Words by Alex, Photos by Pete & Butty
Crew: Slim, El Pres, PTD, Troll, Butty, Coley, 3 Sheds, Stunt, Bern
Pub: Dunc, Nic, Croxy, G
Route: Riverside Park, Bollin Valley to Prestbury, Chelford Road, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane (with cheeky woody detour), Slade Lane, Finlow Hill Lane, Windmill wood tracks to Artists lane, Castle Rock, Legh Arms
Conditions: Mild with muddy trails
Notes:
BAU returns with the Swiss adventurers recovered 🙂
Pete declares birthday rights to route and goes for and Alderley visit with a Tythy friendly finish.
He is also late to his own plan! Which gives the rest of us time to catch up 🙂
Overnight rain has left the bollin valley muddy in places, not great for tramping over the new carpet in the Legh arms to enquire about food ordering then!
9pm deadline = order now…which takes a bit longer than expected as we were given the wrong menu!
Finally underway..with lights now needed (the dark riding season is upon us)
Bradford lane the first descent…although Pete manages to miss the entrance and has to be called back!! We spy a running fox by the caravan park.
Plenty of excitement on the decent with the mix of slippy stone, sticky mud and dry leaves meaning full concentration required.
A TNR first on the Hocker ascent as some of the commuting trails are shared with the group.
Nice views across the plains on the climb up Slade lane, away from the main road on Finlow hill lane to complete the circle before heading onto the properly muddy tracks!
The usual fun through the woods to the owl, and a great off road on the RHS of Artists lane coming back up (needs to be done down next time).
Time is against us, so a quick in and out to Castle rock (amazingly without getting lost) for some Brandy snifters to celebrate Pete’s birthday, before heading back down the road to the Legh Arms.
Wizard, IPA or Peroni, fish n chips, burger with bonus egg and bacon :-), or Gnocci. Chips the size of small logs are impressive! Table rapidly fills up with more of the team, tales of the Jura, garage security and general banter all round.
Pince Nez are all the rage..and we all have a PN alter ego…much hilarity 🙂
Numbers dwindle after settling up, but an axis remains for a cheeky Monkey’s shoulder before accompanying a very sweary and loud birthday boy back up the valley 🙂
Autumn TNR season officially open!