Words by Pete, Photos by all the crew
Crew : the usual suspects ?
Route :
Brickworks Rendezvous – Kettleshulme – Pym Chair – Windgather Rocks (Refreshments #1) – Woodsie Bit – Taxal Edge – Road climb to Gritstone Trail /Brink Farm – Sponds Trig – Dale Top (Refreshments #2) – Home via diverse routes
Weather : Cold and clear, little wind , fairly dry
Nature notes :
- Butty disturbed a Barn Owl (feeding on the ground) soon after Pym Chair
- Pete ended up racing against a badger at the Pott Shrigley end of Spuley Lane
Notes :
A novel TNR rendezvous location – the Brickworks
Butty on re-fettled Liteville with new alloy cranks (don’t trust carbon !)
Pete on 2×10 2013 Orange 5 , TJ on 1×10 earlier vintage Orange 5
A “lockdown” quiet evening on the roads ..but I was overtaken on climb up Bakestonedale Rd (to the muster point) by Rob & Andreas from the WNB.
A big tarmac climb/descent/climb to Pym Chair ..beautifully quiet and great views
First refreshment stop : Windgather . Pie ( a Tittertons Pork Pie, no less !) and mustard , Sloe gin and Mini Guinness, home made choc chip shortbread. I have good friends !
Taxal Edge descent is more relaxed and enjoyable after Pie and moderate refreshment 😉
A big grind back up to the Gritstone Trail
GT and Sponds to Dale Top is dryish, hardly any wind and a great view to the west.
Second refreshment stop : Dale Top . Whisky and banter on a fine clear night . We are blessed.
Home by 11-ish
A “pub-on-the-hill” night
Stats: c3k ft of Climb , c20 miles