Words by Alex , Photos by Dunc, Butty and TJ
Crew: El Pres, 3 Sheds, Slim, TJ, Butty, Dunc, Troll, Stunt
Route: New Road to Tea Rooms, Goyt descent to Shooters Clough, Over the Stream behind Errwood Hall, up Foxlow edge, last bit of the Street, across the moor to Windgather, through the woods to Taxal Edge, Kettleshulme, up past the Moorside, Bowstones, Dale Top, straight down the grassy descent to Moorside Lane, Pott Shrigley, Poachers.
Conditions: Warm, Dry, Buggy, Humid
Notes:
El Pres decrees a bring your own butties and beer, and go big with a last orders pub finish.
Rendevous are planned at various places along Buxton road all the way to the tea rooms, and without the use of technology the posse gathers numbers on a hot ride up to the tearooms where Butty awaited on high!
After some mandatory cooling down time, we headed up to meet him, and found him chatting to another ebiker with a “e-light” bike.
Some discussion on what the straight on route is called, and we went straight on! A pause at the turn for Shining Tor as we watched a long eared owl soaring over the long grass looking for supper, it was a big one!
Fast and hard down to Shooters Clough gate, then fast and hard down the clough to the stream and the rocky bits. Space given for the two ladies on ebikes coming up!
A smattering of folk walking or picnicing in addition to the riders and runners all enjoying a fine evening.
Foxlow edge route taken to avoid being on the wrong end of riders coming down the shrine descent. Turned out to be a long push in parts, and heavily fly infested. At the top we met a guy toting an offroad long skateboard thing, and on the descent had to focus when passing the couple walking up the way we had come from.
Butty stop at Windgather agreed upon, so time to savour the conditions across the moor and along by the wall on the way.
The clinking of gear heralded rock faces crawling with climbers, some of whom cheekily pointed out that the rocks were not a bridleway. We found a clear spot and settled down to enjoy the views, munch on our sarnies, and savour a cold beer (or G&T!).
Re-invigorated we commit to the full circuit, and head into the woods (with a gate held open for us by a nice young lady) and up to Taxal edge. Serious ducking under the trees needed at the end, but all arrive safely.
A different story on the other side of Kettleshulme, as half the group miss the Left Hand turn into Priest lane, and detour round to meet us close to the Moorside. Tired legs as the sun sank at Bowstones at 9:50pm, but a call to the poachers to find that last orders would be 11pm gave a fresh boost. Lights on and heads down, watch out for the dew on the grass on the final descent, and pints on the table by 10:30.
A new beer ordering format of <Beer><your name> led to potential new nicknames, “Peroni Pete” and serious sniggering “Big Willy Phil!” , our barmaid had heard it all before, and efficiently sorted our orders and bills out with ease. Leffe’s were needed to revive weary bodies before the ride home. With an AoE having an extra nip too!
Stats will show it was a munro night, and an excellent high summer adventure. As it was St Swithin’s day…will we be blessed with 40 days of summer now? Here’s hoping!