Crew: El Pres, 3 Sheds, Bern, G, Dunc, Smiffy, Butty, Troll, Stunt
Fireside: Lee
Route: Bottom of the Zag, Charity, Narnia, Hardingland, Leathers, reverse ressie, White Rabbit ascent, Nessit, Ferriser.
Conditions: Mild, dry but windy higher up.
With some lovely warm september sunshine this week, it would feel rude not to do a campfire night before the weather breaks. Troll sorts our the beers and stash, and we bring our own food.
The crew assembles as we go with multiple folks running late! Only four are at the official start, Butty joins at the turn to Charity, but by the time we pause at the start of off road they come from all directions with G, Dunc & Smithy coming up the tarmac, and Troll coming down Chazza.
Tis rather breezier than we all expected – and despite the mild air temp an extra layer is definitely needed!
The sun is already low – and the first lights are on under the trees on the cheeky singletrack across to Narnia – where we see some lovely red skies developing. Butty leads us right just after the Narnia bench for some fun wiggles down to the main track up to the cottage.
A lone dogwalker on upper hardingland slighlty startled by nine riders careering past at speed.
Regrouping at the Langley reservoirs talk turns to the Shrubberies recent appearance as a location in a film (Dunc has even watched it!)
Properly dark for the rest of the route up and round to Nessit then onto Ferriser under a huge red moon.
Good teamwork as team Troll collect the beers – Growler of a hazy 6% welsh IPA, plus a selection of cans. Butty locates the firestones – now totally overgrown with grass, Stunt gets the fire going whilst wood is collected and broken up. Lee arrives to join us 🙂
We are still getting some of the breeze, clouds are scudding across the moon very fast, so the fire is definitely needed for warmth. Sparks generated when adding or stirring the fire float downwind quickly – and those in shorts regularly balspheme when they hit bare flesh (but then choose not to move to another spot!)
Phil M keeps us entertained by cooking his frankfurters on a sharpened stick, and warming the buns on the mossy rocks. He does a fine job (although there is plenty of sausage jeopardy to keep us interested…even more danger for wandering ants!!).
Butty and G swap Ebike wants with much interest in the new DJI motor equipped ones – the arms race never ends.
Updates from 3 Sheds – now a country member – on week one at the vicarage in Yulegreave – mice eating the wiring, Aga’s not lighting, and a possibly tame pheasant in the garden. He’ll be in tweeds next 😉
Backlava is proffered by the Troll – it goes well with whisky…NO ONE BROUGHT ANY SHOCKER!!
Perhaps just as well, as we are well stocked with beer, the remaining few do their best to finish them before the ritual fire dousing.
A complete lack of badger activity on the respective rides home, and weirdly a lack of wind at low level.