Crew: Bern, El Pres, Slim, Butty, 3 Sheds, Troll, Stunt, Dunc, Lee, PTD, Shaun.
Route: Muller Corner, Zig Zags, Teggs past the “old machines” and down the front, Smithy, ascent round the reservoir, up white rabbit, Nessit to standing stone, RHS singletrack with PTD edit, up the gravel track and steps to the road. Another explore on the RHS that brings us out near the bottom of the track back to the Smithy.
Conditions: Warm, still, damp and buggy
Notes:
Bern takes charge of route planning, and after a bit of two and fro on whatsapp we assemble at 6pm, apart from PTD (architect of the 6pm start) who is now late as Shaun is coming 🙂 we agree that they catch up with us in Langley after our Teggs descent.
It’s a bit of a weird weather day, it has warmed up to 17C from 12 at lunchtime, there are slow moving moody showers about. With some early evening sun there is much to be admired in the views – with milky white shafts of light coming through gaps in the clouds, watery reflections from wet roofs in town, dark tendrils uncurling from the grey clouds where it is raining, mists around the base of Jodrell Bank as the plain gently steams, and a sillouhette of Fiddlers Ferry clear on the Horizon.
A few puddles about on the zig zags as we string out due to comms with PTD & Dunc, and general faffiness. We end up leap frogging with a couple of lady walkers all the way to the gates into Teggs.
More great views from the grassy knoll (and some diapproving looks from a couple of other walkers?) Despite being a big greasy, the main descent is running well, the wiggle at the bottom under the trees much more slippery!
Nice smell of hot brakes at the car park. Grebes spotted in the lower reservoir!
Food pre-order and RV with team PTD & Dunc at the Smithy, before Bern takes us “the wrong way” round the forest “because we need a change!”
Shaun fits straight in with much mocking of the ebiker!
Very buggy at Dan’s bench, with Butty being the tastiest morsel, and those smidge’d up feeling smug. Ribaldry starts early.
At Standing Stone, PTD starts to edit Bern’s plan (in a good way) although the RHS singletrack with new Right turn half way down, is challenging mud, roots and wet stuff! (Mental note, time to fit that new rear tyre this weekend!!).
Another up, with PTD, Dunc and Lee getting full marks for manual climbing, ButtyE loses traction despite the power! and the 3 E bikers only get as far as our top trio before pushing up steps with walk assist.
A new entry to the RHS of the smithy to forest chapel road requires some human chains to get bikes and riders into position. We are then treated to a red sun setting below a very dark cloud, with suitably black birds flapping past.
Fast down fire roads – but watch out for the fresh fir tree growth! Moisture in the air and straight to the pub on well exercised legs. In the nick of time as the heavens open minutes later.
John and his team look after us very well, Razorback on draught a fine ale, food excellent, and we have a TNR first of Catepillar watching on the top table. It gets the barstaff involved, and keeps us amused all the way to the end!
A small AoE stay for a wee dram of Tullibardine which is a very smooth Perthshire single malt.
Best wished to Shaun for his forthcoming nuptials