Post by scott on Oct 23, 2016 10:24:37 GMT
A couple of month ago hodgy personally hand wrote me four A4 sheets of paper of the whole bolts law loop from edmundbuyers. Now that I have my full suss to test it out at full tilt I did so yesterday, I did mention to Neil he'd get an invite and he will but I thought why go to effort of writing all that info out for me to not use it because I'd be with Neil anyway lol.
So waking up to the sound of the rain lashing down and it looked like it wasn't going to stop, we thought we'd have a fuel breakfast at consett McDonald's and see if it dies off a little. It did so but the fog was closing in fast, so with full stomachs of processed shite and feeling like I've drank 10 pints the night before off we went to edmundbuyers. Upon arrival the rain was stopping but the small lay-by car park was full of riders just setting off on the route so we back tracked and parked up in the punch bowl car park.
First part of the ride down into Blanchland I knew because I've walked it, so it was straight forward as was the gentle climb out of the village up slaley forest. Now this is where Neil's directions get some attention as there is a couple of tracks going different directions and it was straight forward out of the forest heading to the fell where we were met with about 5? Tracks leading in different directions and the one we needed was at a 11 o clock. We followed that through a couple of gates what eventually led us up to some sort of power station/water plant or whatever it was, we followed a track around the station and was meeted with a gate where Neil mentioned a steep tarmac drop down into bay bridge, bingo I didn't fluff up. At bay bridge we took the advice and had some bait before a nice 5k climb up a road to the next off road section and this is where I messed up....
I misjudged 5k by a massive marging and turned off at the first cattle grid into a logging area, (what a tit) back onto the road we rode further up and come to a house where a kind gentleman was trying his hardest to give us directions. Up to the next cattlegrid I messed up again and ended up marching through a bloody beating field! Back onto the road for the second time I incapable brain clicked! I followed this route on google maps and remember a layby next to a third cattle grid and a double track right after it with the bridleway being further down on the corner, we took the double as followed and heading to bolts law. I was kicking myself big time for being such a women with folllowing simple directions! I'm never like that, simple misjudge of 5kms.
The final park of the ride from bolts law was fast, wet and by this time the heavens had opened and there was a stiff cold breeze but thankfully we were going down and past the only tree which was perfectly tree shaped was a little strange? 30 mins later we arrived back at the car wet and muddy and everyone in the punch bowl must have been thinking rather them than me! So after a brill day thanks to Neil's spot on directions you couldn't go wrong unless you miss judge a 5k climb haha. Although I thought my alpine was a tad overkill but I was thankful for it on the techy climbs! I would recommend the ride big time!
Cheers again Neil....
So waking up to the sound of the rain lashing down and it looked like it wasn't going to stop, we thought we'd have a fuel breakfast at consett McDonald's and see if it dies off a little. It did so but the fog was closing in fast, so with full stomachs of processed shite and feeling like I've drank 10 pints the night before off we went to edmundbuyers. Upon arrival the rain was stopping but the small lay-by car park was full of riders just setting off on the route so we back tracked and parked up in the punch bowl car park.
First part of the ride down into Blanchland I knew because I've walked it, so it was straight forward as was the gentle climb out of the village up slaley forest. Now this is where Neil's directions get some attention as there is a couple of tracks going different directions and it was straight forward out of the forest heading to the fell where we were met with about 5? Tracks leading in different directions and the one we needed was at a 11 o clock. We followed that through a couple of gates what eventually led us up to some sort of power station/water plant or whatever it was, we followed a track around the station and was meeted with a gate where Neil mentioned a steep tarmac drop down into bay bridge, bingo I didn't fluff up. At bay bridge we took the advice and had some bait before a nice 5k climb up a road to the next off road section and this is where I messed up....
I misjudged 5k by a massive marging and turned off at the first cattle grid into a logging area, (what a tit) back onto the road we rode further up and come to a house where a kind gentleman was trying his hardest to give us directions. Up to the next cattlegrid I messed up again and ended up marching through a bloody beating field! Back onto the road for the second time I incapable brain clicked! I followed this route on google maps and remember a layby next to a third cattle grid and a double track right after it with the bridleway being further down on the corner, we took the double as followed and heading to bolts law. I was kicking myself big time for being such a women with folllowing simple directions! I'm never like that, simple misjudge of 5kms.
The final park of the ride from bolts law was fast, wet and by this time the heavens had opened and there was a stiff cold breeze but thankfully we were going down and past the only tree which was perfectly tree shaped was a little strange? 30 mins later we arrived back at the car wet and muddy and everyone in the punch bowl must have been thinking rather them than me! So after a brill day thanks to Neil's spot on directions you couldn't go wrong unless you miss judge a 5k climb haha. Although I thought my alpine was a tad overkill but I was thankful for it on the techy climbs! I would recommend the ride big time!
Cheers again Neil....
