Crew: Mr I, 3 Sheds, Coley, Butty, TJ, Stunt
Pub: Dunc
Route: BL, Zig Zags, Teggs, Smithy, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Langley ressies, Smithy.
Conditions: Wet start, then still, hill fog higher up.
Stats: one lighting failure
Notes:
After “almost a summers day” on Wednesday, fate can be a cruel mistress…the rain begins to fall c6:15pm and is heavy enough for Butty to deploy his Dutch Rain Skirt!
Mutterings about the wisdom of being out begin (yes 3 sheds is out on a wet ride!!) a route is rapidly decided upon, weather geeks predict circa an hour of rain, and we are off!
As usual 3 Sheds is off in the distance, the rest of us strung out in 2’s and 3’s (ok one 2 and one 3 for the numerical pedants).
There is light still in the sky, glowing faintly orange through long slits in the distant blanket of grey clouds, suggesting an end to the rain is literally in sight. Closer in the bright blue and red neon of the Macc Charter Fair can be seen (and heard!)…is that where El Pres is we wonder??
More wondering as we regroup at the end of the zig…as to whether our lone leader has Zagged?
Given his demeanour (de moaner?) earlier we guess not, and at the turn we see no lights on the bridleway. Of course he has manned up and taken the haut route, he smugly rejoins us at teggs entrance.
Not a night for the grassy ascent, we stick to the better surfaced trails. Teggs descent ok up top but very slippery lower down.
Rain has now stopped, so time to order food (to the rather bemused group of post work drinkers) and continue.
Selling the benefits of one big climb then lots of decent, we head up the road..and find that Frog avoidance is required, Spring is definitely upon us 🙂
The lack of trees to the left means we spy more bikers exiting onto Hacked Way lane and heading for Hardingland (unless by some weird space time warp -it is indeed us a bit later on!)
We are steaming hard by the time we are through the gate (a stink of sweaty gentlemen??) and are grateful for the unexpected need to stop and move off the road to let a tractor pass. He’s gritting the road which seems a bit extreme given the mildness of the night..
Our self generated mist is soon replaced by the real thing and Charity is done in poor vis, but only enough to slow us slightly. It’s actually worse on Narnia as a thick blanket hugs the hillside.
Butty discovers his pre ride prediction of future failure has come true – a loose battery pack has slid back and pulled out the wires from the battery! and on the one night he didn’t bring his trail side soldering iron too 🙂
It doesnt seem to cramp his style having only the helmet light, as he flashes past others down hardingland (no badger tonight).
Speed along the lower tracks almost catches Stunt out on a thick mud patch, but we all arrive back at the reservoir steps (again) in one piece.
We have made excellent time, and although there might have been time for a quick cheeky lap of the resssies, appetites are needing satisfying and its into the Smithy for 8:40! (well we had been asked to be there for ten to)
Carol delivers beer price rise shocker!
Coley orders food shocker!!
Fire helps dry damp gloves (although we are almost too hot!)
Food is demolished (Mr I even does pudding). This weeks converstaion include consumer advice on foreign currency cards (that Halifax one apparently), and the liberal and varied world of Air BnB experiences!
A shocking rash of temperance and early finishes from half the party, which leaves Dunc to find a select few for last orders.
We may be even more select next week!