Words by Eric, Pics by Pete
Crew; El Pres, Slim, Butty, TJ, 3 Sheds, Mr I, Eric,
Route: BL, OBR, Charity, Standing Stone, Back of the Moon, 2 sided valley, Wildboarclough, A54, Tagsclough, Eagle and Child, Alpaca B’way, Hawk’s Nest, 3 Shires, Soggy Field, A54 again, , Cumberland Brook, Wildboarclough again, Standing Stone again, St Dunstan’s
Conditions; Dry and cold.
Stats; Eric – wonky jockies.
Offs; Non reported
In the warm glow of a couple of beers the previous week a suggestion was made of a sandwich night to allow a slightly longer ride. This coupled with unfinished business at the back entrance to 3 Shires and Mr I’s penchant for turning the simplest food idea into Gourmet Night lead to the “big picanic plan”.
The only planned part was the picanic and the target of Three Shires. After climbing up to Teggs we decided to carry on towards our primary target rather than get sidetracked. In hindsight that sounds like a rather familiar mistake which has been made at this point before. Nevertheless we pressed on for a route grande direct – straight line across the map. Well as straight as decency allows. Charity was safely negotiated before the going got a little tougher over Back of the Moon with a bit of a push followed by a bit of a splosh. Butty found the “Vicar of Dibley” sized muddy pool and was fortunate not to loose his seat as they say in horsey circles. As we descended the two sided valley the temperature inversion was dramatic to say the least.
Two choices from the valley – up the very steep bit by the old Post Office, or up the steep bit by the Rose and Crown – steep bit please. Time was ticking along and after the long slog up to the entrance to Tagsclough there ensued a bit of a debate about the wisdom of our plan – 8.45 and nowhere near the furthest point yet; and still a picnic to enjoy. Let’s press on and stop for a picnic at the highest point where the frost is forming. My Chinese friend talks of “unwisdom” The picanic was broken out with pies and a range of single malts keeping the spirits up before another chilly plunge down to Burntcliff Top and then dropping down the lanes to the Alpaca bridleway which is a fun drop down to the river and a less fun push back up, but it leads onto the Hawks Nest track which leads onto Three Shires – not a problem almost half way. The long descent to the bridge gave everyone a good shaking up, but not as much as the realization that this might be the first no pub TNR; the plan to ride big and miss kitchen closing time didn’t consider riding so big we missed pub closing time.
The logic of desperate men – which is quicker, Cut Thorne or the field exit? – the reality, it doesn’t matter, they are both a long way from home! The field was chosen and after a push and a fight with the firmly fixed lambing gate we were back on the A54 and heading off for Cumberland Brook. As we peddled wearily back along Wildboarclough at 10.45 we worked through the list of pubs, all probably closed by now on a Thursday. Slim and your correspondent decided that there was no prospect of a snifter at this time of night and took the direct route north, leaving the southern chaps and the Poynton mafia to climb back over Standing Stone and head dejectedly for the fleshpots.
Yet lo ……….or other biblical phrases, a welcoming light yonder; the long forgotten St Dunstan’s welcoming weary travelers until 12am – as the sign says. Butty arrived home before 2am so all is well, mission success.
Next time ….?