Crew: PTD, Butty, Troll, 3 Sheds, Coley, Croxy, Bern, Dunc, Dr S, G
Shrubberies: Doog, El Pres, Ruth
Route: Bottom of Zag, Charity, Under the trees singletrack to Narnia, LHS trail from just before the bench to the fire road, “Into the sun” segment to the trail, back up and across to do the long wiggly singletrack back to the trail, down to the gate and road to Leathers, across the bottom of the ressie, up the white rabbit ascent half way, more singletrack down, final wiggle back up and round the back of the wall to the come out near Bob’s bench, back along the ressie path to the Shrubberies.
Conditions: Hot and sultry!
Notes:
A PTD/Doog production offering al fresco curry at the Shrubberies is a recipe for success in a week where it may be meterelogical autumn, but defintely still astronomical summer!
Big turnout on a hot night, with some high level cloud taking the worst of the radiant heat out of the sun, it’s gone humid!
Route discussions focus on minimising climb and maximising the dry conditions, so a high point at Charity then much meandering singletrack on the way down.
Despite a couple of large muddy mires close to the entry point, the conditions under the trees are dry and firm as predicted, the trail from the bombhole all the way to Narnia is fast and fun!
Following Mando Paul “It is the way” we take the next section from Narnia down to the lower fire road, this one is getting a bit more deeply rutted on the corners – but plenty of offline options which are equally good.
A very steep exit is not for all, but PTD and G show us how to get some air off the bank once we are on the fire road proper.
Butty shows he does not know the way with a brief and fruitless foray into the wrong track (and some face attacking vegetation), PTD takes us the right way for the down and up (mind the rock at the end) “into the sun” – although tonight that was not a problem..indeed lights were on for some.
A quick backup and round to take a slightly different entry that leads to the singletrack all the way down under the trees to the bottom of the trail from the Smithy. With a brief stop to check Trolls contact lens, and a time check, we are led down past the pub, the last of the dog walkers, and across the ressies.
A final climb up the white rabbit ascent in the dusk, then more wiggly fun – one new little jump gives a few folk some unexpected air – but luckily speed is their friend and all land safely. A right hand side option takes us down some extremely steep stuff – and out by the steps, maybe next time the LHS exit?. A short climb back up the start of the white rabbit main path, back towards the ressies, then a 180 to take the rooty trails behind the wall down to Bobs bench.
A last whizz back past the ressies and the gate to the Shrubberies slides back to let us in!
Troll and PTD share brick pattern geekiness “nice flemish” on the front, and “english garden” on the side. It’s coming along but still much to do before it’s habitable, but what a view from the garden!
We are camped in one corner with some tables and chairs close to a large mound of soil. PTD gets a fire going with waste timbers, Doog and Chris arrive bearing beer and the magic box of curry wonderment, and all the pieces are in place!
Hard not to look at the sky – the wind must have shifted round, as the aircraft are all coming in to Manchester for a South to North landing (which is unusual). Some satellites seen, and a discussion about when Orion appears (January). 3 Sheds has us crying with laughter with a clip from down under relating how not to test a taser! 😉
We get a Rum finish, with a taste of Dropworks white rum from Shaun’s latest locale (punchy!), and then some smooth golden loveliness of Wireworks aged dark rum.
Does one need an extra layer for the ride home? maybe, but definitely not two as Dunc finds out by the time he’s halfway back – 19C at midnight in Tythy.
Now can I find a cassette spacer to sort that horrendous rattling from the back of my steed!?