Ride 055.

Date:   16th September 2005            Distance: 15.5 miles

Strange, I don't recall anything on the news about power cuts in Darlington or a national Sky TV strike but something of that nature must have occurred because there was Simon waiting for us in Pinchinthorpe car park. Personally I think  the Suggits ice cream he had last time he ventured out tempted him again.

Usual kind of start, up through Guissy woods, out onto Roseberry Common, up again onto Newton Moor and along the edge of the woods to the Unsuitables before heading off over Hutton Moor on Percy Cross Rigg.  A ride across Great Ayton Moor the infamous Finger Bender Bank (scene of one of Blind Bob's more profane episodes) and we were at Gribdale Gate, Simon staring open-mouthed with disbelief up the fire road to Captain Cook's monument. The open mouth soon had a sandwich lodged in it, prior to the ascent which wasn't as bad as it looked. A breather, a look at the view and more food before we headed down the track to Kildale and directly to Glebe Cottage.

Refreshed and replete we made our way up the track by New Row and across Codhill Heights where some sort of sheep round up was in operation, it's got to be said most of them could move fast when the Darlo boy came panting up behind them.

Into Guisborough Woods and the only hard bit now being the decision: which descent track to take? Lover's Lane won, mainly because the it was new to the others. Skidding and sliding on the rooty singletrack, we wended through the woods to the fire road and the final pedal back to the car park.

 Height Profile: (click to enlarge)

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