Words and pics by Pete
Crew : El pres , Troll, Pete , Kersh, Dunc, PTD, Simon, TJ , 3sheds
Pub: Butty, Ruth
Conditions : Dry and pleasant . Great sunset
Route : Zag bottom – Saddlers Way – Bottoms Reservoir – Leathers – Forest LHS ascent – Half-a-Charity – The “Rad Bit” – Narnia entrance – finish Charity – Extension – St Stone – Dan’s Bench – Cheeky PTD route down – St Dunstan’s
Notes:
As it was almost May 4th Chris designated this TNR as “Mr President’s birthday ride”. His presidency decreed that we should gather at Zag and go forest-ish , via a favourite circuit of his.
This involved dropping down the Saddlers way cobbles . I still haven’t got the rocky bit at the top nailed, I need lessons from 3sheds or PTD . I arrived at the end of SW to discover the area had just been renamed “The Shunting Yard” as Paul had managed to career into the Troll . There was no blood , but he is muttering something about PTD causing PTSD ?.
A pleasant but uneventful winch up to the Leathers and onward climbing up the LHS and on to Charity .
The weather is fairly stonking ! And this gives us all a sense of “take it easy and lets have a chilled-out ride” .
Part way along charity I think PTD seized the moment and stole the route leadership from El Pres . We hopped the wire and made a long overdue return to the Devil’s Bomb hole and ensuing “rad” paths through the trees . In glorious light . I believe the yoof element would say “Sick, Dude” at this point .
From, here onwards , as we got to Narnia entrance and then re-joined chazza , it felt like the crew got split up a bit. TJ and I at least did the Oven Lane section – dry and gnarly, I have to confess to a dab or two.
Onward – I have a small, but essential, stash of cups and English Mustard to deliver to Dan’s Bench . Can’t delay the celebrations planned for Nessit.
TJ and I arrive as the crew are nicely silhouetted against a backdrop of the setting sun and a patterned sky. Pork pies are being dished out and it is me that has the Colmans ! (Chris had earlier confessed by WhatsApp that his household only had French Mustard ! )
As I had guessed correctly, the birthday quaff of choice was Negronis with plenty of ice. Bloomin’ Marvellous ! I think we will always be remembering Chris’s Mum (Jean) this way ! Two bits of pork pie each as well !
The vicious midge are the only fly in the ointment ! PTD leads us off on some madness route that finds me and TJ well behind and walking down bits …but its hard to get upset when a ride and an evening have been as good as this. And the light of the sunset was perfect as we wind your way down through the trees.
The Dunny has become the new Langley pub of choice . Good food, ok beer, and a five star service from Phil the Barman . We end up having the place to ourselves .
Butty turns up and thankfully is looking a lot better
Our new “axis of evil” drink has become a half a Guinness with a Courvoisier chaser (Thanks Lee, it has your trademark on it now) . But after only two beers I think our axis is no longer qualifying as fully evil .
Ruth arrives to collect Mr Troll . Alas , he has become a forgetful lad ….20 mins after they depart I get a call from Ruth asking of his rucksack and helmet are still in the bar ..to much mirth from those of us who are left . Fortunately they are and Butty delivers them safely to Barracks Lane .
Its almost midnight by the time the last of us leave ….and two badger sightings on my ride back to Bollingtonia .