Words & photos by Pete
Crew : Dunc, Pete, El Pres, Dr S, PTD, Butty , Bern, Doog, Alex
Pub : Kersh & Trifty
Route : Bolly Maze – Nancyside Lane – Waulkmill Wood – Snickett – Oakenbank – Jumper Lane – Fourways – Bakestonedale Rd Junction- Sponds – Dale Top – Moorside Lane – Pott Shrigley- The Poachers
Conditions : It didn’t rain . Bakestonedale Moor was completely saturated !
Notes :
A short notice plan from yours truly .
To me it’s a “cookie cutter” (to borrow a useful yank phrase) route . Lots of uphill on tarmac albeit zig-zagging as you gradually climb , with a reasonable bit of properly off road.
I was impressed that at this point on Autumnal dark nights we have a crew of nine .
As I document this ride far too late after the event ( a little over a week later) , I realise the only thing I really recall of the ride was how amazingly saturated the land between Sponds and Dale Top was ( Bakestonedale Moor) . It was pretty tough getting any traction.
I also recall we had a crew split on the descent off Dale Top. Paul and someone else bold enough hopped the fence , the rest of us took the boulder field route down to Moorside Lane .
And late on in the pub a little Leffe – fest broke out. Some of the temperate where sucked into the vortex.