Words by Pete, Photos by Lee, Butty, Croxy & Pete
Owl photos are Butty’s from Friday 10th
Crew : Coley, Lee, Bern, Chris, Troll, Butty, Pete, 3sheds, Croxy
Conditions : Mild, wet under tyre and foot
Route :
Stoneyfold , Zig Zags, Teggs Nose , Bottoms Reservoir , Leathers (to order), Charity La, Forest Chapel , part tarmac, mostly forest descent , The Leathers
Notes:
The Leathers was the last pub we visited before Lockdown – so it felt fitting that it should be our first destination now that Bozza has given the signal for them to re-open.
El presidente had made reservation direct with “John The Barman” the week earlier.
And our special guest star this week was Coley .
It was a fairly regular route this week , with the exception of some deviation on the rear entry of Teggs (ooh err missus) where I believe someone had a minor off. As I had chickened out to a more conventional, classic descent I have no more details to add.
A brief stop at the Leathers to order nosh (and although tempting..we had no cheeky half) and then along wind up through the forest to Charity.
Charity was like a minor river ..and opinion was divided as to whether this made it more fun or just gave you a very damp @rse . For me, despite the resultant wet keks , it was a “proper descent” of Chazza. Leaving one with a big cheesy grin .
At Forest Chapel we took the tarmac road back towards the Leathers ..but barely 25 yards down we caught sight of a barn owl flying over the field to the left – its light colour making it very visible in the evening light. We were treated to about 5 to 10 minutes of a pair of owls flying up and down the dip in the field to our left. I caught quite a bit on my iPhone. But Butty’s photos here (from Friday night when he returned with his proper camera and zoom) are just brilliant .
Down to Bob’s bench where Coley reveals a fine taste in whiskey … then on to The Leathers where John welcomes back with (socially distanced) open arms.
Gammon, Egg and Chips …marvellous . I am admonished for drinking Moretti (and not Pedigree) …but it gets worse
Some concoction of cooking whisky & Guinness known as “Nora’s Revenge”
I think Nora took her revenge in the form of a downpour which drenched me and Butty on the trip North .
But it was great to be back .