Peddling to Pickering

We woke at the Knavesmire Manor Hotel.  The Hotel with the great customer service. The hotel that likes to give with one hand and take away with the other.  The hotel which believes that when taking an on line booking it has no duty of care to provide what has been booked.   We have some work to do on Trip Advisor.   We headed off to The centre of York in to facilitate Richard buying some extra underwear. He was obviously not keeping up with his washing. I waited on guard with the bikes outside HM.   There must have been a wide choice as he was gone for a long time.  Maybe he was trying them on!  Or availing himself of their fitting service.  Eventually he returned not only with the required underclothes but with some imitation flowers to go on his crossbars. All rather worrying and I would beg to suggest he is going to find it difficult to justify such frivolous spending.  Retail therapy completed we set off for Pickering.    The road out of York was easy to find and we had a quiter route away from the busy traffic.   No rain encountered or sun and so conditions rather chilly.       Undulating it was but not too steep and the miles were clocked up.     The clicking noise from my bike had not eased and in fact was worse.  It was clear that the bearings in the peddle had gone.   As we approached Stamford Bridge I could take  it no longer and enquired at a garage if the was a bike shop in the village.  The lady gave me an encouraging response and we found ourselves in the small settlement but sadly no bike shop.  We clicked on to Malton and thence to Pickering. I hoped that there would be a bike shop there.   The road was busy but straight and level. Our esteemed artiste has played in Pickering many times and has a loyal fan base. I was confident that he would know the way to the Memorial Hall, the venue for the evening.   I even checked, as a devoted domestique would, when I delivered him safely to the edge of the town.  Sadly his sense of direction failed to engage and we had to ask for some local knowledge.   We peddled along the busy high street to the bridge at the bottom and there outside were the welcoming reception committee. The evening was a near sell out with over hundred tickets sold in advance. It was going to be a great night.  It was a very special evening for our hosts; Jane and her children Chloe and Nick assisted by Ben and Amanda along with their family, Joe, Tom and Greg.  Lovely, lovely people.  They were raising money for a cancer charity Leukemia and Lymphoma following the passing of Jane's husband in June of 2013.  I like to think I know how they feel.   After a delightful lunch we set about arranging the space into  show mode. For a change we had so much help. The clicking bike was still on my mind and I was directed to Big Bear Bikes around the corner.   I could not have been gone more than five minutes.  The bike mechanic dropped everything and fixed the Norco in double quick time.  What incredible service. No more clicking.    Marek was right, many of the components on the poor old Norco are in need of replacement.  We will have to nurse it through.   The stage was up on my return and the bikes were soon in place.  Lights were arranged and focused.    The maestro was in positive mood.  What could go wrong? With everything in place well ahead of show time Richard went to wash and brush up and slip into his new line of underwear at the Forest and Vale hotel.    In my position as stage manager I remained at the venue  tinkering with the lights.    Nothing went wrong.  My man played his socks off.  Not his new underwear,  which was good.   No arrests.    Plenty of positive feedback and we heard that many of the audience had travelled miles to be there.     A speedy pack away whilst the artiste chatted with his adoring public.   The help from the "committee" was much appreciated.      Out and back to the Forest and Vale.  No food available but we made do with a couple of packets of crisps. Kitchen was locked up!  Jane and her family and friends joined us for drinks in the bar and great chats  were had.   The service of the night porter left much to be desired. In the words of the maestro who summed her attitude in a few words "Sullen, unhelpful and begrudging". She needs to consider a career change ASAP.   Bed at 0.45   Good morning!   825 miles.  Full statistics to follow.