Crew: El Pres, Troll, Butty, Stunt
Pub: Dunc
Route: Rainbow Bridge, Endon House climb, Lidgetts Lane, Bull Hill lane, Tearooms, Shining Tor, Pym Chair, Jenkin Chapel, Dead mans hill, Poachers
Conditions: Cool, Dry, Strengthening breeze
Notes:
It may technically be spring (equinox on the 20th) but not much sign of springlike weather, although “not raining, above 5C, not too windy” is as good as it gets of late!
A small crew, with plans to go high, partly for variety, and partly because the forest is going to be mostly out of action for quite a while.
Rendevous at RB goes well, Butty arrives with the still caped crusader Joe as we are overlapping with his commute once again. We put the world of baby chick management to rights! (well it is nearly Easter)
Phil arrives having managed to park at the right end of town 🙂
We choose a tearooms goyt plan, and head off, early worries about soft tyres ,squeaky bottom bracket & rubbing brakes soon banished.
Skies are cloudy with no moon evident, light in the west and glow from the plains, and snow bones against the field walls, makes for a slightly eerie atmosphere.
Breeze is picking up, but mostly cross to tail on the climb to the tea rooms, our small crew stringing out a bit, so much riding in ones own thoughts. Bright lights from walkers seen on Shutlingsloe, and the odd obscenity shouted in our direction from a small red car…Mr T???
Head wind on the final stretch to the tea rooms, extra layers rapidly donned, and a troll complaining of iffy quads.
Route replanned to avoid the climb out of the goyt…means up to shining tor and across the “Yorkshire Northshore”!
The wind is strong up there, a quick hunker down by the wall for Mrs B’s best parkin and some TNR winters gold, very welcome.
Time is a pressing so we hoist sail with the wind at our backs and head off.
Care over the waterbars (no one wants a puncture tonight!!) then it’s rapid going, even once off the slabs the trails are not too sloppy.
An amazing 15 mins later we are at Pyms chair, passing ducks in the puddle by the cattle grid!
Into wind down hill, some harder work on the hidden hills to the start of Ewrin lane, but then more tail wind for the final climbs.
Poachers for 9:10
Butcome gold rather quaffable, and Halloumi kebabs the meal of choice (even if table chips needed).
Dunc arrives on comedy BMX, a good degree of mild raucousness before braving the cold breeze on the way home.