Crew: El Pres, Slim, Butty, TJ, Troll, Doog, 3 Sheds, G, PTD, Stunt
Route: RB, Clarke Lane, Endon House Climb, Push up the steps to top of Kerridge, Grassy descent to back of Kerridge Lower track, and out to the Rainow road, Calrofold lane, Cliff Lane, Gritstone trail throught the woods and fields, Windyways, Teggs Nose, “Cocktail bar”, Teggs descent, Langley, 5 Clouds.
Conditions: Clear, Sunny, bit of breeze, very dry trails
Notes:
An early threat of a ebike majority brings out many prodigal sons, and prompts G to come acoustic!
El Pres takes command and leads us across familiar territory via routes less well travelled.
Tis a fine evening and there are plenty of family groups out walking, some of whom give us an honour guard as we lead off to cross the canal and down the double track to Clarke lane.
Hikabiker traffic lights needed at the start of the steps up the side of the quarry as we have to halt to let 2 lads come past on their way down. At the top of the ridge (after some “is that snowdonia I can see past the Clwyds?” fantasy) the e’ers lead the brave up past the trig for the traditional descent, whilst the rest do the diagonal grassy descent.
The direct route is much the faster, but reuinted we do the descent of doom – which is dusty dry – but with some low branches as the summer hazard, and come out on the Rainow road. After a brief flirting with a Goyt mega loop, we opt for a more sensible option and head up Calrofold lane (Brian Redhead reminisences), down cliff lane past a couple of horse riders, up to the main road, and straight across to the “woods”.
Cool and quiet in the woods, then flanked by dry seed heads of hogweed we emerge onto parched fields and views of the landscape from unusal angles with fantastic light!
The dogs at windyways bark at our passing and we come out at the top of the Zag.
Butty has brought a bottle of Dulce Herbes de Mallorca and some sausage rolls as an advance birthday celebration, so passing more walkers and selfie takers its a summer stop at the Teggs Ice bar. With golden sweet aromatic aperetif, mustard edged slice of roll, we gaze out across to the forest. White dots of village cricketers, blue roof of part finished restoration projects, identify the way in to hidden farms, and see the new houses being built out the back of Langley.
The Ice bar has a new info sign, and bring reminicences of the Doog inspired visit to the Bull stone, and other ancient marks in the landscape. A kestel sighting just below us gets Pete all excited about some of his bird shots of yore 😉
The sun is lowering, and air is cooling, and we have a descent to deliver before we lose the light.
Uber dry and fast down Teggs and the wiggle down to the carpark, an impromptu visit to a burial mound!
Elizabeth B has left her sparkly wellies on the wall.
Layers on for the ride into town, just enough benches for us to gather (lots of bikes leaning against the planters already).
EL Pres is appointed spreadsheeter-in-chief, Butty orders the pizza, and we sample the 5 clouds beer menu. There is a close escape for those who were tempted by the stronger Deya Zombie as it’s just gone off (and it was £7.80 a pint!!!).
A sweet stout finish again ends a wonderful summers evening.