Crew: El Pres, 3 Sheds, Troll, Slim, Butty, Dunc, Croxy, Lee, Stunt
Route: MC, zig zags, charity, extension, standing stone, RHS singletrack, fireroads across and up to Ferriser, standing stone, forest chapel, up charity.
Conditions: Warm & Dry
Nature spots: Kestrel, Hare, Bat
Notes:
Another fine September evening keeps the late summer vibe going, with blue skies and short sleeves in order.
Warm but not too humid, but enough to ensure that the regroup stops are unhurried.
Views are hazy, but the sunshine is glinting off something big to the West, leading to deep debate about what it was, as kestrel is hovering over the fields to our left. eventually consensus is that it’s the Mersey estuary somewhere near Ellesmere Port – although it does seem to be a long way south of the Liverpool cathederals.
Up and down chazza which is dry but not dusty, followed by the extension.
Croxy takes over routemeistering at this point to take us on a loop.
The RHS singletrack from standing stone is excellent (and much drier than last month!), at the bottom we do the extra loop just for fun!
A rare traverse on the quieter fireroads, culminates in an evil climb/push up to ferriser. Light is fading fast, and a bat flies across from the trees towards the fields on the decent to the standing stone gate. Rural crime pickup is parked in front, has there been a tip off of dodgy activity at the standing stone car park?
Just the reverse chazza to go, which is always better than you fear, and it’s always further down to our turn than you think too!
Bizarre sight of a big fire by the sheep sheds down at the start of the offroad – which turns out to be a pile of wool!
Thanks to Harry for the delivery of provisions, which work out at a miserly £7 each – El Pud would be proud!
The original (and best?) spot is very overgrown, and seems unused. Felled trees block our former route to it, but after some brief reorientation we are all gathered around some flickering flames muching warm garlic bread and breaking out the beers, to the soundtrack of hooting owls.
Tin foil cooking over hot embers delivers filling food, and much teamwork, with an excuse for whittling sticks and proffering advice 😉 Dunc wins the overheard in waitrose award with his gourmet salmon, tomato and bean foil packet. Croxy’s bacon on a stick inspires some sweary architect tweets 😉
It stays remarkably warm, and that matches the bonhomie. Ribaldy is present, but too are the tall stories and much needed ventings on modern life. A bright moon and a sky full of stars crown a cracking night. Would have been a great night for a bivvy.
Pete gets his wobble in before getting back on the bike, heading home at high speed requires concentration, but the three rings suggests all got home safely.