Today I got to live out a fantasy and ride to The Moy. I don't know why I wanted to, it just kinda appealed to go west, have coffee and come home - they even served flat whites!!!!
Seven people ignored the weather forecast and showed up at Forster Greens. Three opting for the Lite option and three more trusting me to guide them on a longer run. Sam had planned a Lite run via Lisburn, so I suggested we'd take them there steady, then do our own thing - somewhere along the way Mark W caught us (which shows we really were going steady - no offence Mark) making it four four.
I had half a plan to go to Scarva, but looking around I saw we had four pretty strong engines, local Tyrone knowledge and improving weather, so I floated my Moy fantasy. With no objections, we went on to Moira, then ducked into the Lanes after Magheralin and followed the Bun Run traditional route as far as Bleary. From there we used my spidey sense and the odd check of Strava to get us across the Bann at Portadown and out the Loughgall Rd. From Loughgall we swung right and through Charlestown to the promised land - The Moy Larder.
Comrade Crossdresser and Sean (who still hasn't done anything stupid enough to warrant a nickname) explained the local ways. The bacon soda and flat white was everything I dreamt, so refuelled we pointed home. Sean knew a bridge was out, so we headed North towards the motorway, then back into Portadown fighting a crosswind. We then retraced our way back to Moira for a quick shop stop. The Beast had already added Brazilian Booty to his list of nicknames and by getting changed in a phone box can now add Superman.
With a few tired legs we took Route 9 across to Down Royal, but still high on endorphins I swung right and into Culcavey, before leading the way home through Ravarnet and Carryduff. A long day, but one of the most enjoyable in a long time. Apart from a 3 mile session into The Moy, there was never more than 6 feet between us, everyone worked for the good of the group and the craic was great. Combine that with new roads and another tick on the bucket list, what more could you want!
0 comments:
Post a Comment