10th May 2007 - Hawkshead for Claiffe

6 riders met up at the Hawkshead car park to brave the showers having travelled for miles to meet at 6.30pm. We set off finally nearer 7pm, 3 hard tails and 3 sussers, we were all debating which way to go, but ended up with tradition; head towards Colthouse but take the track called 'Scar House Lane', this is just an quick off road section before Snake-bite alley. Usually this route is no trouble but tonight we needed Jamie and his machete to clear the quick growing hedges which were basically hanging down with the rain and were at head height obscuring our view of the route, so we all got wet! Anyway cracking on, back to the road and up past Outgate, with George complaining about gear trouble (so we wouldn't leave him alone) on towards Snake-bite and just before the 1st gate George snaps his chain, we spend a little time sorting out the chain and 'borrowing' Joel quick links. Onwards and down snake-bite, by this time we took it easy to avoid punctures....but no Grant jumps over a gully and hey presto a flat, just to give us all another rest so early in the ride.
We carry out over the fields, through the stream and out onto the road to High Wray, after a while we decide to take the track down to High Wray Bay and the lakeside and follow this route to Red Nab and then take the road up towards basecamp. We actually saw a lot of deer near the road, probably because the evening was very quiet, we then took a forrest road into Claiffe and came out near Scab Moss, here we went right and then left to find the guide posts, then a quick left turn to enjoy the downhill and up for the testing climb, with George enjoying 1st gear 'cause it was the only one to work! At the guide posts head west back to Hawkshead enjoying the downhill sections, although it was starting to rain harder now, we pasted 2 other bikers going the other way rying to find the Biketreks mob (who we eventually saw heading back to Hawkshead for a post ride drink). Back to the cars and home, too wet for a beer. Next ride from Staveley over to Longsleddale.