Words by Alex, Pics by Pete
Crew: PTD, Mr Inc, Slim, Butty, TJ, Dunc, El Pres, Stunt
Route: BL, Zig, Teggs loop, Teggs descents, Smithy, reverse Ressies, White Rabbit ascent, Nessit Hill, Top of the Downhill, back up to the main track, Son of Dentists & Trail Monkey’s, Into the ressie track from the top, King Head.
Conditions: Mild & Dry
Notes: Incoming! says the whatsapp from Pete showing a lump on the radar…ominous black skies on the ride to BL…and rain..but only briefly and the edge of it (5 mins sheltering under trees on Higher Fence and it was gone).
From there glorious sunshine for the rest of the ride. Phil wants an early celebration stop (mainly to lose the weight of the booty). Ribaldry starts early as soon as Pete admits to sore nipples from his Fell race last night!
After saying hello to some rare breed steers at the start of the paved section up to teggs, we loop up towards the enclosure viewpoint, but set out our wares on the flattish big rocks just nearby.
We are treated to Dentists Nemesis ..a Mule cocktail of ginger beer, calvados and rum….and yes the oral cancer response was forthcoming ;-)!
Mr Inc has handmade a sausage roll of huge girth, and incorporating apple and dates…rather splendid. Vegan rolls to balance things too.
Butty also shares his Laphroaig from a recent business trip where he was served after hours in the hotel by a friendly staff member who was unfamiliar with alcohol..and served him a wine portion for the price of a spirit! The iodine notes cleansed the palate nicely.
Now clear of a troop of scouts, we take the fence decent back to the main path, then the normal teggs left or right. Tonight additional hazards were Ranger on the left, and more cattle on the right!
The section into the car park has been finished, no ruts , but big water bars..so on balance about the same 😉
Lots of wildlife to spot on the climb to the Leathers, pair of crested grebes nesting on the langley ressie, goldfinches flitting across the hedgerows higher up and swallows swooping all about.
Route discussion at the fork (whilst TJ chats with the Britannia mafia) shows Duncan that you don’t jest with the Dentist! White Rabbit Ascent it is!! We need to dodge trail runners descending the steep slope of the reverse ressies, and follow a lone runner all the way up to Nessit.
Glorious views from Dans bench, despite some of our better judgement we do “follow the dentist” to take advantage of good conditions under the trees, and have a good run down, up and the down for the full gamut of cheekiness.Butty takes us hard right after the entrance to the ressies near the white rabbit exit, and a good bit of singletrack takes you back on yourself before joining the track to Bob bench.
Red deer in the field below the dam..
Kings head do us proud and we get excellent service all evening (was there some forgettable football on somewhere?) Wincle Wibbly Wallaby, or a Skipton IPA are both good too.
A lot of ribaldry and planning of a Pott Lords BBQ next week (weather permitting)
Payment by card requires a phone call to the landlord to work the till!