Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: PTD, El Pres, Slim, Croxy, 3 Sheds, Butty, Mr Inc, Stunt
Camp followers: Adrian, TJ
Route: BL, Road to Smithy, reverse Ressies, White Rabbit Ascent, Nessit Hill, Almost to Standing stone, for the Back of the Moon climb, Pigford moor, 2 sided valley, Wildboarclough, Nabs road, Hanging Gate, Pott Lords.
Conditions: Warm, Dry, bit windy.
Notes:
A Pott Lords BBQ is finally “On” this week, with good weather, and last minute (but effective) beer and food logistics from PTD & the Troll.
Whilst they sort supplies the rest of us meet at BL as usual, to find a very welcome early arrival in 3 sheds! the knee is still iffy, but he’s going to ride anyway! Croxy is tempted into 2 rides in a row (if only every TNR were sunny with a BBQ finish)
We all meet up outside the Church in Langley, where PTD gives us the route plan (good thing we need climbing training!)
Still its a great night to be out, and dry trails are easier to ascend. The hard men take the Trail Monkey’s climb on the first part of the White Rabbit ascent – but apparently there were better views at the bench on the main drag! 😉
Having taken in more of the landscape at Dans Bench, we get to the top of the S bends to see a line of moving dots all the way up Shutlingsloe…D’oh! its the Staffordshire Moorlands Summer Series fell race (Macc forest leg).
Change of plan, we cross the race carefully – some of these boys are flying downhill!, then head toward standing stone before picking up the back of the moon climb (assisted by a suprisingly strong breeze).
Pigford moor almost totally dry, although Butty manages to come off sideways on the magic matting..”because it wasn’t soggy and I bounced”
We time it perfectly to cross the slabs just after the last runner has descended, the two sided valley has a howling gale blowing through it which almost knocks us off!! (Katabatic winds?)
The grassy descent is fast and grippy, the road down from the farm even faster! Even the steep climb of Nabs lane can’t take away from the sunlit beauty all around, the plaguestone a welcome sight as its downhill all the way now 🙂 Extra points for Mr Ball for doing the whole ride!!
The Troll has brought a feast…starter snackage, sausages & burgers with almost infinite condiments, whole sweetcorns cooking in their leaves, all of which perfectly compliment the superb selection of craft lagers & ales provided by PTD.
Fire pit, chairs & best use of a 4 way ladder to create a work surface all add to the civility. …and have we mentioned the Troll BBQ Briefcase of Implements!
All goes well despite the odd change of plan from our Chef #Ihaventthoughtthisthrough.
Adrian and TJ eventually find us (and the spaniel wishes she could live here forever!).
Once all is eaten, tour of the inside from our outgoing Pott Lord, and we can understand that doing it up would take an awful lot of #RootCanalFridays to make ends meet!
Outside stunt bravely manages the firepit – rescuing at least one chair from a fiery inferno!.
Those pesky winds make it pretty chilly later on (and that’s before the decent on the way home!
A fantastic night, and fingers crossed for smooth property transactions, and house moves to come.
