Crew: PTD, El Pres, Slim, 3 Sheds, Butty, TJ, Bern, Luc, Stunt
Pub: Jane & Sally
Route: Bolly Maze, Grimshaw lane, Redway past Nancy, Back of Kerridge, Rainow, Oakenbank, Spuley lane, Pott Shrigley, Bakenstonedale road to the layby, up to Sponds Trig, back to Dale Top, Quarries descent, Moorside lane, Pott Shrigley, Poachers.
Conditions: Hot, Dry, nice breeze, epic thuderhead over Manchester.
Stats: 1 mangled rear mech faff (El Pres)
Notes:
An Austin production as we are blessed with a long overdue visit of Luc, now sporting neat white whiskers!
Gathering at the Bolly Maze, its skorchio, and our elder statesmen have opted for shorts but no shirt “skins” approach (they both have the torso’s to carry it off). The catching up with Luc begins, and Emma drops by to say hi…and sort out keys with PTD.
The temperatures suggest we don’t want to overexert ourselves, but our slim leader takes us straight uphill! Fortunately there is a breeze which cools nicely as we ride. Not a speck of mud on Kerridge, and a rare cut down to the lower track through the woods from the N side (possibly just to force Butty to lift his ebike over a metal gate?)
Any expectations of a slack ride are dashed as we unexpectedly vote No to a cheeky half at the robin hood! Scarecrow count in Rainow a bit low, but the Church, Scout hut and pub had all tried hard.
Ramblers were gathering in the lane – presumably for a less hot walk than during the day?
Spanish conditions on Oakenbank – dusty, loose and with spiky vegetation after your elbows!
How come we have never noticed the badger weathervane on the house in the traffic island at the end of Oakenbank!?
Onwards and upwards to the layby, and much appreciation for the shade along most of the route. Off road is the best going you will get with both a clear line and grippy grass. So much so that it had tempted a Nancy gravel biker, who paused to chat at the big stile.
Time and our internal temperatures both seemed to be onside, so up to Sponds, taking the time to admire Hairy Coos, Red Deer, and an impressive big shower just beyond Manchester city centre.
A boys of summer shot at the trig point (thankfully no one suggested we all go skins!), and then down over the down and ups to Dale Top. We almost all of us, as a noise like riding over corrugated iron heralded some near fatal derailleur action at the back of El Pres’s giant.
Fate was with him as on a night where one pair of pliers might not have been enough, the engineering might of Luc was with us. Some serious tutting when the coat hanger wire pivot replacement (that had failed) turned out to be a two year old repair!
Whilst the metal bashing was underway, the lead riders were watching the heavy shower developing into a proper thunderhead, and also noting that it was tracking towards us. More worryingly at 10 miles out it was sucking the air past us towards it!!
Regrouped we headed along the ridge, caught up with Phil, Butty and PTD who were playing in the old quarry below the whales tooth, and then came up past the mine diorama, and down the superfast grassy descent – with all rocks visible.
Everyman for themselves to the pub, where reserved tables awaited. For such a fine evening it was very quiet at the poachers. A lot of lager’s ordered to quench and cool, and the very pleasant ability to all sit around one table!
Lots of catch ups and parallel conversations, some pilot weather appiness tracked the storm cell, calls were made to close velux windows, and then anticlimax…as it stayed to the West!
A lovely treat as Sally and Jane joined us, and wine, conversation and reminicences flowed. Post pub Jane has to ride Luc’s bike back, so that he can drive the uber cool T6 california camper back to chez austin. Full TNR points to Jane for making it up Lord street!
A superb red harvest full moon lit the way home to crown a wonderful evening.