19th October 2006 - Elterwater, Tilberthwaite

9 Riders set out with charged lights and new pumps (just in case). It was a dark but mild evening and we also welcomed a new face (riding a rigid bike and who is also a mechanic, useful in case Jamie gets bored!) and a TG came along to see if you never forget to ride a bike! After much discussion...
..we set of up the lane for the shortest route to the quarry, it was a bit rocky and steep, so much for the easy warm up. Head past the quarry and up through the wood, drop down through the trees, turn right through the gate and down the track past Dale End to the road. Then take a quick left and right to head for the ford, where shall we go now?... Ian submitted a route with 3 downhills, yells of delight were heard until it was pointed out that there would probably be 3 climbs!
From the ford head left round the track to the farm and take the right hand turn up the hill, head down to hodge close and continue through the new gate heading for the 'play area' after riding downhill over the slate path which sounds like breaking glass combined with a wind chime! Head for High Tilbertwaite and turn right up the tracks, enjoy the rocky testing sections and attack those hills, at the bottom take the right turn, past the houses and watch out for the cleaned out water gullies. Ian held the last gate and we cycled onto the ford for a re-group, there was some delay and TG said I wonder if Ian's caught a pinch flat, later George came along asking for a spare inner tube for Ian! so Jamie lent/hired him one, George said for us to go ahead and they would catch up, but no we all stood firm and said we would wait... or at least that's the official line... at least we would make time for a beer. While waiting someone mentioned cake, a winter night-time tradition, unfortunately no cake was forthcoming, several hints were dropped and some excuses, like I have no kitchen were heard, maybe next week?
In a while Ian & George came along and we headed to high park to go along the route through the NT wood, another testing rocky route spits us out at the road to Elterwater near Colwith, we all headed back to the car park and then a beer. George had to shoot off early and we witnessed a large bounder jumping up and hitting his car and that was before the beer! Back in the pub we discussed medical science, the NHS and which areas of Scotland to visit, 7 Stanes fans watch this space.
Next week its the ride from Winster, park near to the church.