Crew: Stunt & 3 Sheds
Route: RB, Endon House, back of Kerridge, Rainow, Oakenbank, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale road, Gritstone trail, Sponds, Dale Top, quarries descent, chapel descent, Shrigley road, Sugar Lane, Holehouse Lane, Manchester Road, Butley Ash.
Conditions: Mild, clear skies, breezy higher up.
Notes:
Only two make it for the final TNR of the year with a Northern friendly start and finish.
Always a very different vibe when riding in a small group, with a long rambling conversational style.
More opportunity to spot wildlife with fewer lights and noises too, we had a rabbit cross in front of us a couple of times, one Owl launching from a tree in front. Not sure the roadkill squirrel counts though 😉
Our route played to the wind direction for the most part – with a cross/tail wind up bakestonedale road and the start of the gritstone trail, but once we turned off the trail to Sponds we were into the teeth of it, and it was no place to hang around (or play i spy planets).
Trusting to internal terrain mapping wetware – we plunged down the wet grass into the darkness to cut the corner towards Dale top, and didn’t do a bad job, arriving at the final crest only metres to the left of the main track.
The singing gate is now the former singing gate – as even in the blustery conditions no noise forthcoming 🙁
A bobbing light coming up from moorside lane turns out to be a solo acoustic rider, we chat briefly and leave him to take pics of the views and sky.
After the quarry decent, we head to the Chapel descent – which is very wet at the start (smug mode for those in waterproof trousers) and pretty slippy most of the rest of the way. A solitary tyre track may have been our friend coming up the other way earlier?
Road all the way to the Butley Ash on tired legs (less regrouping time)
Well looked after, Old Speckled Hen went down nicely, and two pints good home for an early bath.