28th August 2008 - Ings to Kentmere

8 turned up for this end of August ride, many folk had lights...rumours were flying about of a Garburn route, but people looked nervous and Paul wasn't there; anyway we headed up the hill opposite the Ings car park lay by and rode up to meet the top bridleway, turn left and through the puddles, take the right hand gate and onwards through the large puddles, head on up to the top river crossing, all OK. Next gate, up and over onto Kentmere Hall, Ian had a front tyre puncture half way down! otherwise all safe. Down the lane and up Green Quarter, a steady climb, not too muddy, yet, at the top gate we stopped for some of Neils date cake, very good! Neil had a sticky rear freewheel and so he and Jamie went down the easy route, while the rest went round via the tumble down stone ruin and met at the gate, Neil then headed down to Staveley the easy way and the rest headed for HP descent, now the clock was ticking and it was getting into twilight, about 9pm, HP was OK even without lights. At the road James K' went on down the road back home, taking his Ay-up LED lights with him, so we could not compare them as a test! Any way the rest forged on, John did not have lights and was not sure about the last bridleway along the hedgerows where it would be dark, so he kept the pace up at the front, we made it through the water pools in the tyre tracks, past the farm and the brambles, through the last iron gate and into the dark alley-way of testing rocks. At this point you really did need lights, it was rocky as usual and we all made it down, John was OK, but Ian had a flesh wound from a bramble! Back to the pub for some real ale, Watermills own brew was tested and enjoyed. Next ride is Barbon.