A lovely ride yesterday mainly in the Staffordshire Moorlands. From home out to Earl Sterndale and Longnor before the steady climb up through the hamlet of Newtown to the Morridge which runs roughly N-S over 7 miles from Royal Cottage to Bottom House and gives the best views of the Roaches to the West. It also has 3 roadside TP's along its length.

Eventually I reached Waterhouses which is at the Southerly end of the Manifold Trail but the small cafe was shut. As I had only intended to do a 20 mile ride I was understocked with fuel so purchased a take away Latte and what turned out to be the worst pre packaged flap jack I have ever eaten from the Spar shop.

A steep climb up to Calton, a small village that used to have a cracking little Fell Race which sadly seems to have fallen by the wayside, and then the narrow cowshit covered road through the farmyard at Throwley and down to Ilam where the flapjack reappeared!

Another steep climb out of Ilam past Saturdays Manifold Show field and on to Wetton where I was going to stop at the cafe in the village hall, but didn't as it was heaving with folk. On towards Hulme End where drizzle that had been threatening all around me for most of the ride finally decided it was my turn to get refreshed so I sheltered under a tree for it and a sharper shower to pass. Whilst waiting, and hungry, I remembered that I had a Tunnocks wafer biscuit in my saddle bag from last week so I wolfed it down and continued in the sunshine towards Hartington where a couple decided to walk out in front of me without looking.

Fortunately it was one of those where I had spotted them from about 30yds away and just knew what they were going to do and they didn't disappoint!. A cheery "thanks for not looking" as I swerved behind them as they reached the centre of the road was replied to by the female with a belated "I'm sorry".

I expect every pedestrian and car to pull out in front of me!

I then continued incident free up Long Dale to Earl Sterndal and Hurdlow Town then across the 515 to Chelmorton, Taddington and home.

A total of 60 miles, 5,799 feet in 4 hrs 28 min moving time. Total elapsed time was 5hrs 6min which got me the silent treatment from the wife when I got home