Date is 5th September. My brother hurt his foot last month and is still finding it painful to walk. Never mind, what an excellent excuse for a bike ride instead? Main difference is that we can walk all day before we get too knackered whereas on the bike its only three or four hours.
Anyway, we set off at about 8:45 and rode out along the main Stockport to Macclesfield road until Poynton, then took a left through the centre up the back roads to Pott Shrigley. Then left up the Brickworks - a nice steady climb. At the top, we turned right towards Rainow then left at the Highwayman pub and up again to Jenkin's chapel.
The chapel is open once a month, but not on the day we were there. I think the sign said every third Sunday in the month. We paused briefly to eat a cookie or two in preparation for the steep climb up to Pym's chair. Its that bad, I had to use the largest sprocket!
Then a long descent down into the Goyt valley. The reservoir looked quite depleted, but it is September, so when the rains start again...
Up again to the Cat and Fiddle pub on the main Macclesfield to Buxton road. Have you noticed we haven't stopped for a drink? Only makes cycling harder! Then down the long winding road to Wildboarclough. Haven't been down there for ages, and it brings back some great memories of rides in the now distant past.
Once we get to the bottom, we turn right to go to Wincle and on to Bosley Cloud then take the main road back through Macclesfield and Poynton back to Offerton. A round trip of 45 miles in about 3 hours. With some serious climbs in the ride, that's a good effort for us!
Barbie held at my brother's house. No, we didn't lug one round with us!
Proost!
Selling the Monkey
14 years ago
