Tuesday 11 April 2023

Association of Lightweight Campers Easter meet in the Peaks

 I spent most of last week getting kit ready for the ALC camping meet at Hayfield Camping and Caravanning site.
Mainly due to me not likely to be finished work until about 6am and having a train booked for 13.30.
I had the bike ready for the off on Thursday night and did manage to get around 4hrs sleep in the end.

The train was on time and got me to Stockport with no issues, the ride over to the site was only around 20km but was quite hilly with the bike loaded with camping gear.


I took the road not knowing the area, it was up and down all the way. At one point I saw some cyclists on a bridge above me and did wonder where the track went, not knowing until later that it was the Sett Valley Trail which would have cut out some of the hills.




It only took me an hour or so to cycle there and the tent went up easily even though it was new and the first time I'd pitched it.
It's the new model tent fromTerra-Nova, the Northern Lite 2



 It was a good weekend, the tent was excellent with a lot of room inside and in the double porch area.
I didn't do any of the rides I'd planned to do, but did find out the track I saw was good to use to get to New Mills for provisions and a ride out with others on the Sunday.
We also found out I could ride all the way into Marple along the canal which would cut out some more hills on the way back to Stockport.

Some of the other campers organised trips to Buxton and meals at pubs in the evening, walking routes around Kinder Scout and cycle rides. 

There was a forecast of Snow and temps feeling like -8c on the last night but by the time we walked back up from a meal in the pub it had changed to be clear.

I was awake at 6am so a slow decamp and pack away for around 9.30 for the ride back along the trail and canal back to Stockport.
I rode along the canal all the way to Bredbury, then took the road across to the station and home for 14.00

Very short distance ridden with only 111km cycled, but was a fun weekend with good friends, laughter and cider.
Was good to be out on the bike and in the tent again.