Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: El Pres, PTD, Shaun, Dunc, Slim, Stunt
Route: MC, Zig, Teggs, Reverse lower Ressie, Hanging Gate, Fourways, Croker Hill, Ryles Arms
Conditions: Cold, Windy, Muddy
Notes:
With ski season taking quite a few of our regulars to the Alps (and sending us pics of blues skies and white powder) the grumpy remainers assembled to make a homage to Dan by taking G&T’s to Croker Hill.
Weather is reminicent of the typical Dan birthday rides, with a cold rain getting us a bit wet on the way to the rendevous. It’s not a night for hanging around!
Team PTD call us on the climb up coalpit lane, and we meet at the end of the Zig before carrying on up to Teggs.
The mud is not very deep, but it is very slippery, and there are some sideways moments especially on the grass bit at the bottom of the main descent before the track to the car park.
The wind turned out not to be as bad as feared, and we made good time up and over to Fourways, and then down and up to the Croker track.
Weird blue green lights off to the right hand side turn out to be some kind of lower mast in a field short of the main Croker tower, more new tech with gate across the road too. No encounters of the 3rd (or any other) kind as we crest and head to the traditional viewpoint.
We find that previous visitors to the corner of the field have left the eclectic combination of an empty bottle of prosecco, and very long disposable glove, and some short straws. Sounds like Cheshire Cows need some bubbles to get them ready for insemination!!
El Pres treats us to Cloud View Gin (which Stunt pours extremely generously before he realises it’s neat!) eventually its diluted suitably and it’s rather smooth and sherberty! …then El Pres produces Pork Pies and a jar of pickled onions , a TNR in flight snack first and an alleged Brummie delicacy from his youth .
Before we start shivering, its all go downhill and the field does it’s usual trick of tempting us into speed then throwing up some churned up mush to cause slithery whoops!
We find our way through the gates (always more than we remember) and to more grassy fun – watch out for the molehills, the stupid double gate, and the muddy corner..now parly resurfaced (just in time for a flying Shaun to recover his line!!)
Muddy and happy we pop out onto the road, and up to the Ryles just in time for food before the kitchen closes.
Always well looked after, possibly over gammoned, definitely overpead, Hen Cloud to wash it down with. Great to catch up with Shaun, and good to see PTD back on the bike. Tales of bogged down caravans, geekiness on underfloor heating, and retro music tech.
Extra layers for the chilly ride home and Tractor boy from the pub overtakes us on his way home to Sutton!