Words by Pete, Pics by Butty and Pete
Crew : Dunc , Troll, Butty, El Pres , Pete
In the pub: Lee, El Pud
Route : MC , Zig, Teggs Rear Entry, Bottoms Reservoir , Hardingland ascent , Forest Corner, Charity , Extension , Standing Stone, Board Walks descent, Back of the Rezzies, The King’s Head
Conditions : The rain stopped right on cue, the low sunlight made our views magical , the air and the wind were cold . About 5c at 6pm and it dropped to about 3c by midnight
Notes: This week Dunc was our Ops leader . And he did a storming job . He cooked up a novel route and sorted out a table at a revamped King’s Head.
The novelty was also in adding in lots of climb , so that he (the fittest of us all) and the Butty (on e-vehicle) had the advantage . But the views and excellent low evening sunlight made even the pushing up hill bits a pleasure.
On the plateau bit of Teggs we encountered a strange dog walker who appeared to have abandoned all efforts to control the dogs in favour of filming us riding in footpath land. Such is life.
After the forest and tarmac climb from witches cottage Phil was feeling the effects of three days of dodgy guts . A “nakd” bar (that sounds a bit wrong ) seemed to restore him enough to get to the pub. Now I know why I carry 4 of them !
At the apex of charity we get a good sighting of a buzzard disappearing into the canopy of the forest , and the light was now dim enough to bring on the Owl hoots . after the tarmac climb from witches
On the climb to Charity we had also mistaken a bunch of E-chaps climbing the fire road beneath us for a bunch of girls. But were we truly incorrect ?
We made the King’s head dead on 8:30pm, and moments later we had fine ale and nosh on the table in front of us. Another triumph from Dunc .
But five had become six …as Lee had phoned in his order , had a little forest spin and joined us.
The King’s Head delivered warmth , a great beer selection (Timmy Taylor’s Landlord & Beavertown Neck Oil !), excellent food and service . Good scampi & chips!
But wait on …yet more surprises…as the prodigal son himself , El Pud, strolls in .
It was as though Dunc had secretly arranged this guest star to turn up the volume on the Ribaldry Zone .
This unholy concoction made for classic Thursday night 4-star banter .
Whiskey was taken.
A fine TNR indeed.