Peak District Ride Out June 2008

or 

The Case of the Vanishing Motorcyclists

June 1st, blue skies, big yellow sun, queues for ice creams; well not quite. Nearing Uttoxeter, the ominous sight of mist engulfing hilltops in the distance was a warning of things to come. By the time we stopped for a rather haphazardly served breakfast at Winkworth, the rain, although not quite worthy of a severe weather warning, was decidedly on the heavy side. Having dripped copious amounts of water on the floor of the Cat and Fiddle, where there had obviously been an epidemic of chair theft, the group started to shrink. The rain had more or less stopped when we arrived at Strines Inn where we lost two more of the group. An unscheduled excursion into the long grass just beyond Miller's dale (thankfully without significant personal injury), saw us reduced to a select band of just six. By this time it was after 4 pm, so the decision was made to cut out Carsington Water and to take a more direct route home. From a personal point of view, another good day, I discovered an excellent route, proved my clothing actually did what it said on the label and kept water out, learnt that I can cope, more or less, with grotty conditions albeit at a gentle pace and enjoyed friendly company.

Paul Wright had designed a spectacular route that in more favourable conditions would have probably filled us all with wonder and awe. As it was, concentration through rain splattered visors was the order of the day but I will undoubtedly return in the 'summer', probably on my own so that I don't hold any fellow travellers up. On the upside, there is always someone worse off than you as was ably demonstrated by the bedraggled cyclists manfully struggling up Winnats Pass as we dropped down into Castleton.