nightride irregulars

Nightrides have been a bit hit and miss lately, Si's on running training for his half marathon, Trio's had a quiet start to the year xc-wise, Junkyard has had trouble making it and me, well I've just been a bit lazy. Anyway plans were made, a later meet than usual so I thought I'd nip an extra hill in beforehand. Pushed pretty hard from the start, skipped the top of winterhill on the way out but still did wildeswood and then back up school climb all the way to the pike and down ICR and on to the lower barn. Junkyard had to cancel at last minute so just me and trio, we both live other side of bolton so we went for winterhill and back home via entwistle and turton tower. It was a clear night, could see all over bolton and manchester and the moon was on the horizon seemingly bigger than usual and bright orange, lovely but temp was dropping quick so kept the pace pretty high. Belmont was full of packed snow but it was grippy and fun with running commentary from trio :-) The road over to Ent was longer and steeper than I remembered, not great for trio on a SS but after that is was downhill(ish) all the way home. Even went down "the chicken run" which was the last mile or so of my old school xc run (which I loathed) blast from the past that was. Home and scoff my face then I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Decent weather, good route with all the main downhills covered, no mechanicals, punctures or offs, just how nightrides should be.