Crew: El Pres, PTD, Slim, Butty, Troll, 3 Sheds, Eric, Dunc, Croxy, Bern, G, Lee, Mark, Dr S, Smiffy, Stunt
Pub: El Pud
Route: Back Eddisbury Lane, Zag, Teggs cocktail bar, Sadlers way, lower Teggs, Smithy, reverse ressie to Bob’s Bench, Leathers.
Conditions: Mild & Dry
Notes:
The annual festive feast edition with the famous cocktails to precede equals largest crew of the year!
Country members Eric and Phil are back for the evening, Biggus is rumoured to be riding again – but is struck down by lurgy at the last minute.
PTD tries to get a less token ride plan approved at the rendevous, but with several folks running behind it’s too late to change the format (maybe next year?) so a long procession to the cocktail viewpoint, with laggards joining along the way. PTD not to be deterred takes an enthusiastic sub group down from windyways to the lower track into Teggs for a hint of climb first.
On offer at the table d’TNR are:
Trolls Mocha Espresso Martini & Dunc’s Rusty Nail accompanied by Croxy’s warm pigs in blankets, Trolls warm roasted chestnuts, and Smiffy’s sausage rolls (veggie option too) with mustard or cranberry jelly!
Tis a mini feast, the chestnuts prove a little tricky to extracate from their skins, and the mustard is extra zingy, the cranberry is a good option (assuming you don’t drop it all over the table!)
Smiffy wins the bike decoration prize with impressive frame illuminations!
For part two (there’s more!) we head to Bob’s bench via saddlers way (damp and green…maybe no less technical than the normal Teggs descent?) before working our way along the lower teggs trail to the langley reservoir.
Some actual uphill to the Leathers before heading to Bob’s bench – with an extra little climb and the singletrack from just inside the wall at the road – for those who fancied it.
PTD treats us to his Green Cocktail of Blue Curacuo, Cider and Brandy, followed by the Black one – now to be know as Shubbery Sludge – but more accurately a Rumtoft of pear and bilberry from the garden at the Shrubberies which has been infusing for 4 years! with a fruity sherbert nose it’s a big hit. With Nurse Jackies famous mince pies to finish we have been treated to aperitif, savoury and sweet. Right who’s up for a three course xmas dinner then!!
The leathers has had a wee makeover with immaculately sanded table tops and trendy grey paintwork.
John and El Pres do final menu checks and changes (with El Pud taking over Nic’s place).
Lighter ales (and the odd tactical soft drink) are favoured for the first pint, as we spread over three tables and make ourselves at home (we actually have the place to ourselves!)
Much catching up with the less regular riders, and topics quickly move off health and family into more bantery and occasionally bikey blokey boll*c#s.
The food is excellent, and portions generous…the sticky toffee pudding defeats all but the most determined, and the cheese wallahs leave biscuits.
The president is at the fulcrum of the Axis of Evil and it’s a double whisky night for him two weeks in a row!!
An evening to raise a glass to all our riding fraternity, here’s to more riding, camaraderie and adventures large and small next year. Biggus and Coley you were missed, and we look forward to seeing you soon 🙂