With beautiful February sunshine to accompany us, we ventured to the northern most limits of our region for this month's work day. The format for these get togethers is changing a little and the emphasis is definitely moving towards a higher level of social interaction, and less focus on work directly linked to the national cycle network.! That is absolutely fine. We have invested a lot of time over recent years to ensure our 200kms of track are well maintained and signed, so now we are totally justified in treating ourselves to months when we go out together for the enjoyment of a ride in areas that few of us know very well.
We met for morning coffee and then Clare lead us on this ride, which initially took us along the side of the canal out of Whaley Bridge to the Buxworth canal basin. Here we passed canal boats moored up with wood smoke rising gently from their chimneys and then lingering in the frosty cold air hanging over the water. From the basin we cycled along the Tramway towards Chinley, which proved a little challenging in places, but which has the potential to be a great route. Today we had a most impressive sized group, bolstered by the latest recruits to our own team, Philip and Gill, as well as a guest rider (John) joining us from theSheffield ranger team. David and Catherine, David S, Maldwyn and Peter made up the rest of our group.
Part of the purpose of today's ride was to look at some of the proposed options to link NCN 6 on the western side of the Pennines to Castleton on the other side, where it currently comes to a sudden end. Finding a suitable route out of Castleton will be difficult, but once off Rushup Edge and descending down towards Chinley it would become a very attractive link. We didn't venture all the way up to Rushup Edge, but we did go half way. We decided against the main road option and instead tackled the short steep climb out of Wash to a poing half-way up to the edge. What a lovely quiet road with fabulous views? There was a bit of bike pushing by the non e-bikers but I don't think it was long enough to spoil the ride for anyone.
We descended down into Chapel en le Frith and then on the old (not too busy) Manchester Road back to the outskirts of Whaley. Here we joined NCN680 and started the climb on the road towards Buxton. we may have just about managed a mile on the NCN before we veered off it and headed towards Ferneligh and Errwood reservoirs. Unfortunately we didn't find the need to replace any route signs at all on the short section of official cycle route, as they were all in good order.
Clare found a lovely spot for us, next to the water's edge, to eat our sandwiches in the warm(ish) early afternoon sunshine. It was great to see such a large group of volunteers out enjoying such a pleasant day. After lunch we continued our ride up the Goyt valley but with limited options if we had carryied on to the top, we turned round just before reaching the Derbyshire Bridge and headed back into Whaley.
It is a very long time since we have had a group of 10 riders out on a work day event but it was all just about perfect today. Much of the route allowed us to ride side by side so we could chat with one another and, although there were a few more hills than we would normally do, we mostly saw these as a challenge rather than a chore. On such a beautiful day as today has been who was going to complain when the views (and the company) were as stunning as they were.
Next work day planned for Friday 10 March when we are scheduled to help Marion with the pre-Spring cut back at Rowsley sidings. It may be that we will not be required for this and, if that is so, then I am sure we can fit something else into the schedule.
