Words by Eric – Photo by Phil to follow
Crew;
A Route – 3 Sheds, Eric
B Route – Dunc
Lame excuses; Everyone else out shooshing the pissed or trying to earn a living.
A Route; Tytherington to BL, back to Hurdsfield Road, climb to Kerridge ridge, snicket, Pott Shrigley, Brickworks, Moorside Lane, Birchencliff, Styperson Woods, Poachers.
B Route; Dunc’s house, White Nancy, Kerridge, half way escape, Rainow, Oakenbank, Poachers.
Conditions; The predicted window in the weather was half closed as we set off in heavy drizzle. The rest of the ride was heavier drizzle.
Stats; Phil; Mayhem style mud clogging.
Offs – Non
Big nearlies – Non
Nearlies – All the time in the mud
Notes;
Some “A” route debate, but we decided to go to BL in case anyone hadn’t read the blog and turned up on spec. The irony was not lost on us, two former residents of the close environs of the Presidential Palace riding 3 miles to meet up with someone who wasn’t there.
The dynamic duo set off up Hurdsfield Road to the start of Kerridge Ridge. The climb from the shonky gate at the start was impossible, a sign of things to come. At no point were we ever pointing in a straight line as we slithered across the bridleway, stopping halfway to de clog Phil’s wheels as the mud brought him to a grinding halt. It took us the best part of 45 minutes to transit the ridge! Down to the snicket and out past the Poachers, up to the brickworks as the drizzle continued. Common sense prevailed as we debated Sponds Hill but decided on Moorside Lane and Birchenclough. We made a couple of laps of the woods before heading for the Happy Valley and the Church House where we planned to meet Dunc. A Church House finish was new to me so I followed Phil; as we approached the Poachers I questioned the route to the Church House to find that Phil was having a senior moment. “This Church House here” he said just as he realized!
The “B” route was somewhat more sensible avoiding the deep mud and taking the high route over the ridge and Oakenbank to the Poachers.
On arrival we were the only two in the pub apart from about 9 Nancy’s whose number grew as more and more muddy bikers arrived. Feeling outnumbered it was good to see Dunc swell our crew by 50%.
The conversation turned to nuclear physics and fibreglass technology over a modest two beers. Mr Thornton where is your leadership when it is needed.