Marple 6th January 2019
Click on the photo above for more of Roger's photos of the ride:
The first ride of 2019 attracted 14 participants and we welcomed Ryan & Nigel who had not ridden with us before. The weather was kind and Grayham led us off on a series of enclosed footpaths through the housing estates of Marple to reach the Peak Forest Canal. We followed the canal northwards over the impressive aqueduct above the River Goyt until we were forced off at the Hyde Bank Tunnel in Romiley. A steep tarmac climb followed to reach a rather greasy wooded bridleway which dropped us quite steeply towards Woodley. Another climb took us along the flanks of Werneth Low and then followed a fast tarmac descent to Gee Cross where we descended Apethorn Lane passing under the canal and down to the River Tame. Most of us had to walk a short section down through steep mud, only to be informed afterwards by Grayham that we could have easily avoided it! The river was followed downstream to a bridge which we crossed to find that the track was badly chewed up by horses, and so we walked and then continued up to the A560 at Woodley. The main road was followed for a short distance to Morrisons' for lunch. We were careful to park the bikes where we could keep an eye on them since on the last visit Rob had his bike stolen here. After lunch the weather had changed with low mist and drizzle but fortunately fairly mild with no wind. We followed the Alan Newton Way, named after Stockport's 1948 Olympic medal winning cyclist, to Otterspool where we admired the Archimedes screws generating power from the River Goyt. At Chadkirk we stopped for a coffee and to admire the ancient chapel before climbing up from the river and back to the car park.
John Kemp
