9th April 2009 - Crook

7 met up at the village/old school hall car park (not realising that there was an event on later that evening, maybe park elsewhere next time..?) so we set off east past Cockpit Hill, turn right and blast down the lane, take a farm track on the RHS to go near to Crook Hall, follow the bridleway west past Birk Moss and Hart Howe, at the lane turn right for a little while and then take a left turn down a gravel drive past Crook Foot and on up to Thorneyfields. Here we had a little chat about which way round, as the ups and downs just come in a different order....? so left it was and up the hill, at the top we headed down through the mud, noticing a cow which had recently given birth, with calf nearby, very spring-like! Down to the lane and straight over (looking right, left and right again!)Now down Craig lane, until the uphill, 'keep going' Grant, no good must walk a little and very rocky ground. At the lane turn left and blast down to the ford, here no one tried the water crossing! and now upward for the tarmac climb, granny ring and enjoy! Re-group at the top and mini-egg time, cheers Charlie, we also noticed the light getting dimmer, so onward past Cote Hill/Green hill and the scout camp, down the track in fading light and back to the road, re-group and turn lights on for the road ride back to the cars (where the car park had got loads busier!). A few of us enquired about a pub and thought the Sun Inn was mentioned, but in the moving of cars and driving off we all seemed to go different directions and no one was at the Sun!! Maybe we'll get a drink & chat next time as we are at Elterwater.