28th June 2012 - Staveley for Garburn

Top o' Garburn, blue sky appearing

Riders make high point

Blue sky evening

Getting ready for the downhill

Watch the washed out rocks..!

Look what water can do = testing technical descent!

What happened was the weather, well a few folk were away or not going to make Coniston and along with the thunder and lightning and flooded roads, it was going to be hard going. As it happened the A6 was flooded around Milnthorpe and the dual carriageway into Kendal was flooded across all lanes of the road (and was still flooded at 10.30pm), so I think keeping a local ride made sense and we'll re-arrange Walna Scar for another day.
So Jamie, Neil, John, Joel, George and CT met up at Barley Bridge to see a very high river; which route tonight, perhaps keep to the rocky side so lets do Garburn, up the tarmac climb past 3 rivers and down to Kentmere was the plan. The only down side was that along the top, where the track has been repaired it was flooded, so we had to work a way round and the top river crossing was tricky with large boulders! A fairly wet descent down to Kentmere then the climb up Garburn but at least a blue sky was making an appearance, steady away walk a bit, ride a bit, keep going up, eat at the rest stop near the top just where the wind was getting up. Over the top and watch the descent as the water will have and did cut up some of the trail, which made the riding a bit more technical! Down to Dubbs, one puncture to a hardtail (29er guess who) ride light we say, Oh and did we mention 4 hardtails v's 2 full sus' what is going on...:) Back via Borrans lane and back into Staveley, where plenty of water means mudguards make sense, bit you still get a wet face;( after 10pm still some light, good ride. Next ride: plan to park Bowness side and take the ferry to the other side for more riding.