George told us that Paul had left his battery pack at home and would be a bit late, he was detouring to collect it. Maybe the wait in the cold dulled our brains as we waited by Trout Beck, but eventually someone’s grey cells sparked into life, and it was suggested we set off on the first short loop, that would see us go up the climb through Limefitt Park and then up onto the bridleway, for the short loop to bring us down the quick descent and back onto the A592, Kirkstone road. Just at the moment we were about to set off, we saw the lights of Paul's car come round the corner, so eventually Ian, Grant, Charlie, Chris M, Jamie, George, Paul and Neil all set off for the first loop. Or maybe Paul had had a cunning plan to miss the first loop and just mistimed his arrival, no surely not?
By the time we had completed the first loop we had then really warmed up. Now a left, and briefly along the Kirkstone road, the right turn taking us on the track down to the river, and a few riders encountered trouble getting stuck in a deep rut on the descent on the downhill track to Trout Beck. Over the bridge’s and up into Town End, then on into Troutbeck to take the sharp left turn onto Robin Lane.
Regrouping at the bench, gave time for some of us to get our breath back after the climb, a superb viewpoint and even in the dark enjoy the lights of Windermere and Bowness below us. Turning left and now down the fast descent onto Holbeck Lane.
Jamie had thought it a good idea to go down Mirk Lane and come back up Wain Lane, therefore taking this loop anti clockwise, rather than the more usual clockwise option. This had not been met with universal approval, but no one could come up with a good enough reason not to. So joining Holbeck Lane saw us pass the Wain Lane turn and then quickly onto the descent down Mirk Lane. As we regrouped at the junction with the A591, we seemed to all agree the descent had been good, in fact very good. Then the climb up Wain Lane, parts of it proved too challenging to ride at times and was made even more difficult with some very deep channels crossing the track in places, a legacy of the previous week’s very heavy rains. Probably just as well we followed Jamie’s idea for the anti clockwise loop; otherwise we would have had these deep channels to negotiate on the descent-scary stuff.
Along Holbeck Lane to quickly return to Troutbeck and to the last off road descent, bringing us down alongside the church, a day too early for Halloween so no spooky goings on tonight, and back to our cars.
As Joel pointed out a couple of weeks ago, we should take note- to follow the teachings (and wise route choice) of the shaman that is Jamie Booth a little more closely- tonight it was agreed it had been a good route choice from Jamie.
We all wanted to get away quickly to get warmed up and get fed –so no drinks tonight.
Thanks to Neil for the words.
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