Crew: PTD, Slim, Butty, TJ, 3 Sheds, Mr I, Coley, Croxy, Stunt
Pub: Nic & Dunc
Route: BL, Rainbow Bridge, Middlewood way, Bolly back streets, snicket to Poachers, Bakestonedale road, Gritstone Trail, Sponds Hill, Dale Top, Quarry Descent, Birchencliff, Styperson Woods, Sneaky Slither to Middlewood way, Vale.
Conditions: Mild, Light rain higher up, very wet & muddy trails.
Notes:
Another night of clouds, rain and muddiness in prospect, but a southerly breeze might just keep the hill fog at bay.
Decent crew assembles (including we welcome return of Croxy!) and Butty takes the routemeistering lead.
A nice bit of variety on the way to Pott Shrigley, and then due to likely ground conditions, a rare road climb to the gritstone trail. By the top the odd fleck of dampness in the air had turned to proper rain, although cloudbase higher than the hills. Waterproofs on (many unzipped due to lack of coldness), and onwards to Sponds.
Any thoughts of Bowstones and into the Park are abandoned as the ground is saturated, even the short traverse to the next trig point is incredibly muddy, and the whole area flecked with grey paper waste.
Time for downwards slithering, tubby tyres leading the way, hilarious lack of grip especially either side of the big double track mega ruts.
Decent views from the top style, even though not the weather for hanging about. The quarry descent very good with extra slippy challenge, some are faster than others, but all down safe.
Mud rinsed from Tyres in the Birchencliffe watersplash, before re coating in the Styperson woods 🙂
A final bit of gratuitous filth via a cut through to the Middlewood way (which almost claims Mr I in comedy slippage and over recovery barbed wire near miss!).
Down into Bolly and the Vale..which as luck would have it had space and time for food ordering (just!)
Soon the White Nancy has been drunk dry, Eastern Nights is not far behind, and Food devoured, when Nic & Dunc arrive! More co-incidence as Coley has brought a Modern T@ss collection which means that Ribald behaviour is again amongst us (or at least this end of the table).Slim’s is reduced to Basil Brush mirth on more than one occasion!
The sensible end of the table leave early (as promised), axis of evil prevented by lack of tavern flexibility (maybe just as well).
Next week cocktails in the forest and Crimbo meal 🙂