Words & Pics by Pete
Route: RH, Endon Hall Lane, Lidgetts, Kerridge Ridge, White Nancy, t’other side of the Ridge , Trig Point , descent to Rainow , The Robin Hood
Crew: Butty, Slim, El Pres, Coley, Bernard, 3Sheds, Trollster and ….the Croxmeister
Conditions: Beautifully warm, still mild at Midnight
Notes:
I do love the serendipity of our Thursday night rides.
Or was this week’s placebo of a route and slackism a pre-meditated plan? Who knows, but there are plenty of suspects.
So, my understanding in the 24 hrs leading up to this “ride” was that we would “go big and go high” …or at least thats what I thought El presidente said .
However, by the time we had assembled on the AZ side of the Rainbow Bridge there was a definite mood in the camp ….
The Trollster had already let on that he was bringing some indulgences with him to celebrate his annual bike maintenance binge (or was it to celebrate his birthday 🙂 )
With the weather being so fine, they were all keen to make most of it .
Just beyond the trig point we stopped and Mr I produced a veritable feast from his rucksack …..
Hendricks and Fever Tree Tonic …with cucumber of course …to wash down :
Stuffed Vine leaves
A selection of fine artisan meats
Mini pork pies
Posh sausage rolls
Samosas
The view down to Rainow and Ingersley Vale in the fantastic evening light kept getting better and better . Twas a fine spot to have a slack evening.
It was just about OK to ride the ridge to White Nancy , but then Butty led us back down to to the bridleway on the Rainow side of the hill.
This , when you are full of snacks and Hendricks, was just about manageable ….but then we hair-pinnned right and up to the ridge again……oh dear
I was glad when the climbing stopped , and we could hoon it down again , taking the Rainow-bound track. This was dry , for the first time I can ever remember.
In no time at all we were locking the bikes up at the Robin Hood, and quaffing some fine ales outside.
I should have known that the AOE was bound to materialise later on.
