Words by Stunt and pics by ??
Crew: Stunt* (others may have ridden?)
Campfire: Dunc, PTD, Joe
Route: BL, Langley, Smithy, Chazza & Extension, Standing stone, Back of the Moon, singletrack to S bends, Nessit, between the DH, path & rezzies, Smithy, Campfire
Conditions: Dry,Still & Perfect
Stats: A stat free night
Notes:
With the guts of the posse galavanting on skinny wheels in the med, a campfire call was met with few responses. Several maybe’s turned out to be no-ones, so laden with beer & crisps I headed out as normal to enjoy the excellent conditions.
To do this on the 5 major maintenance had been required as my last ride ended with a disintegrated rear mech, triggering overdue drivetrain and bearing replacement. Success = squeezing in all this on return from hols! Rear shock self serviced with fox kit too 🙂
At BL Co-op a waving rider turns out to be Joe, and its ride and chat up to Langley.
A long drag up to Chazza, I gradually catch a pair of riders ahead of me, pass a couple of groups of walkers, and decide to change my Hardingland plan in favour of a dropping the cargo at the campsite and doing a lap of the forest.
Very hazy views, very dry and loose down chazza!
Lambs in the field on the way back to standing stone, repass walkers from earlier.
Back of the moon running well, and the grassy descent perfect as the grass is still short 🙂
Big yellow digger spotted on the moor!
Thrash the singletrack and S bends and chat with rider on hardtail having a quick fag at the Nessit bench.
Too many walkers out to risk the white rabbit descent, to respectfully down the proper path, then cheeky normal route around the ressies without incident! Fantastic glowing red sun setting at the bottom, and red deer in the field!
Cooling and getting dark on the final climb, but still light enough to see an amusing “post” (2 pages of soft pron tacked to telegraph pole on way to the witches cottage ascent!!) and glad to see the top.
First fire of the season in the usual spot (given that grass was growing on the charcoal!)
Tinder brilliantly dry – so a one match first time lighting with but a tissue for added ignition.
Fire cracking away, beer in hand, crisps to munch, a much needed bit of solitude.
Having built a fire..will they come?
Langley boys do not disappoint (even with cheating vehicle assist!) , and Dunc also arrives in proper fashion.
Deep discussions on ancient history and geopolitics interrupted by the lager louts calling from Majorca!
Beer, G&T or Wine of your own washing down Dunc’s Salty Nuts 😉
Another fine night, descent home a bit chilly!