Words by Alex, Pics by Pete
Crew: El Pres, PTD, Slim, Butty, TJ,Mr Inc, Coley, Stunt
Route: BL, Zig zags, Charity, Butty’s Snicket, Narnia, Charity, Extension, Standing stone, New BBQ descent, Rezzies, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Balmy 7 degrees, hill fog from Back Eddisbury up, dry but very muddy trails.
Stats: Butty Faff (brake pad replacement), Off (Slim)
Notes:
A surprisingly “not cold” night, although the expectation of it being colder led to a sub 5 degree rule planning execution anyway 🙂
Hill Fog meant route would be the forest, Butty to catch up (with cake!) which he did by the end of the Zig. then promptly had a major faff with brake pads, sticky chain and where’s my tool bag! Rest of us stood and offered advice (although Stunt did have a useful tool). Cows in the next field not bothered..
Into the cloud past descending fell runners on the Zag, care descending to Walker barn.
No sign of the rush hour at Chazza, bar lights only by this point. Decision to do the snicket despite the likley mud driven by the fact that descending chazza would be somewhat hazardous in this poor vis.
The pine needles meant that only the boggy patches were muddy (but how!)
Amazingly we found our way to the end, whilst discovering that a simple call your number system was beyond us! (Strictly style SEVEN! seemed to cause amusement)
Cake and warm whisky mac stop – perfect.
Still misty all the way to the bottom of the oven, but then climbed out of it to standing stone.
Someone has been using our BBQ fireplace! and even properly sawing bits off fallen timber!! (secretly impressed..was it a lightweight hand chain saw??)
More cake and Coley’s special speyside malt in stoppered bottle (pirate stylee AAARRRGGGHHH)
Very slippy descent, which caught Slim out at one point in low speed toppling.
Plus tyres good (if your nobs are big enough!)
Last thrash round the rezzies, PTD pops into the Smithy to sort xmas TNR meal, retire to Sutton Hall.
Busy and decorated with a lot of Santa sacks…we do find a table in the Garden Room 🙂
No one’s tempted by the dark ales yet, much Blonde and Wizarding. Sausage and Mash is however a big draw, and some even do puddings!!!!
We play a virtual Dunc to lower the tone almost immediately (perhaps inspired by two stops pre pub?)
The real one sends us cartoons later too 🙂
Much talk of 2017 things to do..some of which are already happening.
Much mirth, and for a shortish ride a lot of fun 🙂
