Words by Stunt, Pics by Pete
Crew: Butty, TJ, Slim, 3 Sheds, Mr I, El Pres, Coley, Stunt
Pub: Mawds, PTD, Dunc
Route:
BL, New road, tea rooms, “Straight on track”, Shooters Clough, Errwood, Foxlow Edge, Wingather rocks, Taxal Moor Ridge, Kettleshulme, Vale
Conditions:
Warm & Dry (apart from the boggy bits)
Stats:
Some nearlies – pre ride faffing from Mr I and a Dab from Stunt
Notes:
Butty rises to the routemiester vacuum with a cunning Goyty plan, The Belge mutter about heavy bikes, and Coley’s spesh sparkles with cleanliness. Bright colours abound.
An even warmer than advertised evening, and even a single layer was too warm on the climb to the tea rooms! Fabulous evening sunlight on gods own country was ample reward for the effort (and minimal motorized buzzing).
The main track descent dry (apart from the odd boggy bit), fast and not yet overgrown. Dukes of Hazzard whooping ensued (cue wistful thoughts of cousin Daisy)
Left turn into Shooters Clough –would last weekend’s downpours have dried?
Yes and No, top part very dry, then middle part very muddy, and Coley regrets the no mudguard choice 😉
Avoiding Kershaws gulch we cross the stream at Errwood and set off for new territory up Foxlow Edge (pushing content), but then get stunning 360o views from the ridge path.
“Because no one is getting any older” a tactical stop for pies and smooth Cognac (Waitrose no less!) whilst watching Kestrels at work, and bikes traversing the singletrack below.
By now RouteMeister is turning into RouteMarchenFurher as we are not on ze schedule for food!
Tracks to wingather are also superb, but its damp under the trees to Taxal moor – and fallen trees mean we have to squeeze under trees by the stiles. Persuasive talking resolves the food question with the Vale, but 30minutes is a tad optimistic given where we are.
Blazing the trail Butty goes into hyperdrive followed by Mr I, the pie invigorated Stunt, and Coley. Lights on only for the final road thrash and Vale secured by 21:35, food on the table for the later arrivals. Job done – great route and a Mawds welcome 🙂
PTD provides tales of dodgy knees, and Dunc of dodgy tyres (top tip folks – new tyres if you are going tubless!)
Tired crew perk up after the food (and a couple of beers) kick in. More nights like this!!