Words & pics by Pete – all pics are “Library Stock” as it was far to wet and horrible to get my camera out
Route : Messing about on the canal towpath and middle wood way between Kerridge and Poynton ..with some bolted-on bits (Tinkers’s Clough, Clarence Mill Bridge, Styperson Woods etc)
Crew : Butty, Troll, Pete and Dunc .
Pub : Lee
Weather : Cool and very wet – but it got quite a bit better
Notes:
It’s just about dark. we are gathered under Clarke lane bridge on the Middlewood way. It’s p1ssing it down and the guy with the black Alsatian dog who is also sheltering here must be wondering about our sanity. At least he has a good reason to be out in this awful downpour.
We check various weather apps. Butty suggests we stay low on canal and middle wood….and his excellent knowledge of all the little bits just off the canal or Middlewood way is quickly deployed. He is now ops leader mode and the rest of us can just tag along and feel softly smug about the slight moral high ground we will occupy for the next two hours.
With Butty and Dunc on 29in wheels, and Troll on 27.5 …I (on humble , heritage 26in ..) was playing catch up for the duration of the ride. But it kept me mentally occupied , and before I realised it the rain had stopped !
After almost reaching TJ’s house in Poynton , we headed South again for the finale . This began with forging a route up to the top of Styperson Woods from Sugar Lane which Butty labelled “Pete’s route”. Narrow, a bit overgrown and definitely too muddy places. But a sense of achievement !
From here it is a slight descent all the way to the Beeston Brow end of Long Lane , where a sharp left and short steep climb up Green Lane takes you to another of my favourite local bits.
I love this short and steep bit of offroad down to Shrigley Rd . In daylight it often provides a classic “Mill town in the Peak District” view , in the dark the town lights are always welcoming you back to the warmth of home or , preferably, pub .
The Poachers was quiet but the staff were very attentive .
The Nancies were already in residence – but at about half their usual number.
Dunc’s presence from the outset of the ride meant that I was fully prepared for the ribaldry zone as we stepped into the pub. There was, I recall, much chortling at my 1970s inappropriateness – like an episode of “Life On Mars”. I think Dunc was updating the Twitter feed he set up just for me.
Good food , excellent beer …Timothy Taylors Something???? …not Landlord …which was followed by a cheeky Leffe and then a Kwak (its all Butty’s fault)
And a short ride home for some …..