23rd November 2006 - Haverthwaite

7 riders met up at the Anglers Arms, Haverthwaite, the weather held off and the stars came out. Luckily Ian turned up to lead the route (another 2 hour ride!) same as last year, so here goes for a description...
Head from the pub turning left down the road, then take a left turn on the B5278 for a few hundred yards then turn off left by the glass works to take the bridleway running parallel to the river Leven. It's a good test especialy after the wet weather and with the leaf cover, once thru' the top gate take the lane to the road and head up the switch back to a left turn onto the fell. Head north east along singletrack including some up and downs, thru' streams and over rocks, keep your momentum and you may be OK, otherwise a little walking is involved! End up around Canny Hill and take the lane by Crook Hill to cross the main A590 to take a little lane to Barrow Banks, there turn left and head up a lane and then a fire road UP into the forrest, using easy gears for a while. After a bit there is a bridleway to the left side and we stopped for a bite to eat, luckily Joel had passed me the cake George bought last week, so we did not go hungrey! Blast down the grassy hill to Staveley in Cartmel and take the road to Newby Bridge, keep right and head on the road to Lakeside, pick out a track thru' great knott wood and end up towards town end then take a left turn onto a great downhill track thru' turner wood and down to a road by the railway, head back via some 'singletrack' and back to the pub for beer & crisps. A good ride with a few climbs, tests and some downhill! Next week it's Kentmere Meet at Barley Bridge, exact route TBA.

16th November 2006 - Witherslack

6 met at Gilpin Bridge Inn on a damp evening (this may have put some folks off?) after checking that new Grandad was alright, he said he was fine but not sure about Paul, mucking out ponies and learning about nappies, or the other way round!! Anyway Congratulations to Paul & Angela on the birth of Emily Grace, we had a wee drink afterwards to celebrate.
So we set off out of the car park and headed along the new Sustrans path to the new bridge (over the main drain!) to avoid the main road, we headed into a shower of rain and hailstones, but we kept going, if only to warm up. And this we did heading up the bridleway past Ravens Lodge, where it appeared George was on a mission, Joel and Charlie thought they should keep up and so it went on, each person thinking they were getting out of breath but chasing the others!! Anyway we all tried to memorise the route up, where the rocks and tree roots were and also where the holes are, so that on the last downhill we may have a better chance of staying on the bikes. The main hurdle this night was going to be all the leaves lying on the ground hiding the obstacles.
We took the usual route right though Beck Head along the bridleway to the road and right to Witherslack Hall farm, take the left track, thru' the gates and on to Yewbarrow, now you have to pick the correct path, head to the right and look for the gate, of course it's Bloody dark so you need to sense the gate...5 riders went to the right, 1 went left, 5 riders were headed up Yewbarrow in the dark...so I called them back to the gate. Now for a re-group and the offer of cake, praise to George, Charlie and Neil for all bringing cake, actually Joel had George's cake (he can't carry so much these days..!!) Joel offered to keep the cake for next week and we tucked into Charle's muffins (the first ever batch from the new cooker in the new kitchen, apparently) Neil's cakes were supurb, Thanks to Sue.
So now for the reward down the singletrack to Church Road, George went first, I followed, it was bloody slippy with those leaves, I fish-tailed around and ended up hitting a little tree, this was an achievement as the tree was not near to singletrack! I could just hear Joel laughing in the background, asking if I wanted another bash? Onward we went slipping down the track, avoiding the drop-off down the cliff edge! but we all made it down on one piece. Back on the road and blast down the tarmac to get back to the final downhill, through the leafy glade and with relief reach the last gate, back over the main drain and home. Quick clean up and into the pub where Grandad bought us all a drink, Cheers. Next week it's Anglers Arms, Haverthwaite - 'the single-track special'

9th November 2005 - Claife

It was a cold winters night...but still 8 turned out and met at Claife Crier Bar, Sawrey Hotel, Far Sawrey, some folk even took the ferry to enjoy a moonlit sail across the lake, apparently they were not even charged, but they did not go back via the ferry in case they were rumbled! After much messing about getting ready and deciding what to wear, one layer or five? we set off up the bridleway next to the hotel heading north, this route gets us out at the top of a great descent down to the lake side, in daylight it is a challenge but with a little moon light it seemed enjoyable. We then went north along the lake, we kept going passed Bell Grange (and so did not take the steps up the hill) and headed past the parking area at Red Nab and took a left turn around Bella Wray , up a track to get us onto the scab moss forrest track, along the way we nearly lost Grant & Joel, too much chat at the back, but they found us...so we carried on. At the track we had a little discussion on direction, but as it was cold we kept it simple, head right and round to the guide posts, where we had a snack break, Jamie & CT competing for the best chocolate snack, next time we must make the effort and bring something home produced, now who was it that volunteered....?
No time to stand and get cold, take the first track on the left and enjoy the tricky descent at the bottom turn right and head immediately up another tricky rocky route, a quick regroup at the intersection and upwards up another tester to get into the woods and continue out onto the open fells and head down past Wise Een & Moss Eccles Tarns. Carry on down and take the left turn at the second gate, heading back to Far Sawrey, there is a small ford to cross over Wilfin Beck, which looked reasonable, but CT made a meal of it, George rode past and Joel stopped laughing and caused a pile up behind him, no time to stop it was too cold, race back to the cars and head for the bar to warm up those toes.
Next week its Gilpin Bridge Inn, Lyth Valley - will someone make cake???

2nd November 2006 - Lowick Bridge

5 riders met on a frosty clear and moon lit night for a most excellent adventure. As this was Ian's backyard he was to lead out, he decided to head north east just for a change. It went something like this...we left the Red Lion and crossed over the main road, take the first left over the bridge head north to Nibthwaite Grange where we turned right into Bletherbarrow lane, Ian slowed down because of gear trouble, but he kept going up the lane. A short while later we noticed that one side link to Ian's chain had actually broken and shouted for him to stop, thereafter we (i.e. Jamie) mended the chain with some gold SRAM connectors, we had to get Ian back on the bike as he was guiding us! Then we were off up the tarmac lane, which seemed to go on and on, but Ian said you need some climbing pain to enjoy the downhills later. After a while you come to a track and head on to meet the route we take from Oxen Park, this then leads to a fast downhill section to High Ickenthwaite, turn left onto Corker Lane. Continue down the lane and turn left at the next road junction, Force Forge Farm, after a few hundred meters look for a bridleway on the left, this is testing short cut to Satterthwaite, you need to commit to the climbs and rocky sections, but it's rewarding!
Then carrying on up the main road to just before Satterthwaite bridge and take the bridleway on your left, being Moor Lane, which also happens to go UP, this section is an even bigger test, but we were eventually rewarded with chocolate covered caramel buscuits, cheers Charlie! We were now headed west to Parkamoor but first had to navigate through the forrest and a few more rocky sections, great training for Scotland! Now we came out onto Parkamoor where there are a few muddy puddles and while Charlie managed to detour around one puddle Ian's front wheel took a nose dive into the mud and thus muddy feet were a reward!
Now we were to take the track south west to High nibthwaite, this descent Ian promised was a treat and the reward for all the climbing, he did warn of a few rocky drop offs to lookout for! Jamie and Ian took off first, but this track turned out to be Four Star, it easily made you appreciate all the effort to get there, especially on this moon lit frosty night, where the near full moon did allow some peripheral vision and a glimpse of Coniston water. We rode back along the road and back to the pub to get cold toes warmed up by the fire and to agree that we must do that again!! Next week meet at The Sawrey Hotel, Far Sawrey for Lakeshore and Claife Heights.