Crew: PTD, 3 Sheds, Dunc, Croxy, G, El Pres, Butty, Stunt, Joe
Fireside: Slim & Steve
Route: BL, Zig zags, Teggs, Langley rezzies to Crooked Yard Lane, Walker Barn, Chazza, Narnia, Hardingland, Langley rezzies again, Smithy, Witches Cottage, Chazza, Campfire.
Conditions: Almost perfect, ground still a bit damp.
Stats: Joe Chain Fail Faff, Slim Off
Notes:
A “Stunt and Slim” production fills the leadership vacuum and brings out all available riders plus guest, although Joe is talked into it at the last minute by Dunc through chance meeting on his commute home. Wearing the infamous cape..still not bat symbol artistically applied :-(..he does provide a new low in run to fail maintenance strategy that Mr T would have been proud of! Front wheel showing white splatter from leaked water contaminated fork fluid! But at least he is about to buy new 🙂 To rub it in further his chain snaps on the old road forcing an early return to base!
In contrast PTD has clearly put his recent time off the bike from his knee to good use (real story told of bike related injury to allay the rumours!), to find and fit more lightweight blingery to the five, then spoil the look by bodging a rear mudguard to the frame with metal padding and tie wraps! (the mudhugger will be back in the winter alledgedly).
Route rapidly improvised to suit the recovering knee, croxy, the Curry pickup and late arrivals (Slim & Steve). G even checks he knows it before leading off into the distance 🙂
Layers are rapidly shed as we climb above the houses and enjoy views of the fine evening unfolding (in stark contrast to the rain & gloom up to lunchtime).
Avoiding the muddier route to Teggs brings us past a dog walker, and our first tutting of the night. As usual a choice of L or R, and more trail sanitisation on the RHS next to the new fence, in the interests of balance, and rather like the witches cottage to hardingland section, it actually takes a very muddy section and makes it fast (wee bit of berm needed at the stream crossing?). Heading towards Crooked Yard another tutting at the watersplash before the steps (Dunc does 5 steps!). Emerging between fields full of yellow flowers there is time to enjoy the evening light on the landscape lush with the fecundity of late spring on the long climb to chazza. Estate agent sign pointing up chazza turns out to be a field for sale. Steve calls in to 3 sheds – apparently the Buxton road end of chazza can mean two things (technically he’s not wrong) but it prompts more tuttings (this time from 3 sheds). Fast and wet down to the Narnia turn, fast and pretty dry to witches cottage, a quick time check and split into two teams. Main party whoop down Hardingland fast and furious, then return on the reverse of our earlier route, startle more pedestrians at the bottom of the steps at the stream, and one last tut between the reservoirs.
If this was a recovery ride I’d hate to see a hard one, as pace begins to tell on the final climb. Joe rejoins on B bike in suitable clothing, phones ping with messages announcing the as scheduled arrival of the victuals fresh from the Papadam by the lovely Austinette 🙂 Filing past to collect boxes its time to make camp 🙂
Three methods of firestarting manage to get a good blaze going despite the very damp ground (with some help from dry kindling, briquettes and plenty of matches and cardboard), more wood is stacked around to dry out, clothing is applied, and provisions set out.
First toast to our Marvellous friend, then enthusiastic demolition of the curry (perfect portions) and sampling of a fine range of ales.
Bubble wrap is the perfect way to keep bums dry and warm – top ho Mr Austin, time to settle around the fire and talk raucously into the night.
PTD has brought the hallowed Listerine cups, and a triple tasting of spirited concoctions. The first two are raw liquor – its educational for sure, but there is a reason why they age the stuff, and anything containing the words Urethanes in the tasting notes is surely not for human consumption!!! Make pretty orange flames in the fire though 😉 Luckily No3 is Mandarin Napoleon and rather good! (and made in Belgium apparently).
More entertainment in the form of a cursing hobbling hunchback as 3 sheds desperately sucks at his camelback having been struck with a nasty case of cramp.
Time has flown, the witching hour has passed, final tins are supped, and camp is struck.
The cool air away from the fire has strange effects on some, Slim tries to fly off the fence, then tests a hedge for support on the bike 🙂
All make it home safe and sound.