Crew: El Pres, Slim, 3 Sheds, Troll, Butty, Dunc, Bern, Stunt
Pub: TJ
Route: RB, Endon House Climb, back of Kerridge, Rainow, Oakenbank, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale Road, Sponds, Dale Top, quarries descent, Birchencliffe, Long Lane, Poachers
Conditions: Still, clear, mild & dry.
Notes: A fine autumn day leads to a fine evening weatherwise, so a route to go high with a view to a Bolly finish is floated by Stunt.
We actually manage to assemble and set off within tolerance, Butty meeting us at the Canal with instructions to pass the oncoming horse slowly. We do our duty and are thanked by the rider :-). Despite being officially after sunset, there is still plenty of light above, albeit pretty dark under the trees past Endon House on the washed out old road. At the start of Kerridge the hills to the East are still gently lit, houses and cars lights stand out as brighter spots, and the first star (planet?) is out low in the sky.
A couple of dog walkers flag that there are some young cattle on the track to Rainow, and once down the steep snicket there are four of them blocking the path, and wandering up to the gate ahead of us. They are a bit skittish, so lights off, and gently past , they then skidaddle back the way we came.
After all this excitement we realise we are two riders down, El Pres and Bern. No answer on the phone, and we glimpse rear lights further along Kerridge – they must have gone straight on…and Pete then says they will have issues at Waulkmill wood with a big tree down (they did). We trust in live location, and an obvious RV at the end of Oakenbank.
Which is where we now head, stopping at the crest to admire a beautifully sillouhetted White Nancy against a red sky. Rapid descent and regroup at the start of Blaze hill, and lo El Pres and Bern appear climbing up from the Poachers.
Across to Pott Shrigley through some cold air pockets, before the long road climb up to the Gristone trail beyond Brink farm. Still mild at the gate, and some yorkshire spelling emerging on the roadsign beyond “Oncoming Traffic in middl o roa ” 😉
Dry and grippy all the way past the 1975 stone, and an amazing orange 3/4 moon rises to our right.
The “Iceberg” of paper waste has all gone, but we finally get a chilly breeze at the trig point on Sponds. Admire the views across the plain to Winter Hill, and across the peaks to Holme Moss.
Across the down and ups to Dale Top, with a few sheep deciding to move out of our way, we realise again that we are two down (careless!). This time it’s Pete and Bern (Camera’s are touted as the reason), and we see two lights descending and coming in our direction.
The quarry descent is rocky and fast, with potentially hazardous fast moving mutton missiles on the final stretch to moorside lane (luckily none come too close in the end).
A full e motorbike follows some of us down sparking some eC***ery grumblings.
Birchencliffe properly wet again for the first time since last winter – which is a bit of a shock (especially for those without mudguards!)
Just time for the final leg to Long Lane and the short climb up green lane for the even shorter descent on Beeston Brow and into Bolly.
Poachers quite busy, special Pie the right choice (for those lucky enough to get the last 2 slices), pub margin on the Inception must be good (£7 a pint!!), with the Wincle Bengal Buttress a bargin at £4.
TJ arrived with tales of employment and plans for overwintering in the Alps, and a cunning plan for a Poynton based ride in a couple of weeks.
Air temp on the way home not too bad – summer gloves still acceptable!