Words by Alex, Photos by Pete
Crew: El Pres, PTD, Slim, Dunc, Croxy, Troll, Lee, Stunt
Pub: Ruth
Route: Back Eddisbury, Zag, Charity, Extension, Standing Stone, Nessit, ressies, Kings Head.
Conditions: Very mild, light rain, low cloud, very wet trails
Ten years since we lost Dan, so a simple ride to his bench at Nessit for G&T’s
After the snow last week, it’s gone totally the other way, temperature in double figures, but wet with it – baselayer under waterproof territory, with maybe a loosly tied neckerchief rather than a buff?
At the bottom of the Zag ribaldry breaks out early as the tythy twosome have spotted the Troll van at the top of Coalpit lane with the back doors open…
He is soon with us, as is Lee, and with less rain than expected we head off up on our ceremonial loop.
Seems like it’s been warm in the alps too – with returning skiiers reporting poor conditions low down.
We are into the bottom of the cloud at the top of Charity, and the decent throws more than water at us. Recent tyre tracks on either side show 4×4 activity, which has created new gouges, diplaced rocks and brought fresh mud! Spicy!
The extension has been free of motorised vehicles, but the rains/snow melt have left a rockfield halfway down with no clear line! We all manage to find a way through without incident.
The trail from Standing stone takes us up as tendrils of cloud come down, giving some nice misty atmopherics. As we come up the S bend a large group of bikers are coming down the other way.
At Dan’s bench we are clear of cloud, but that doesn’t seem to help El Pres and PTD located the stashed goodies nearby – Pete finally directs them – they had walked past it twice without spotting it!
El Pres has supplied the Gin & Tonic, Pete the ice and lemon, Troll homemade sausage rolls (and a veggie version for Lee), with mini pork pies and english mustard also on offer. A veritable feast, we Toast Dan, another for Butty’s treatement finishing tomorrow, one for Eric’s 70th and more for departed mums.
We mull on life, reflect that Dan would have loved the TNR band, and probably been very geeky on ebikes, and have been dragging us up Croker Hill to get filthy on the way down!
There has been a tree planted next to the bench – but great hilarity when we realise its just a stick someone has poked into the ground 😉
We head down between the DH course (the muddy bit in the middle is a bit sketchy) and regroup at the “bottom of the middle” (or is it the “top of the bottom”?)
We allow a freshly emerged toad to cross to safety before we carry on – full speed down to the Kings head.
Care is needed when ordering beers as the other group of bikers have arrived and there are two table tabs on the go!
Our pre-ordered food comes, plates a groaning (nice to see), washed down with Landlord, Inception, or a beartown best.
Conversation somehow meanders to where Myhrr comes from, and then onto Tiger’s anal glands…and how you might distract them to obtain the essence!! Long stick with a feather on it apparently 😉
Around the edges of the table pics of bathroom upgrades, and solar/battery geekery take us into more sensible territory, before nostlgia for 80’s hot hatches (and Dad’s powerful cars) gets us back into proper territory.
Ruth arrives with tales of doorframe yoga, and a chunky tabby wanders in for some petting at closing time – apparently he demands to be fed on a regular basis (and suceeds looking at him!)
In two weeks time we will have a rare 29th feb ride we are told…
We can feel spring starting, but it would be nice not to have to ride in filth every week for a bit!