With a house the main thing to look after is the roof, once water starts getting in that's when you start getting problems, with the Track it's the drains. And the best time to see how well they're coping is after it's been raining.
Good News
There used to be a flooding problem in the area around Manor Road Bridge in Scarborough. The land drains were improved a year or so ago but then a blockage in the main drain that they led to caused foul water to back up on the Track. This has now been fixed and, apart from a bit of water along the edges, this stretch of Track has stayed clear.
Standing water
Because the Track surface is often lower than its surroundings water tends to accumulate without running away. in the longer term we need to make sure that the Track is properly profiled so that water runs off. This problem affects many flatter stretches.
Standing water near the Rugby Club
Deep flooding
Just after the Track crosses the Coastal Road in Burniston it's completely flooded. A few years ago a drain that runs under the road was unblocked and it looks like it's time this was done again. Meanwhile, it's a short diversion to take the main road towards Burniston, turn right onto Cross Lane and then right again onto Rock's Lane to rejoin the Track at the bridge.
Flooding at Burniston
Water running along the surface
When water runs along a surface made of loose material it not only makes unpredictable gullies but also leaves drifts of loose material that can catch your front wheel and throw you off. This is a particular problem for inexperienced cyclists. Sometimes the water is simply rain which has landed on the track itself. This could be dealt with by grading the surface so it runs off sideways. Sometimes, it's also coming from somewhere else. E.g a spring has emerged under Cober Hill Bridge (near Cloughton), water is then running for a couple of hundred metres down the Track before heading off sideways into a field. This could be water that's running down an electrical conduit before getting forced to the surface.
Spring under Cober Hill Bridge
Severe erosion near footpath
to Staintondale
Overflowing drain near field entrance
half a mile below Hayburn Wyke
Water running along the top of the embankment
just below the Grange Farm crossing
Overhanging broken branches
The Goat willows which have self seeded along many parts of the Track, annoyingly in many of the drainage channels, are approaching the end of their lives (40 years or so) and becoming increasingly fragile. There were at least half a dozen half broken branches dangling dangerously over the Track as well as one tree that had conveniently decided to fall over in the other direction.
Enlarge this and you'll spot the dangling branch
Fallen Goat Willow to the north of
Grange Farm crossing (the double gates
across the Track)
When I went out I thought it had stopped raining but it had really been about to rain after all and I got pissed through on my way back down the road from Ravenscar.
