Words by Alex, B Ride Poics by Pete
Crew: El Pres, TJ, Mr I, Stunt, 3 Sheds, Butty
B Ride: Slim
Pub: Croxy & PTD
Route: BL, Cat, Danebowerhollow, Farm/Field into 3 Shires, Cuthorne out, Chumby, Standing Stone, Nessit, White rabbit descent, rezzies, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Dry, Clear, Cold on soggy trails
Stats: a stat free night
Notes:
After torrential rain cleared away after lunch a nice dry weather slot for the TNR 🙂
Route plan to stay on maximum amount of well drained trails without resorting to the forest.
Prompt start leaves a (not actually that late) Slim to furtle in the forest with all the time he needs to snap away with the camera (cue arty shots?)
Wind only a factor above the tea rooms, and warmish from the climb its more clothing on at the Cat.
Butty gets cold feet and bails to the Smithy (well he got very wet last night and his boots had not fully dried – blocks of ice were his words)
No rest for “the rest” as 3 sheds is in unstoppable forward gear!
Luckily its not a super fast gear and he is caught before the end of Danebower.
The field is soggier than a dunked biscuit, and could be described as having the consistency of soft cheese with a healthy green mould on top! Luckily the surface holds up and our traverse is without incident.
Nicely sheltered into 3 shires, with reasonably impressive but not spectacular waterfalls.
Still no stopping 3 sheds – who passes it without even a pause! Once again we have regrouped on the climb, and onto Chumby. Care needed on the top section, and plenty of water at the first stream crossing, and proper waterfall!
TJ provides warming nips
Lower chumby very very wet
Cold starting to seep into tired legs, lights above standing stone are not ours, but Church house regulars.
Posse thins further with a Ball early Bath 😉
Trail closures en route to nessit for a spot of tree felling/maintenance mean some draggy surfaces. TJ has to tempt Mr I with more whisky to encourage him up the S bends.
Fast but not furious down (white rabbit still just about visible) then faster and faster to the pub as El Pres scents beer.
Slim & Butty have already arrived and are ensconced in the Leffe zone.
Timmy Taylor wins battle of the beers, butty eats for the second time in a second pub! Food demolished in double quick time.
Frost forming on cars as we ride home.