Words by Alex, Photos by Pete, Butty, Bern and Dr S
Echelons from: PTD, El Pres, Slim, Butty, Troll, Mark, Stunt, Bern, Dr S, G, Dunc.
At the firepit: Lee, Adrian
Route: Middlewood Bolly Viaduct, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale road to layby, ascent towards Bowstones, cheeky descent to Higher Lane, Priest lane/Kishfield lane into back of Kettleshulme, Flatts lane to Clayhole lane, and join with Side end Lane (under Windgather). Pyms chair, moor tracks and singletrack to Windgather, through the woods to Taxal, Taxal edge, Kettleshulme, Main road to Bakenstonedale road, Pott Shrigley, Bolly, the hosting firepit.
Conditions: Clear, cool, really dry trails, heavy shower later!
Notes:
A joint operations command of Butty and Slim, promises new routes to Taxal, and homemade lamb tagine and bolly beer to finish. Plan it and they will come!
Much welcoming of prodigals, and admiration for the welding job on Marks “new” steed. Dr S get the award for shortest bike ever! (borrowed from his son while he decides on a new bike).
And Paul has a new piece of PPE !
We are soon strung out as the route is mainly “up”. Climb on road is modified due to the amazingly dry conditions, and after some inevitable faffing, and Bern declaring that maintenance is pointless, the grassy climb to bowstones is the easiest it has ever been.
Decent to the road down rock strewn snickets is over far too soon, and more steep sections of lane as we “contour” into Kettleshulme and then climb out onto more steep little lanes.
One section is too much for Bern’s chain, and his “fix it when it breaks” comes to pass. Luckily for him others were able to provide the required quick link! Cool when you stop, and the odd spot of rain in the air, and more climbing to come.
Stunning sunset on weary legs as we ascent the final tarmac section from Windgather to Pym chair, and some debate about route and time to the end of the ride. The lure of the off road to come is too strong, so with lights on, and the odd flake of snow in the air we enjoy the trails.
The Windgather farmer is apparently not too keen on riders in the final field these days (and a quad bike was gently tracking us from below!) so we took the official route along the edge of the plantation (which was good!) and pushed up the final metres to the start of Taxal.
Fab conditions meant all too soon we were at the end and contemplating the route back. Main road and Bakenstonedale road the consensus for fastest.
All this time riding meant that some of our professionals with early friday starts headed straight home.
The remaining riders fell foul of a nasty heavy shower to arrive very wet.
Soon warmed by the fab food and drink from our hosts. The bolly mini barrels almost foxed us..how many TNR’s does it take to get beer out of one! (almost all of us!!) Stunt provided some Laphroaig for birthday drams, and it was great to get a sense of what life might return to not too soon.
Many a stiff leg the following morning!
Great work from Adrian and Lee in the great vaccination enterprise!