Crew: Slim, El Pres, PTD, Butty, TJ, 3 Sheds, Dr S, Stunt
Route: Riverside Park, Bollin track to Prestbury, Chelford Road, Finlow Hill lane, Bradford lane, Hocker Lane (with Alderley Park mini loop), Slade Lane, Finlow Hill again, Spooky woods both sides of Artists lane and out at the Owl, Wizard, Beacon, back through Prestbury, Prestbury lane after crossing the railway, Flash lane, Cock & Pheasant.
Conditions: Cool, damp, a bit muddy
Notes:
Birthday boy Pete gets to choose the route so off to the back lanes around the Edge we go!.
After an unexpected heavy shower as folk are preparing, we follow the rainbow to the start of the ride. The sun is low, and the pink tinged clouds reflect in the water of the Bollin as we dodge the last of the daylight dog walkers (and the odd cloud of bugs).
Gents barbershop still doing haircuts for the afterwork crowd as we emerge from Bridge Green, lights definitely needed for the climb up Chelford road (which warms those who were claiming it was a chilly start).
At the start of Finlow Hill lane a whole pile of wooden fruit boxes have been fly tipped – which is suprising as you would have thought nice wood like that would be being flogged as firewood!
Sliver of moon above the treetops, bats fluttering, the odd owl calling, and the descent of Bradford is proper muddy and slippy with a green tinged set of cobbles to finish with.
The AP diversion is always worth doing, before carrying on back up Hocker, then onto Slade with good views across the plain early on.
A second traverse of Finlow Hill lane, but this time follow Right back to the main road, then a sharp Left into the trees, and the muddy singletrack across to Artists lane, a couple of patches of spooky mist adding to the atmosphere.
The former commuters lead us through Windmill wood, and near the bottom Butty leads us Left to the sandy field – avoiding the swampy bit. We discover that the bottom right corner is the correct way out (having crossed a big ditch to exit on the top right). A final spin up to the Wizard (soon to be a house??) and then out to the Beacon for celebratory pie & whisky.
With a hard stop for our table booking, it’s route one to the pub with the road to Prestbury giving us the cool then warm layers of air up and down the dips! A friendly reception at the Cock and Pheasant where we are well looked after. Atlantic ale, wainwrights and some cider!!
Plenty of catching up and bant’s with a cheeky final dram for the mini AoE.