Snakes & Ladders

At long last the weather gods took pity on the Ferrets and deigned to grant us an absolutely belting day for this, the first run (that didn't have to be cancelled because of severe weather warnings) of 2008.  Those who were fortunate to enjoy the dry and very hot weather were:  Stu & Lainey (STUEY), Clive & Kit (CLIVE), Simon (CHIMES) and Garf & Sue (PRECIOUS METAL).  Come 10:00 everyone was together in Holmfirth catching up on things and generally gassing, and by 10:30 a last scan was made for Tim (TIM) and Steve & Julie (STEVEG) who ended up being no-shows.

The day started pretty warm even early on as everyone was making their ways to the meet, and by the time we were all together in Holmfirth the temperature was soaring.  Layers were stripped, drink bought and consumed all along with catching up on what'd been happening to everyone since we were last together.

Simon and Clive took a close interest in the bling mods that Stu had recently made to his Tiger.

The day felt as though it had slipped from mid-July and fallen into mid-May as Holmfirth wallowed in the by now pretty heavy heat.  And so it was, that we were all relieved to be mounted up and moving to higher ground on the way out of the town up onto Holme Moss.  It was great to feel the cooler air, but to be honest it wasn't that much cooler even over the top as we passed the Holme Moss transmitter, making our rapid way down to the short hop on the Woodhead Pass road to our turn for Glossop.

Although the scenery, views and impact of the Peak District are a pure joy to experience, it is its proximity to such large conurbations that always make the place so busy - filled with tourists of all sorts, from powered or muscle driven two wheels, to ambling grockles dithering about where to pull off to buy ice creams, to hassled parents driving to let their brats loose upon an unsuspecting public, ramblers and rock climbers, morris dancers, pony riders, police on two wheels and four and hovering above us all the time in their helicopters.... you name it, and you'll come across it at sometime during a day in the Peaks.  On top of all this they have recently made the whole park a 50 mph zone, or so it seemed.

But despite this we had the most wonderful of days, and thoroughly lapped up the Snake Pass, albeit at a somewhat more sedate speed than expected, before cruising into the Ladybower Reservoir Visitor Centre car park.

It was here that we had our biggest, and most pleasant surprise, that of bumping into John & Dawn (SILVERONE) and Kev & Jane (KEVSTER) who were out in their sports cars.  It was good to catch up with them but a shame that our time together was a bit short.  By the time we'd gone off to get ice creams and drinks it was time for them to be forging on.

Forced into moving on as much by the attraction of the route ahead as the need to keep cool, we left the Visitor Centre heading towards Chesterfield for the turn south towards Bakewell, and some of the best biking roads the day had to offer - just a shame about those speed limits.

Although we'd intended stopping for a meal break in Buxton, it was immediately apparent that the place would be heaving by the time we got there, making parking up and getting food somewhat tiresome, so when a very attractive pub came into view as we were passing through Baslow, we decided to stop early.  We were also pretty concerned about the dramatic weight loss that Lainey had suffered during the morning, making it essential that she be topped up at the earliest.

And the food at the Devonshire Arms was excellent, although Garf wasn't that impressed by his curry!  Sitting in the shade of the umbrellas watching the bikes roar past was a most pleasant way of spending an hour or so.

From Baslow we carried on south to pick up the A6 and the run to Buxton through the gorge - very dramatic and grand scenery.  With no need now to stop in Buxton, we carried on through the Goyt Valley area and down into Whaley Bridge - a really enjoyable section with wonderful views across the Cheshire Plains and a great biking road, albeit tarnished by the omnipresent 50 limits.  It was then a fast blast up the dual carriageway to rejoin the A6 for Hayfield and back into Glossop.

Glossop provided the fuel & fag break at the local supermarket's petrol station.

Above right, and Clive tries hard not to furrow his brow and hide his Frankenstein scar (actually a silk balaclava mark, but who wants to spoil a good rumour?).

Leaving Glossop put us on course for the last of the ride's passes, picking up Woodhead at Hollingworth from where we enjoyed the somewhat busy pass as far as the turn off for New Mill and the final pleasant run back into Holmfirth.  Of the whole day it was, strangely enough, this last section that provided the best biking as traffic levels were pretty low and the national speed limit was in force.

Please, please, please can we have the same weather for the rest of the season, where allied to the much emptier and faster roads of our usual hunting grounds further north, we would have a sublime and unsurpassed biking-heaven of a year.  Still, whatever the weather does throw at us, we do always have that excellent company of the Ferrets with the usual banter and daft conversations acted out against a backdrop of genuine camaraderie and friendship.

See more of you at future events.....

Photographs courtesy of Chimes & Clive

Page Updated

28/06/2008 23:54