Crew: Stunt, Butty, TJ, Croxy, Dunc, Dr S, PTD
Tythy Towers: G
Route: RB, Endon House climb, Lidgetts Lane, Back of Kerridge, Rainow, Oakenbank, Pott Shrigley, Bakestondale Road, Gritstone Trail, 1975 Stone, Sponds, Dale Top, Quarries descent, Chapel Descent, Shrigley lane, Middlewood, Tythy Towers.
Conditions: Warm, humid, occasional light rain.
Notes:
Stunt offers to host at Tythy towers this week to continue the theme of rider hospitality. Sadly the weather decided to make alfresco unlikely with an everchanging forecase of rain/not rain for the evening.
Grey skies, but only a hint of dampness so far at the Rainbow bridge rv, where TJ gets some indexing assistance (and de gunking of dried dust on the oily residue on the jockey wheels!)
With rain (possibly heavy) forecast within the hour, a local loop is proposed to give bail out option early in the event of biblical downpours, but leaving a Sponds option open if not.
The air is warm and heavy up Endon house climb and onto the back of Kerridge, with exposed flesh vunerable to long stinging nettles across the old double track up to the Rainow road.
At the top of Oakenbank the skies are assessed, there is definitely something coming, but it doesn’t look too threatening, after a fast and loose descent to the road, we decide to go for it.
Light spots begin to fall, but it’s not really getting anything wet, and it’s cooling on the climb up past the brickworks and to Brinks farm. A touch heavier at the top prompts a few waterproofs to be donned, but by the 1975 stone they are probably wetter on the inside!
A farmers pickup ambles by and we watch it head round a fresh pile of rubble on the track before heading to the gate to Bowstones. We head for Sponds – and the gate to the trig poin has lost its annoying sign (sense has prevailed?).
Moody light in the west with reds bleeding throught the gap between the clouds and the hills, the grassy ups and downs to Dale tops run firm, and we reunite with PTD who has caught us up after a late start.
The rain has stopped and with a light breeze it’s as if it never did!
More fast descending across the top and down next to the quarry, Stunt heads off early via birchencliffe to get the venue ready, and there is still time and light for the Chapel descent.
Lights on for the traverse to Tythy, and a fine selection of beers from classic wainwrights and doombar, to funny fruity IPA’s, German white and dark beers, and everything in between.
G arrives just in time for the chilli and garlic bread, followed by homemade fruit crumble and cream.
Earnest discussions on the merits of e vs acoustic for downhill and jump tracks (physics arguments may not have stood up to scrutiny!?) the joys of sailing, and much more.
An axis of evil emerges as we enjoy Layer cake Stout as a second pudding, before the Oban 14 comes out.
Scotlands smallest distillery certainly makes a fine smooth dram!
The dog was very please to lick so many plates in the dishwasher 😉