Words by Alex, Photos/Gifs by Pete & Butty
Crew: El Pres, Butty, Slim, Coley, PTD, Stunt
Pub: Dunc
Route: BL, Zig Zags, Charity, Extension, Standing Stone, Back of the Moon, 2 Sided Valley, Wildboarclough, Standing Stone, Just right of the RHS descent, Sutton Hall
Conditions: Dry, Mild, misty higher up.
Notes:
Gap Yaar = arrival early by Slim!
This week El Pres suggests getting over the moor below Shutlingsloe and into Wildboarclough, it’s been a while so excellent idea!
Huge tyre tracks in the biggest puddle on the zig are a new hazard!
Charity is suprisingly dry and rocky.
PTD has brought some whisky which we sample at the bench just off the standing stone track whilst we debate about the best way to the back of Piggford moor,
with a suggestion we push up the back of the moon descent, as the top bit is drier.
The logic is good, but it’s a steep push, on the tops we are into mist, dropping down across the moor its moist but not too boggy, although under the mesh is very wet!
We cast broken spectres ahead of us as we feel our way towards the 2 sided valley,
where the top section of trail is now very narrow and deeply sunken so the only way across is to have your up hill leg out almost perpendicular off the saddle!!
Luckily its soon over, and the rest is flowly and fun (apart from the stiles)
I don’t know what it is about the little section from the farm to the wildboarclough road, but its always a real pleasure to ride, this time with crunchy fallen leaves for added effect.
Time is a ticking, and at Standing stone some vote for a direct route to pub, whilst others follow Butty to a new “right of the RHS” trail which is good…and good it is, weaving across the contour lines, its less steep but all the better for it! A new favourite!
Regrouping at Sutton Hall, the Titanic offering is excellent (we drink it dry), food and table service excellent as usual, and Dunky arrives for the Ribaldry zone.
Some early leavers due to Friday committments, others perhaps slip towards an AoE…
Very mild for the time of year.