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'