like

The 2 Pauls made it back in time and with a good score.

Looking forward to the event in March, just hope it's not too far away. Over all I think I did about 43 mile over the 2 days.

Moon Scape

Having reached the top of Melbecks Moor I was feeling a bit better, it was flat over the top and I knew that it was down hill all the way from here.
I told Paul that he should go on and not keep waiting for me, I watched the two of them disappear over the top.

The top of the moor was very strange, looked a bit like the moon, no grass or anything like that just loads of what I think must have been spoil from the mines, great to ride on. You can just see Paul and Paul in the distance on this picture.


As I said the top was flat so I rode along until I got to the edge and the rest was down hill. I had decided that it was time for me to head back to the finish at this point, only one more check point to get on the way down.

After a short break and a quick check of the GPS, which was the first time I think I'd actually looked at the thing, I headed down.

The ride down was great, making all that pushing and carrying worth while.
After that it was back on the road to the finish.

Sunday Afternoon

After a brief discussion on which route to take we set off along the road running next to the river for our first check point of the day, a 10 pointer. Following that it was up hill and along the valley for a couple of mile. At the end of the valley we had to turn right and kind of come back on ourselve but on the other side of the valley, this is where we came across quite a big disused lead mine. It must have been hard work in that mine, just getting to work would have done me in. Anyway, back along the valley on the other side with a push up to about half way then a downhill bit to the next check point. By this time I was flagging yet again and had worse to come.

Sunday Morning (Day 2)

Had a good night’s sleep, as you can see from this picture I'm looking as fresh as a daisy. Looking at some of the early starters heading UP HILL I was not looking forward to day 2! Fortunately there was a second option, which involved riding along the river then heading up hill and along the valley.

Overnight Camp

At last the camp site. Found a nice spot, sheltered from the wind, which was picking up a bit? Once the tent was up I noticed that I had put the door right next to some sheep shit! Unpegged it and moved it (the tent that is not the shite). Once the tent was up, got the sleeping bag out and made myself comfy. Next thing was to get something to eat.

Paul and Paul got back about and hour and a half after me, got their tent up and made something to eat.

In this picture, my tent in the orange North Face one.


The 2 Pauls putting their tent up.

Over the top

I think the power bar did me some good because the climb wasn't too bad, it may have been the fact that I was heading for the camp site that sperd me on.

I was tempted to dip back down to get a 40 point check point but decided to leave it and push on over the top.


On the way up I took a photo of one of many old lead mines that were scatered all over the place, this one was just off the road. On Sunday I would come across a mine that looked like something out of Lord of the Rings!

Saturday Afternoon

By midday I was totally knackered, finding it very hard to keep up with Paul and felt that I was holding him back so I said that I would make my own way round and see them back at the over night camp site.

I was not looking forward to the climb back over the hill to camp site but now that I was on my own at least I could take my time and go at my own pace. I stopped at a bridge before the climb and had a power bar, hopefully I would give me a bit of energy.

Check Point 3

With Paul and his mate ready to go we lined up and went through the start, got the maps and decided on the route to take. The first check point was up hill about 3 miles away. I wasn't feeling confident of keeping up with the two Pauls and by the time we got to the first check point I was already lagging behind.


From the first check point it was still more climbing to the second, by this time I was getting a bit demotivated at seeing Paul way off in the distance. After the second check point there was a bit of a down hill followed by yet another climb, this time on the road so it wasn't that bad, to check point number 3.

Polaris Saturday

Right, here we are then, at the start. Got there quite early, about 8 AM, no sign of Paul Scott. Got my kit together and went over to register.

1 Day to Polaris start

Well it’s Friday morning and I’m still loaded with cold! Hopefully I should be okay but don’t expect to score many points if Wednesday was anything to go by, I’ll certainly not be able to keep up with Paul Scott and his buddy (I know Paul from his days in BT). Anyway, the only thing left to do now is to pack the bag and head down to Grinton tomorrow morning. Thinking of leaving about 6.30 to get there for about 7.30 with a start of 8.00 (hopefully). Weather doesn’t look too good at the moment, over cast and wet but the forecast for tomorrow and the weekend is not too bad, sunny intervals with max temp of 16 and a low of 6

Harkerside Moor

Just back from my trip out to Grinton, where the start of this Autumn Polaris Challenge will be starting from on Saturday. Went out just to check the area around the start and it's not too bad. If there are some check points up Harkerside Moor then it's a bit of a climb to begin with or alternatively you could head up the River Swale to Assrig Common



Today's ride was totally different to last week, it was nice and clear and the views from the top of Harkerside Moor were fantastic.

When I got up this morning I was in too minds whether to go, I've had a bit of a cold for the last 2 weeks and need to shift if before Saturday but I though what the hell. Anyway, I suffered on the way up, which is think was mainly due to the cold/man flu, so I didn't complete the full circuit that I had hoped.


I stopped at the top for something to eat then took a fast ride back down to Grinton. I took some video with the helmetcam but made the mistake of pointing the camera too high and all you can see is the sky, never mind.

Anyway, next time on the bike will be Saturday, hopefully I'm feeling a bit fitter than today, otherwise I'll be lucky to get any points at all.

Get Off My Land

I’ve been looking forward to the Autumn Polaris because it’s back up in the Yorkshire Dales and although they don’t really tell you where it is precisely until about a week before hand, the rumor on the forum is that its going to start from a place just down the road from Richmond in a village called Grinton. Now this is very handy because I’ve done quite a bit of riding in that area.

The last time I was down that neck of the woods I was reviewing a route for a friend that was writing some guide books, during the ride I came across an electric fence, which I almost had a had a pee on (just saw the sign in the nick of time) but more frightening was this! You do not want to be wondering onto the farmers land that owns this.

Dodd Fell

Sunday, September 24, 2006 Dodd Fell Had an opportunity to get out on the bike today so decided to take a trip down to Hawes and remind myself of a route I last did about 9 years ago, Dodd Fell. The reason for this is that Polaris mentioned it in their last update so I thought I might as well see what the terrain looked like.


Woke up at about 7 this morning and it was pissing down, great! Rain had stopped by the time I got to Hawes but that didn't last, after about 30 minutes it was pouring down again, misty and just generally Yorkshire weather at it's best.
During the climb to the top of Dodd Fell came across a few fellow Polaris people, doing the same as me, quick chat and on I went, in the down pour to the top of the fell. By this time the rain had gone and the sun looked like it was going to get out, which it did but by this time I was wet through.


I'd done about half the route by this time so I stopped for a quick snack. After that it was pretty much all down hill. Had to push over one section, which was totally un-ridable and I remembered this bit from years ago. After that it was a fast downhill back into Hawes, which was very busy with bikers (motor type), Americans and just general people.

I raised a few eye brows as I was covered from head to foot in mud. Still great day and once the sun got out some great views across the valley. Looking forward to the actual Polaris.