After the massive disappointment of missing
@Tubby G ride out yesterday plus having my Great Whyte in an induced coma at my LBS waiting for a heart transplant ( new battery from Bosch under warranty) I decided to dust off old Stumpy and go for a local blast……
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The pics of Woodhorn Colliery above is now a mining and heritage museum going by the name of The Cutter in which there is a gallery dedicated the now world famous Pitmen Painters. It’s all that’s left of the once mighty Ashington Coal Company. Ashington was built for the sole purpose of hewing coal and had the proud claim to be the largest pit village in the world. Not only producing coal but famous footballers, Jacky Milburn, Bobby and Jacky Charlton, cricketers Steve Harmison, Mark Wood, Ben Harmison and John Inchmore.
More importantly Hugh Cairns who gave the ultimate sacrifice in France 1918 earning a VC.
Also Dr Sheila Armstrong a world famous opera singer born in Ashington.
Not bad for a pit village……..
The black bridge that took the coals to Blyth and Newcastle across the river Wansbeck.
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The Ashington Community Woods were created after the demise of the colliery where all the pit workings were buldozed and landscaped with lakes and trails, 135 acres of semi mature woodlands.
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The trails don’t look much but there’s
enough roots and off-camber runs to make it a lively ride when you’re running on 1.95 Maxxis Ignighters, just a bit more grip than semi-slicks.
The bike is as light as a feather and rides great
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So this is supposed to pic of the day but a little bit of social history thrown in for good measure.