Words by Alex, Photos by El Pres
Crew: El Pres, PTD, 3 Sheds, Troll, Stunt
Pub: Dunc, Adrian
Route: BL, Cat, Danebower Hollow, Cumberland Clough, Standing Stone, Bobs Bench, St Dunstans.
Conditions: Not Raining, Not windy, sub 5.
Notes:
The skies have cleared after the days ration of rain (November now officially the wettest and dullest month of 2019 according to Buxton weather)
It may be cold but it’s not raining, it’s not windy, and we can finally head further than the confines of the forest!
Before we do, plenty of faffage, as PTD astride shiny new Norco 29er full suss running 2.6″ of rubber has to fettle seat position, and rear shock (which is playing up..or more accurately not providing enough play!)
The Troll realises his handlebar mount is on the other bike (and borrows a light from Chris), and we welcome back Mr Ball!
Our legs (and ar*es!) seem to have forgotten how to do the long climb to the cat, which is harder than we recall!! Light traffic, and stunning winter views of the plains and the skies are well worth it.
A bit of skip inspection at the top, definitely some work going on…
Too chilly to linger, and across Danebower..serious amounts of surface water, and warnings from 3 sheds about ruts..
A quick dash on the road and onto Chumby, with more caution about eroded sections from Mr B (secret training rides?? would account for his impressive speed to the cat!)
The normally safe lines on the edges are super slippy, and the mini ravines are chunky!, bedrock corner was a welcome relief..before ensuring enough momentum to cross the double stream! (not seen that much water heading to the waterfall in a long long time)
Cumberland brook also semi aquatic with big boulders! PTD has excitement due to lack of rear suspension, Stunt must have put too much air into his newly serviced from forks..he had some unwanted bounce !
It’s all good and a great change from the last few weeks, which pub discussion on the road to standing stone, and EL Pres with a little help from google gets us food ordered at the Dunny.
Just time for the top LHS (steps have gone!) and a blast round bobs bench.
Excellent Wreckless evapourates very fast, food is fab, and some bizarre 9 ball USA vs Europe pool match on the tellybox is a bit distracting.
Adrian and Dunc join us, we are light on Ribaldry…and the lack of an Austin is cited a possible cause (although we are also missing Butty!)
Mr Ball berates us for having got old and slow when we mention he may have been secretly training in preparation for his return 😉
a mini AoE are still finishing off the spare pies left over from the local pool league match well past the witching hour.
Frost on the cars by the time we got home.