Words by Eric
Crew; El Pres, PtD, Butty, Stunt, TJ, Mr I, Gee, Eric?
Lame excuses; Slim, career issues limited attendance to the pub
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Route; BL, Sutton, Hollin Lane, Fourways, Barlow Hill, Danebridge, Swythamley, Paddock bridleway, bridleway by Bearstone, Eagle and Child, Tagsclough Hill, Crag Hall, Standing Stone, Nessit, KM descent, Sutton Hall.
Conditions; Despite threatening skies the rain held off for another nights dry riding – BUT the breeze got breezier and the temperatures were more 1st of March than 1st of May.
Stats; None.
?Offs; None, surprisingly.
Notes;
For the second time in three weeks we were to be treated to a PtD route into the badlands around Gradbach. There were no real objections following the last trip which was a darned good one.
Gee was a late starter but managed to catch us just after the Ryles. Did he go fast or did we slow down? –“if a tree falls in the forest and no one sees………….” So it was off at pace up to Fourways and out to Swythamley – again. Instead of the climb out to Lud’s, PtD lead us along the rocky track towards Bearstone Rock. It was at this point your correspondent realized that, after ribbing Joe last week about inappropriate bike choice, a skinny tyred hardtail was truly a penknife at this gunfight. At least it was light for the pushy bits. The cold seemed to be seeping in as we hit the furthest point south and turned for home along the naughty boys bridleway. Bridleway is the designation on the map – technically challenging was the additional information not supplied.
By the time we regained the tarmac the conditions had deteriorated to South Pole rather than South Peak and those who had thought summer was here and broken out the shorts found themselves a little undertrousered.
Once out of the wind spirits quickly rose and we climbed over Burntcliff Top towards the Eagle and Child. Look out for the amusing “this house is not …” placards along the way; interesting neighbour wars going on there methinks. The wind returned on the climb over Tagsclough and gave a strange sensation of pushing you back up as you leaned into the bottom hairpin.
The original plan was to climb back up the A54 and descend Cumberland Brook but the howling gale strength headwind made even the downhill a hard pedal so it was down to Crag Hall and head for the forest.
Standing Stone and up Nessit to the bench below Shuttlingsloe with a birthday to celebrate. Lashings of Ginger Beer and a toast to Alex was the order of the day. Dan was remembered too, as ever and for always.
It was getting late as we went down on KM, past Bob’s bench and on at speed to Sutton Hall where Slim was already entertaining the locals. Tired legs did not inhibit the beer and banter which reached “second whisky” on the happiness metric.