Crew: PTD, Doog, Dunc, TJ, Butty, Stunt, Slim
Pub: El Pres
Route: Back of the Zag, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Smithy, Bobs Bench, Smithy.
Conditions: Cold, Damp & Misty – with wet and muddy trails.
Notes:
With the forecast of ~5C and likely rain, a flurry of excuses whittled down the TNR to its harder core.
Three were at the Zag (btw there is fresh metal gateage at the Zig)..with an RV for three more at the start of charity proper.
Pete & Chris playing late start cards, live location is enabled…but phone signals seem poor. Conspiracy theories about 5G roll out ensue!
Climbing off road it’s getting a bit misty murky, which light setting to use?
With all the recent rain – the little stuff is well embedded in the soil down charity, but whatever line you took – there was a big rock in it! Those on full beam had some moments where it was not the best idea!!
A couple of horses (ponies?) in coats loomed large by the fence at the Narnia turn – causing some periphery vision mental alerts. They did not look too chuffed to be out there in this weather.
A Leathers finish means (belatedly) we need to ring in and give John some notice, between us we have the number and signal, and he’s happy to oblige but only has one trainee chef on…we need to discuss in person to assess the situation.
Narnia super muddy – at Witches cottage Dunc reports a sudden rear brake loss of pressure. Highly unusual in a shimano set, it seems to come back so gingerly he takes on Hardingland.
At the bottom we are only 4 riders with no sign of Dunc and the Doog. Team e are despatched to the Smithy to determine the food situation – PTD declares the threshold to be “if it’s only chips – then we’re going elsewhere!”
Soon lights appears and Dunc has found the problem with his brakes – cheapo brake pads can fail by losing the whole “pad” from the backing plate….a quick trailside swap out is the answer.
We are soon on the move, a lot of hardcore on a section of the double track to the langley ressies makes for slightly harder work than expected, but soon we are parked up next to the e’ers, and ordering food from a decent selection (although Pete has arrived ahead of us an nabbed the last gammon).
It’s now 8pm, and a voice of reason suggests a quick mini loop to Bob’s bench for the Whisky that PTD has promised. We do the little steep climb then follow the singletrack along the wall and down through the trees to the lower track – seriously slippy roots!
We are treated to a 28 year old single malt – with a few stray frothy bubbles from a weird interaction with the ex gin bottle it has been carried in. Jizzsky? 😉 It tastes fine, and it doesn’t take much encouragement for us to help finish the load.
Rain is starting to fall, so a quick whizz back and into the warmth of the pub, with cosy fire burning to help dry out gloves.
Landlord Dark…is very black, a bit frothy, but quite mild, innoffensive but not all go for a second pint. The young chef excels himself with our food. The TNR eclectic conversations range from Pete’s encounters with foxes on the way (and Owl pic “porn”) , who played Churchill in films – “that bloke who played Siegfried Farnon”, Stockport recording studio stories, The delights of climbing in the Costa Blanca, Sticky Vicky was a real performer!, and the funnier side of dementure delusions.
El Pres arrives (by car) and is still suffering from the after effects of eating at a West Indian restaurant in London last weekend. Water and plain crisps only.
No AoE this week, and with Butty having driven the van to the pub earlier – Pete blags a lift…so it’s left to the Tythy duo to actually ride home!