Words by Butty , Pics by Croxy, Lee & Butty
Crew: Butty, Bern, Coley, Mr Ball, Croxy,
Pub: Dunky
Conditions: Very mild. The Light was fantastic!
Route: Zig Zags, Charity, Cheeky Charity single track, Extension, Standing Stone, Ferriser, New downhill track from BBQ spot 2, Climb to Standing Stone, No longer Northshore, Trentabank paths, Bobs Bench, Smithy, finish at Sutton Hall.
Notes :
With the President recovering from a recurrence iof lung collapse and core team off in various parts of the world, Butty was nominated as “Oops” leader.
However, presiding over his troops at BL, Chris nominates an astonished Bern as Ops leader, who quickly defers to the classic Charity and forest downhill plan. Waving off the president the regular route upwards is taken.
The sky is clear, and temperatures feel like a summer evening. Under tyre the Zig Zags feel firm enough but as we chase Bernard up to the top end of Charity Lane it is somewhat damp. It might be the last chance to do the cheeky single-track to Narnia, so the group goes for it, jumping over the fence.
The cheeky track looks like it has been over ridden in the past few damp weeks and going is tough, with very deep, and very muddy ruts and berms. Lights are needed as “winter is coming” and the added sketchy makes for a fun run down to Narnia path and a tremendously orange dominated sunset. Looks like the season of light is upon us!
After many camera snaps, Charity descent and extension is resumed. The extension “rockiness” somehow feels different to usual but difficult to pinpoint the change, several riders indicate near misses, but all arrive at the bottom unscathed.
Climbing to the Ferriser ruin the group pauses for pictures and to pre-order Sutton grub. Going on memory alone, orders of burgers, sausages, steak barms, and the veggie option (for Lee) are booked in for 9.15pm.
Sharp right into the BBQ spot #2. From the fire site there are two options the well known and a new start off to the right.
Butty investigates but it’s well used and axel deep in mud, not to mention steep. Croxy leads the slightly more sensible route and we all meet a little further down at the start of the new (to us) dug section. The Yoof have been a bit too busy, digging holes as well as jumps. The group all sidestep the gap jumps and go for the easier jumps and roll overs.
A quick blast along the fire road and a tarmac ascent to standing stone to see what has become of the old Northshore. There’s still two, two-meter pieces left but it’s been devastated, and most of the wood has been replaced with gravel. Mr Ball mutters his distinct disapproval and disappointment!
Somewhere along the winding paths down towards Ridgegate we lost Bernard. Mobile puts us back in touch … he has had lighting issues but is coming to catch us up at the Leathers.
Unlike the last few times Sutton Hall is fairly quiet. However, thankfully the Hoegaarden is back on. Phil entertains us with stories of Bulgarian Gypsies chasing him on a recent Paragliding trip when he landed where was warned not to. Then Dunky arrives with tales of South African culture, marvels and oddities.
No AoE tonight and we all leave close to the official closing time.
(Ed – On the way home I came across the evil eyes of the same badger that sent me OTB around a year or two ago in the exact same place. Shouting unkind names at Mr (or missus) badger, they quickly scurried away)