Crew: El Pres, Dr S, Butty, Lee, Dunc, Smiffy, Slim, Stunt.
Route: Bottom of the Zag, Walker Barn, Charity, cut across to Narnia, trails from the Bench to the fire road, the “rollercoaster” to the main drag, Witches cottage, Hardingland, Lower Teggs, Leathers, reverse ressie, white rabbit ascent, LHS trail from the gate all the way back down to the bottom of the white rabbit track, singletrack over the wall, bob’s bench, lower ressie, Sutton Hall.
Conditions: Mild, still and dry.
Notes:
A fine evening for a ride, and a plan to pootle about in the Forest ahead of a Sutton Hall table reservation.
Arriving at the bottom of the Zag well warmed up we sketch out a route to take advantage of dry trails.
A little plume of smoke at the top of Charity Tarmac is investigated…it’s just past the post apocalyptic encampment in the corner of the field, and we think it’s a couple of dead sheep being cremated by the farmer…no one about, but it seems to be a well managed event.
Style points being awarded for most awkward fence traverse of the night – with Pete and Smiffy on the podium for wobbly midsections!
Firm and flowy all the way down to Narnia..where looking across past Croker hill a hot air balloon is clearly visible in the distance.
Butty takes us on a tour of the trails down from just past the Narnia bench (watch out for those low hanging spindly branches) and then through the thicket to the rollercoaster mini loop down to the main drag. Short climb back up to Witches cottage, before descending a very loose and dusty Hardingland.
There is enough time to make another ascent – this time to head up White Rabbit before coming back down the forest trails off to the Left of the dedicated bike route down at the fence. Yes it’s dry, but boy it’s a bit technical for some of us in places!
One boggy bit at the edge of the trees seems a bit of an anomaly, but we all survive.
Great sunset light as a backdrop to it all.
Regrouping at the bottom, the wall opposite the white rabbit track is down..for easy entry into the behind the wall tracks. Before we head over, a white hatchback and a black hoodied rider on a powerful ebike need to conclude their business before haring off down the lane! Dodgy dealings for sure!!.
Crossing the wall is as dodgy as we get to enjoy rooty twisty lines down to Bob’s bench and hence round and down to Sutton Hall.
It’s pretty busy, and there is live music being played! We are popped in the back corner, and settle in for some fine ale and a burger. The music is a little “pub singer” esque with a guy with a keyboard, and the cover songs rather short…it’s only when we read the notices on the chalkboards that we realise we are hearing the Name that Tune quiz night!
We are well looked after, and with an Easter Weekend ahead, a mini AoE do whisky before heading home.
No encounters with anthropomorphic rabbits reported.