Words by Alex, Pics by Pete
Crew: PTD, El Pres, Troll, Slim, Stunt, Bernard
Pub: TJ & Dunc
Route: BL, Zig Zags, Chazza, Narnia, Hardingland, Sadlers Way, Teggs Sheep pen, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Mild, Breezy, Showery
Stats: 2 Off’s for PTD
Notes:
With Butty soaking up southern california’s finest tech knowledge..and being near the Mexican border..Whatsapp went a bit Gringo ahead of the ride.
PTD needing little excuse to come loaded with Tequila Sunrise ingredients 🙂
Route choice designed to get us to the Teggs cocktail bar c8:30 ish.
Big events Bern also in attendance (sadly no poncho’s and cheroots in evidence)
Recent rain = big puddles on the trails, and there are plenty of clouds dotting the blue sky, some quite threatening.
Pootling up the first zig a rainbow is peeking through behind the hills.
Tales of extreme Italian weather and epic dolomite riding from PTD, ,much talk of 29’ers hardtails and tyres for the Jura from others 🙂
Great light over the plain from the start of Charity, sunbeams and showers in equal measure.
Much debate over the wind vector and whether we will get wet, consensus is yes but hopefully we’ll be under the trees when it does.
Chazza running wet but not too slippery with the odd very big rock in unexpected places!
Narnia muddy and slippery as PTD finds out to his cost landing after an exuberant water bar jump…wheels go sideways and he collects and arm and a leg of soft moist loam for his off!
Hardingland totally dry! PTD makes up for his off by cleaning the post stream climb 🙂
Waiting for our team photographer we can see rain parallel with us in the valley, and then rapidly work out that we are in the path of another! It’ll pass in a couple of minutes and be nothing they say as the more enthusiatic head off to out run it by getting to the bottom and turning right! The rest of us break out waterproofs..in the nick of time as the few spits and spots turn heavy!
The optimists are found sheltering under a tree at the bottom 🙂
It does pass quickly…but sadlers way is now greasy!
Flippin ‘eck its a long and tough puff to the gate (for those that make it) and no one has enough left to give the rocky section a good go.
Cresting at the car park a stupendous sunset is in the making, plan adjusted to the “sheep pen” view point.
A last slog up the grass and we have finished climbing for the day 🙂
PTD creates the perfect “sundowners” …and there is plenty to go round 🙂
Hmm Teggs descent on Tequila in the gloom..what could possibly go wrong?
Lights on, seats down!
Having safely negotiated the down and up and over through the heather, and the standard drop to the “top”, wet grass is identified as slippy..and providing the potential for a donut?
PTD starts with an impressive 180, then has a go at the full 360…to end up flat in the middle by 270 🙂
All safely to the car park to the smell of hot brakes.
Sutton Hall busy so through to the back bar (good move)
We are well looked after, Poynton Ambrose or Hawkshead the ales of choice, layered black pudding potato combo lusted after by those not having pork.
Ski talk!! and a mini axis does a second whisky.
