Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: Druid Doog, Clan Chief El Pres, Tribe members Butty, Dunc, Troll, Slim, Stunt, Lee
Pub: G, Adrian & Biscuit
Route: Bottom of the Zag, Zag, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Church House, Kings Head.
Conditions: Very windy, mild.
Notes:
A TNR that falls precisely on the solstice – so Doog ensures that we will be toasting the turn of the season.
Storm Pia (Dutch meterological naming, not considered enough for the Met Office to do naming) is blowing a hooley – steady 25-30 with gusts over 50. No rain (well the odd spot).
Dunc has filled the leadership vacuum, and invoked a bottom of the zag start, and is in email comms with the Kings Head on food.
However he is delayed, as is Lee and Butty, those at the start on time (aided by the best wind assist ever up Buxton road) quickly send in our food choices, and then given the severe wind chill, opt to take further wind assist to blow us up to Charity then cut into Narnia out of the wind.
It’s a good choice – cross to tail all the way, and by the top of Charity off road our chasing team have caught up.
Very slithery mud on the top section, then chunky rocks freshly washed out further down, but at Narnia gate the big talking point are the mole hills in almost parallel lines either side of the track. Doog informs us that your professional mole strangler charges £60 per mole!!!
The forest xmas tree is decorated in it’s usual place, and on to Narnia Bench.
A fine set of rust nails (1/4 Drambuie 3/4 whisky) are generously provided by Doog, so we toast the solstice, riding and friendship!
Suitably refreshed we tackle the rest of Narnia, then down to Hardingland – where rocks and a big board make the first section more Gnarly than usual.
Once over the stream and up the other side, we encounter some hairy cattle in the field next to the track.
Sloppy trail along lower Teggs and a pow wow on route at the steps to the ressie.
The ride is now declared officially slack, and a cheeky pint in the Church house is mooted.
No sooner mooted than we are heading there and enjoying some nostalgia for a once favourite haunt.
The curse of no food after 8 on a thursday remains in place, but a fine half hour of chat at the Bar in cosy surroundings is very nice. Still the coldest and draftiest bogs in christendom though! 😉
Back on the bikes for the short descent to the Kings head, joy at the continued presence of the Titanic plum porter, amusment at how the kitchen staff have dealt with the complexity of two meals being half/half – “but the rice only comes in whole pre packed portions” !?
G arrives (full of questions on Japan for Lee), and Adrian and Biscuit also arrive too.
We are well looked after by the team there, and it’s been far too easy to slip into the AoE by accident.
It’s 4 pints bad (and that doesn’t include the Church house). Some controversy at the end with unpaid for beers, Dunc settles in good faith, but truth and reconciliation will be required later.
A good mix of braving the weather, and enjoying extra beer jackets.
One more TNR left for 2023.