Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: El Pres, Slim, Troll, Dr S, Smiffy, Stunt
Pub: Ruth
Route: Bolly maze, Grimshaw lane, “under Nancy”, back of Kerridge via north farm, Waulkmill wood, Ingersley vale, Poachers snicket, Pott Shrigley, Bakestonedale road to Gristone Trail, 1975 stone, Sponds, Dale top, quarry descent, moorside lane, road to Poachers.
Conditions: cold and clear
Notes:
Finally a cool clear still(ish) evening for our ride. After the jumbo numbers last week, back to a more normal crew level – a plucky fully acoustic sextet! (Smiffy keeping with the xmas light festooned hard tail).
A northern classic route to get up high – the observation of celestial bodies starts early with Dr S breaking out the star app and id’ing Venus and Saturn in the ecliptic.
Some mutterings about being overdressed by the time we crest the cattle grid on Nancyside lane, then muddy slitheriness from the track down to the kissing gate at Waulkmill wood – which itself was particularly slidey!
Once past the Poachers all tarmac – 3 way lights at the end of Spuley lane and Shrigley road are a bit annoying, and lots of cars parked for the Carols by candlelight at the Church (was this the source of the beam of light in the sky we could see from bottom of blaze hill?)
More star spotting at the gritstone – Orion and the Pliades clearly visible low down, and we now add Mars and Jupiter to the eye spy of planets.
Thoughts of being too warm quickly vanish by the time we assemble at the 1975 stone for some whisky mac – it being sub 5, but also to mark the Solstice tomorrow.
Strange sillouhettes on Sponds ridge turn out to be a fencing machine, and the farmer is seemingly determined to make access to the trig point difficult with the gate tied shut. It will take more than that to stop the TNR though.
Fine views and art pics later – time to descent the wet grassy slopes to get across to Dale Top.
Active descent past the plantation and down the side of the quarry is always fun whatever the time of year, then it’s route one to the Poachers to see what the change in management has brought…
Cushions and a different font on the menu is the answer.
The weekend project pale cloudy ale is the beer of choice, the small gammon really is a kids size meal shocker, and some rearranging of veg/beans to the correct pie and potatoes is needed.
Retro 80’s xmas classic videos are on the TV, some geeky salsa fargo talk, deep astrophysics discussion between El Pres and the Troll, whilst Steve and Stunt compare notes on cockapoos and miniature dachunds!
Ruth arrives in her new Tradey Lady persona and seems to be enjoying life on the building site 🙂
Axis of Evil is of the double leffe variety, and £4 beers make the bill much more palatable (unless you went for the pump of doom!)
Buff over the nose time on the ride home!!