Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: El Pres, Slim, Butty, Croxy, 3 Sheds, Dunc, Bern, Stunt
Route: Riverside park, Beech Hall around the back of Tyth estate and under the railway line by the golf course, Bollin valley, Prestbury, Chelford Road, Finlow Hill Lane, Bradford Lane, Hocker Lane with Alderley Park excursion, Slade Lane, Finlow Hill Lane, track across to Windmill wood, Artists Lane Owl, Wizard, the Edge, descent to Mottram Road, Mottram , Oak Road, Prestbury, Butley Ash
Conditions: Mild, Less muddy than expected, bit breezy later
Notes:
A windyish forecast is enough to prompt an annual pilgrimage to the champagne triangle, and the Tythy riverside RV.
Mutiny at the off as 3 Sheds takes us the “high road” up to Beech hall and around the back of the estate, – more gates, and more climb, but some nicer trails and the Tythy woods next to the steps slither!
The rangers have been busy fencing off just after the “under the railway by the golf course” and a new gate is installed (although the fencing is not yet complete) we will see if the now redundant one by the railway line is removed!
Reminicences of fomer commutes through Prezza and up Chelford road, then on the quiet lanes to the Bradford lane “Gnar”. An owl spot by lead rider at the start of the descent. Up the start of Hocker then into Alderley Park (now totally legal!) and some extra off road – finishing with some very muddy singletrack back to Hocker proper.
Our second mini loop is back round towards the Wizard then into the woods and across the top of Artists lane into Windmill wood. Less muddy than expected – but still very muddy in places, and the lower waterlogged bit was badly churned by hooves making progress without stopping a proper challenge!!
Climb on road from the Owl, then across the main road and into the other woods, amazingly we arrive at the Edge proper without having taken a wrong turn!
Butty again has provisions on board (just because!) and treats us to proper snowballs, which Pete then follows up with some Chivas Regal.
Suitable fortified we also manage to find the right route down all the way to Mottram road!
A regroup finds that Croxy has lost both a bottle and a rear light! Spare lightage donated in the interests of safety, no time for Swiss Hill tonight, and a long spin back into Prezza and out the other side to the Butley Ash.
Very quiet in there (and very warm!) and we are well looked after by the team. A choice of only one cask ale, but Golden Hen is rather fine. A return to proper bants, geeky vehicle stories, a prime view of the Fuzz pulling over an old Beamer into the pub carpark (a regular occurrance we are told), and an AoE moderated to half a Pernoni and a Cotswold Whisky.
Most back home before the rain came in!