Crew: El Pres, Slim, 3 Sheds, Butty, Croxy, Lee, Stunt, G
Sutton Ressie: Doog
Route: Bottom of the zag, Charity, Narnia, cut back to do the cheeky swoopy trails, road to Smithy, across the bottom of the ressie, little climb up to the road, Hanging Gate, Croker Hill, RH side decent to Croker Lane, Chez Doog, Sutton Reservoir.
Conditions: Hot, dry and lots of flying bugs in the forest.
Notes:
Finally a fine evening in prospect – and it would be rude not to go al fresco! Discussions started early the day before, but reports of flymaggedon in the forest suggested more creativity needed. Enter Doog with a generous offer of doing the logistics for a Sutton Reservoir beach pizza, beer and campfire event!
With a meet at 8:30 chez Doog to collect supplies as our target, El pres sets out a route across the forest and over Croker. It’s fair to say that on a warm night there were some slacker voices suggesting it might be a little ambitious, but it did sound a good plan!
Plenty of other riders out, as 3 other middle aged bikers were also meeting at our RV, and headed off just ahead of us, followed rapidly by two younger guys on e hybrids looking a bit out of place in college chic attire and no helmets!
A good night for sheep spotting, as the freshly shorn flocks contentedly grazed lush grass in the evening sunshine (well apart from the dead one in a field between windy ways and walker barn). A lot of Tups out, easily identified by a burly appearance and huge boy bags down past their back knees!
The wisdom of avoiding a forest eating location is vindicated at charity as they crawl all over Butty’s forearms, and carpet the track in places, DEET liberally applied at Narnia gate.
The ongoing route discussion about getting across the forest in time is settled as Butty takes us to the the reverse of the swoopy singletracks that PTD showed us uphill back in June. It’s a smart move (although watch out for the steep exit onto the fireroad part way – El Pres ends up in a small conifer to break his fall)
Having emerged low down on the main track , its straight down the road past the Leathers (busy with many a walker and jiggly jogger) past the ressie and up to the road.
Plenty of time to chat on the climb past the Hanging gate (also busy) and along the ridge before the A54 decent and final climbs to Croker – where G finally catches us up.
A route committee comes to a conclusion that we don’t have time to do the classic down and exit near the Ryles as this would mean a long ride round to Doogs, so we should take the direct route – which no one has done in a long time. Digital mappage is consulted, and we identify the track to take. In the event it’s a proper roadway with footpath permissions, no gates and a smooth rapid ride where we met no-one (or even got barked at by any farm dogs). Popping out onto Leek old road we are a little early, and welcomed by Isla and Eunice and a very happy pooch. We get to meet the pet snails, wear out the pooch playing tug, and chat happily to Eunice. Doog soon arrives with the beer, and the Pizza is delivered soon after that! saying our goodbyes we head down the lane and along the side of the ressie to the “beach” at the end. 9 Pizzas in an IKEA blue bag on one handebar would make a good addition to the cycling world championship events! They all arrived safely 🙂
Excellent they were – and condiment chris excelled himself by having several dips that others donated him!
The ducks -mostly mallards but with one white puddle duck (Lee’s favourite) were happily dabbling nearby – but then came zooming over once the prospect of pizza crust crumbs were on offer.
Magnumesque salted caramel ice cream lollies to follow, and a palate cleansing Mojito to toast Butty’s birthday from Stunt.
Then the important business of making a campfire, sticks are foraged, and Croxy and Stunt use the cardboard as kindling (schoolboy error on wind direction meant a second match was needed!) and soon we have plenty of flame – not that it’s cold.
As the number of empty beer cans goes up, the sun goes down, and in come squadrons of geese returning to roost on the water.
The usual diverse mix of serious discussion and banal banter is as it should be.
Butty brings out a hip flask of scotch, and a very dubious little bottle of “green snot” (fortunately only enough for he and Pete to taste). Doog also breaks out some proper speyside smoothness.
The cloud cover that had been with us for a while breaks up and we get to see some stars before dousing the fire and taking what little litter remained.
A warm ride home (if a little wobbly).
and no bugs !!
Top effort team Doog – our thanks as ever