MOUNTAIN BIKING..... CASTLETON.....
A whole new experience of mountain biking to hope Valley , Castleton... with a totally new group arranged together to be a part of this unique, adventurous and interesting trip...... which prooved to be amazing .. inspite of all the pain and sufferings....such expeditions are indeed once in a life time...and yes here again the credit goes..to Sam...till the time he doesn't ask me about the time when Thomas & Friends Left the station (last line is meant only for Sam and PS..others...don't try to understand...you wont get it anyhow...)
This was my first biking experience and I was cycling after about 10 years …last I cycled when I was in class 9th since my parents bought me a kinetic…in 10th….anyway…in brief…a team of 8-9 ppl were arranged randomly and I was one of them…I was not the organizer…not even coordinator…. this time…it was a new group and our first trip with Sam….some colleagues from TCS…onsite….planned the trip on Sam’s suggestion..to cycle in Castleton situated in Peak district area of Central England…I have been to Castleton before with my group as it was famous sight for Caves…Sam had already been to the cycling trip 2 weeks before and ppl were much interested in the plan…I was excited after I saw photos of the biking on his profile and it looked thrilling but Smartly….Sam never… explained the pain and agony we were going to face after biking….lol…(I think he did it intentionally…)
So I was much delighted about this… as always… this trip was going to add a whole new experience to adventure trips I previously had...since this time…it was not trekking…it was biking…and whenever I imagined the trip it filled me with pride and satisfaction…
We started from Manchester…everyone was asked to prepare something which can be consumed during the calorie burning trip… as little is available in UK which pleases our taste buds.. particularly in such small towns with No Mac Donald’s or Subways to provide some vegetarian stuff….
We prepared our all time favorite and easy to cook Indian style Pastaa… Sandeep Batra the senior most prepared…Pao bhaaji….and Sam was carrying a good stuff of Jafaa cakes…..I just hate them now…can’t even bear there sight…..(you will come to know why) J ….
During the whole train journey …I kept my baker (hindi wali) on and was entertaining my colleagues J In about an hour and 15 mins… we reached Castleton… Since Sam has arranged the trip he had communicated the Bike owner about the time of arrival.. so he was already waiting there with about 10-11 bikes…and we were desperate to choose ours….and finally…we were on our way…
Sanjeev Negi…was a new member to the group and joined us the last night only….actually he lacked a good company and we were good ppl…no doubts….so we included him as well…PS as usual was only girl with me…and ppl underestimated her and doubted whether she would be able to complete it…. and I was overestimated keeping in mind my old record of travel and adventures…. and what happened was just opposite...
So we started from the station in the beginning there was no uphill drive and it was alright …but after few miles the condition started worsening….Sam suggested a sight of a Canal in the town…and everyone was ready to see that…we biked a few more miles towards some other way to only discover it was a very small stream…but since the people were enthusiastic specially at the beginning when we had lots of energy in store…. We welcomed the sight ….and shot many snaps…on the bank and then we left for the original course of biking Castleton…
After driving few miles…. I was exhausted…. My condition was poor…I was out of breath..tired and my back was paining…..there was NO problem with my legs…but the seating arrangement was horrible…and made the experience awful …I was jumping over my seat to avoid the pain due to friction and I was helpless…it was badly hurting…and the enjoyment was getting over….
I screamed, shouted and ridiculed Sam…saying…I came to this trip for pleasure not for punishment …and he in turn… to deviate me from the suffering …..gave me Jaffa Cakes… …. Declaring them the most awaited reward for increasing stamina…and explained their nutrition content and the amount of carbohydrates they carry… I was not at all in a state to understand the composition and the ingredients involved in the same…because the taste was second-rate …I never liked it…it just added to my trouble…
Anyhow…he was successful after few lectures and finding no available options I was having them after every few miles and disliking them even more…..
People were divided in two groups of 2 …. First one was of Sanjeev and PS who were now walking with cycle and were leading...neither tired…nor bored… and were good company to each other…they were enjoying it unlike me who was struggling every mile of the journey…with..Nonsense…motivational chatter of Sam, Jaffa cakes and ever-increasing pain…we were 5 ppl in this group that included Anshul, Sam,Sandeep, yogindra and me…
Anshul was in the same state as mine…was cursing the whole trip and condemning his decision to be here in such a terrible weather and wind.. as compared to all the comfort at home…….
I can’t forget the drama…hee he he hee……he used to cycle few meters…and then throw himself on the grass after throwing his bike on the same….. and order me to click him …hee hee hee hee…and we used to follow him,… inspite of all this pain we were not losing any opportunity to smile while being clicked….
And finally the toughest part of the journey arrived…when we had to cycle on the upward slope… 3 of us decided to take a little more break…while Yogindra and Sandeep left to continue uphill and we were again busy with our photo session….
Finally we decided to move….and I think…all the unfavorable condition would have ganged together that day… wind was blowing at a speed of around 60-70 miles per hour… in opposite direction Slope was acutely inclined…. whole body was paining and we were badly starving…. we saw some professional bikers.. walking up hill instead of cycling due to wind pressure…and we followed them…all of us were walking slowly…stressed and oppressed by the climate….and found others waiting for us and making fun of us….PS gained huge respect for leading the trek …against all expectations…while we three were a subject of leg pulling J…
Now we found a neat place in the farm to have our lunch….the food was chilled….and so was us.
Paoo bhaaji drew a huge appreciation from everyone…and second was our Pasta…which lagged only due to presentation J anyway Sandeep was a good cook indeed and having a meal like this…after so much exploitation and starvation was rewarding.
We walked a few miles in to fields….and a group photo session started…(can be seen in slideshow above) we enjoyed there for some time and then due to worsening weather condition decided to drive back…all our pain was till the time…we were walking uphill the time we started cycling down..no pedaling was required …cycle was moving downwards…with a high speed…and the ride was much pleasant…the speed was uncontrollable we were just dealing with the handles….
and this was the happiest and most fulfilling moment of the trip…now I could feel and admire the spectacular view surrounding us….it looked much pleasant as compared to earlier…..
We then came to the plane and again cycling was pain…we drove to some Café…suggested by Sam…met a huge and handsome Dog called Scam…I was always scared of Dog but I really enjoyed playing with this one…finally we were resting and my back was comfortable…..but our enthusiastic riders ready to explore the place…left the café to roam around on cycle….we drove few miles…and I was lagging behind all…after having rest it was too uncomfortable for me to paddle again…my body wanted rest and it was being exploited…..anyway we spotted one farm…and entered … relaxed on the grass….
then finally someone spotted a stream flowing behind the farm…all rushed to the place…and again shot some memories.....
We sung, posed and enjoyed and then left for the station….all of them reached about half an hour before and I was following Sandeep who lost the way..and drove much ahead leaving the station behind and when we realized it I was much disappointed at myself for following him…anyway he covered the difference easily and I was struggling with my paddles….. I arrived last…and became a subject of fun for everyone for such poor performance …highly unexpected from me….L..anyway.. J J I was never disappointed…it was a new endeavor of photography and adventure for me…and a lifetime experience….
Castleton being a very small station….. Train’s frequency was low… and it had a poor waiting area…
but you could even enjoy a barren place when you are with an interesting group like ours so we started playing some…games and then I started singing…and people were leaving the only available waiting area one by one…while Sam and Ps were singing along… hee hee hee we realized very late that we are actually torturing them… they needed some peace after this hectic journey….and when we boarded our trains… in no time all were asleep…..and got up only when Manchester arrived…..Despite of all the discomfort …pain and agony..this trip was really adventurous and unique …. And not to mention it was one of the most memorable trips…
Travel Trip:-
Castle ton is a small town situated in Peak district county… it has spectacular views of roads surrounded by green hills… and is famous for caves… and natural beauty.. it is just half an hour or less from Manchester and tickets can be booked at reasonable prices on the spot ….
here are some useful links about the place which can help in planning the journey....
Note: Special Thanks to sam for his useful suggestion while writing the Travelogue
it was real funny and other side of u Priyanka..yet its interestin to read too...
Exciting collection of thoughts and events ..... PT even add other exciting and natural aspects of the journey ... it will attract other nature lovers also .. even those who don't know you .....
Wonderfully compiled experience. :) Now I feel like trying my hand at moutain biking ...
Hey PT......Well done.....Really glad to read all this....It really was an unforgettable experience......But you know i was in same state as yours not because i was non energetic but because Ranjeet has to be with Aruna Irani always :-)))) Can you post the same sequence of other trips that we had together......Yorkshire i guess :-))
sure Ranjeet...
brilliant goin....gr8 pics