Crew: El Pres, Slim, Butty, TJ, Troll, Lee, Stunt
Pub: G, Dunc
Route: Bolly Viaduct, canal, track to Oak lane, Higher lane to Endon House climb, Lidgetts lane, back of Kerridge to Waulkmill wood, Ingersley vale, poachers snicket, blaze hill, jumper lane, oakenbank, vale.
Conditions: Very wet (but not cold)
Notes:
Slim gets to call a Bolly finish as it’s his birthday week….”but give an inch” …and it becomes a Bolly start too!!
We assemble in a dry spell after a big downpour, with one more rainband forecast.
Butty arrives on acoustic hardtail (ebikes don’t like the rain!), Stunt has replaced his worn lighting bracket, and the Troll has not forgotten anything!!
Waterproof trousers? or wait and see? we set off under grey skies and the first spits of the wet stuff.
A semi urban bimble up to the canal, and a chance to admire the eclectic and at times amusing statuary in the gardens on the opposite bank of the water. The full size green back turtle was quite striking!
Getting quite slippy on the rocks and roots on the last part of the Endon house climb, and time for waterproofs for some at the top. Within moments it was waterproofs for all!
After two long years Lidgetts lane has finally reopened, and a new covered reservoir is in place on the uphill slope just before the summit. Would be interesting to know how big it is underneath!
Back of Kerridge not yet in full winter slop mode, but it won’t be long with regular dousings like this.
Butty calls an early “Nippy Sweety” stop at the bench at Waulkmill wood where we are under decent leaf canopy. It takes two nips to fortify us to carry on down past the roaring waterfall and into Ingersley Vale. Lee finally catches us up at the end of the Poachers snicket, dressed in a festival poncho.
Route is adapted to climb on Tarmac, so up Blaze hill past the squashed toad, and then a rapid splash across and down Jumper lane and into Oakenbank. The rain has finally petered out, and we get some nice views of ragged clouds over the twinking lights of the Happy Valley.
A final bit of fun down and then on to the Vale.
Pete has left a serious locking chain at the carpark, and we secure to the big yellow metal gate (and get shouted at from a window by a chap very concerned that we didn’t put bikes against his fence!).
Dripping we enter the warmth of the Vale with nice hot radiator for drying kit.
Table service, Eastern Nights or Long Hop, and the wondorous return of gammon with two eggs!!
Great to see G, mention in despatches for TJ the bike safety monitor, and last orders at 9:45 prevents Dunc getting a drink after popping in after an actual work in person social event!
The Autumn season has officially started!