Thorper Christmas Tours were a something of a legend. I use the word ‘legend’ advisedly as I think they were making it up.Apparently they used to set off on 24th December (or thereabouts) and return on the 26th December (or thereabouts). It wasn’t one or two people either - upwards of a dozen, I’ve heard as high as 20.  Now I know some of you mummy’s boys couldn’t possibly be away at that time of year, and I would not propose something as radical.However, in the spirit of tradition me and ‘Bodsey’ (an ex-Thorper some of you will have met on Linda’s Ride) have been doing a Christmas Tour for about four years now. This year we’re planning to go away Saturday 11th December and return on Sunday 12th December.We usually head out to the Dales, stay overnight (pub, b&b), have a few beers (yes, I know that’s a banned substance for some of you lightweights). Lunch breaks are equally ’sociable’. Previous years have been to Appletreewick, Reeth, Gunnerside and Low Row (Well, with the last one got to Hawes before we binned it ‘cos of the Arctic conditions). This year with probably be back to Low Row as it is ‘unfinished business’. (For those who’ve done the Rayner Ride the Punch Bowl is on the left before that horrendous climb that takes you out of Swaledale and up to the Tan Hill… eventually).That’s about as far as we’ve got with the planning. If anybody would like to join us you’re more than welcome (more the merrier). Mudguards, lights, panniers obligatory, which I know will be a strange experience for some of you. However, it is a good way of getting 160m of winter miles in :-)RegardsCraig