Words by Pete, Photos by Dr S, Lee, Butty & Pete
Crew : Lee, Bern, Chris, Troll, TJ, Butty, Pete, 3sheds, Simon
Pub only : Adrian & Spaniel
Conditions : Humid and cloudy but the sun came out on Piggford Moor !
Muddier then it should be for July on the PM crossing
Route :
Stoneyfold , Zig Zags, Teggs Nose, Saddler’s Way , Langley , Reverse Nessit, Shutlingsloe Approach , Piggford Moor, Standing Stone, Left hand forest descent , Rezzies, Sutton Hall
Nosh : Sutton Hall
Notes:
Much debate over a southern trip but it was too late to sort properly . A welcome return to a Teggs/Forest/Piggford Moor circuit and a Sutton Hall finish. It has been too long !
And we have Dr S as our guest star in the crew this week – with a decent camera as well.
The muster point has now shifted to the top of Stoneyfold Lane – no doubt the local drivers appreciate this .
A conventional ascent to Teggs , but a rare descent of Saddlers where the gnarly section at the top was tempered by a group of MTBers pushing up to Teggs .
We managed to get to Langley without injuring any of the walkers in our path. Tick.
As we climbed towards Nessit from the Leathers we got a gradual increase in a swarm of flies …by the time we got to the path out to Shutlingsloe each of us was in our own personal hell of the little devils…
….worst was one offender who went straight up my left nostril. Yuck and Aaaarrrggh !
But why the crest where we turned left across Piggford the wind had picked up a little, the flies left us alone and the clouds had parted – all was good with the world.
In fact the evening light was so good it even made us forget about the soggy mud of the track . Shining Tor and Cat were bathed in gorgeous soft light to our right.
An ethereal mist was rising off the forest , beautifully backlit by the dipping sun.
A magical time of the evening . The endorphins have kicked in. You are glad you are right here, right now…and a great descent to beer and nosh awaits.
For once we arrive on time at Sutton Hall.
Its quieter and very Covid 19 organised , no bar service , face masks for the staff . But they look after us very well ..Wibbly Wallerby all round with the odd lager.
Steak burger and chips tastes great after a three month abstinence …as does the fine malt chosen by very own Troll . Oh, And Chris Palmer is still a very slow eater !
A dry ride home (in contrast to last week’s downpour) and 16C at Midnight when I got home.