Crew: Slim, Dunc, Butty, Troll, Bern, Smiffy, Stunt
Pub: Lee, Croxy & Ruth
Route: Bolly Maze, Canal to birdge 28, double track to Oak lane, Endon house climb, Lidgetts lane, back of kerrige to the slope of doom, Lamaload access road, push up at the edge of the wood, grassy descent back to the access road, Rainow, Oakenbank, Poachers snicket, Ingersley Vale, up Waulkmill wood, back of Kerridge, across the stream and track that comes out at Tower house, Rainow, Oakenbank, Poachers.
Conditions: Mild, windy, odd spot of rain.
Notes:
A doomladen forecast for the day had turned out not to be that bad, but with plenty of grey cloud about, the assembling team were in a mix of waterproofs , softshells and shackets with no one quite sure what would be the right choice.
Bern confidently predicts that the weather will now be dry all evening (although he was wearing a waterproof at this point).
Lee is having a “all my bikes are breaking” kind of afternoon – and will see us at the pub once he’s got something to a rideable condition.
Smiffy gets us live location in the nick of time, and we hang on for him, which is not all that onerous with various runners and walkers out making the most of the dry patch. When he does arrive we get gruesome tales of emergency back op’s for his other half’s slipped disc complications (all going well thankfully)
Birthday boy (well at midnight) Pete re destributes ice and pies amongt the team for a stop later on, and initiates the ride plan – keeping low and local with options depending on the weather.
Plenty of dog walkers to dodge on the towpath , double track and Endon house climb – everyone seems to be out tonight!
At the start of Kerridge – there is a suggestion to amend the route to do a double oakenbank which would prevent a big climb up Blaze hill if we carried on plan A. This is taken up and we tackle a fairly muddy trail and a fairly slippy slope of doom before coming back up to the road.
Butty now suggests a cheeky loop off the Lamaload access road – and why not! It is a push up the edge of the woods (too slippy and overgrown even for the E’ers). A long grassy descent down the ridge (once the two gates have been opened by the first couple of riders) is new territory for most.
The mud on our tyres soon flies off on the road into Rainow only to be replaced on Oakenbank (pt1).
A rare descent of the poachers snicket, followed by an even rarer ascent of Waulkmill woods – pretty muddy – but cleaned by E butty, and one dab for a fired up Stunt (other “pushier” options available).
Which exit off back of Kerridge? the little bridge in the estate in Rainow is mooted – but is too early, so instead we head for the gate that takes us to the where the slope of doom comes out. Here we investigate a track a little lower down – it takes us over the stream a little earlier, and we emerge onto a walled lane that comes to some houses. Luckily it does turn out to be a footpath (rather than someones garden) and we pop out at Tower Hill.
This time round we stop at the bench just before Oakenbank, which is nicely sheltered from the Wind and any raindrops (there have been a few just starting).
Pete treats us to some fine brandy, ice, and JJJ Heathcote pork pies with english mustard.
Whilst we munch an discuss the current state of proper butchers – we see a succession of lights across on Lower Kerridge – which we assume is the Nancies.
Suitably fortified (and with a distinct threat of rain in the air) it’s everyman for himself to do a second turn on Oakenbank and down to the Poachers.
Lee is awaiting us (having fallen back on the gravel bike), Troll and Butty immediately hit the pump of doom, whilst the rest of us go for more moderate IPA’s, apart fom Dunc who does straight to the Guinness!
Lots of conversations – Dunc is doing another Quadrathalon this weekend, Lee is planning a Portugese bikeride next week, and Pete is musing on pie based celebrations over the years.
Post food Lee is exchanging glances with the bar staff – nothing inappropriate, just a cunning ruse to bring out a slice of cake for pete at the right moment!
Croxy arrives, followed a little later by Ruth – which prompts Phil to get an early whisky in having spotted an unusual full bodied but not smoky one (or is it just a bottle with a similar sounding name?) either way its rather good, and leads to the need for the Birthday boy to have a second round before heading home.
G would be amused to know that Pete had managed to come out sans means of payment! Luckily for him we took pity on him as it was his birthday (he did promptly settle the following morning).
For a second week in a row, Bern has headed home for pudding and sent us pics of fruit pie – this week with custard!
Heading out we are dismayed to find it is properly hissing down – full wet gear is rapidly deployed, and encourages rapid pedalling home.
Lee reported an Owl and Badger and a Sparrowhawk on the way home (that feel like the start of a joke!)