AND

Old Stager's Reunion Night

Congratulations to Ian and Tracie who tie the knot after a successful trial period this Saturday, 21st August 2010. Sorry some of us aren't around to enjoy seeing you paralyzed from about 2:00pm.

Ride started with drama as Steve S's new Orange bicycle suffered a strange rear axle breakage and was rendered totally useless - like many other from the same factory. (ouch! - no, I jest).

A bike was rapidly built from spare parts lying in and around the Cave and we were off in no time, I mean no time like the scheduled start time. However, it wouldn't have been very sporting of us to whisk Steve's pal Kate away on her MidAirCrisis Maiden Voyage without her chaperone, now would it? Welcome to the MidAirMadhouse, Kate.

Once ready we moved off up Hangman Hill where Jon's singlespeeder performed it's ritual flat tyring and we paused there for a fix, with Speedy and Gollum disappearing into the trees in different directions looking for more trails to add to the repertoire. They returned on the Friday morning and Jon almost had his wheel back on, good going with that complex back end to align.

That delay, however, instigated a very spooky event indeed. As we sat there waiting for Jon, wondering whether Time itself had frozen, who should show up than our old pal (Ok, VERY old pal) Terry H! Judas priest - it's been years! Poor Terry still hasn't got to the bottom of his mystery energy sapper yet so still can't get out on a full ride. great to see him on it though, getting around for even a tiny bit on the trails.

The "Reunion" was Terry's doing - with himself, irregular Ice Man Stewart and returnee from a camping trip in the Afghanistan foothills, Mick the Mad all turned up at the same place tonight, so that explains the subtitle, I hope.

Two minutes later after the ASDA wood section we became two distinct groups - one led by Gollum at the top of the Hill, and t'other following Ian at the bottom. Except that when they finally reached the summit, they'd managed it without their illustrious leader who was nowhere to be seen! That's a record, by the way - we've ne'er been split asunder in triplicate before.

We all sat on the hill, scouring the woods and plains below, looking for a rapidly moving blur. While we were doing that and getting ready to enact Operation Speedian Search, the bu@@er tuned up behind us, trolling up to the peak without a care in the world. We gave him no rest, with Golly immediately hitting the western singletrack descent, trading position with Tim as they both sought the right entry to the bushes. Bit overgrown tonight as we hadn't been through for a few months.

Next stop the lower reaches and back into the trees behind King's Estate. Once more we managed to lose the tail with three or four riders loose somewhere in Wallsend. We split up to backtrack and guess who got the short straw - the Gollum who found himself on the far side of the Hill with the quick way back necessitating another climb to the top. Urk.

We plunged down into Battle Hill and under the Coast Road, where Ian headed the charge into the east edge of the Dene. After a slight misunderstanding we all entered the stinging fields and battled through to the first opening, bleeding to death from gaping bramble wounds in arms and legs. Terry led through Phase Two which was slightly easier to negotiate as some of the trail was visible, and we regrouped again after one or two forced dismounts along the way.

Easy section was the trek along Hadrian's Way as we followed the Tyne into town before Ian had us branching off on the cycle path up to Albion Way and under the Shields Road bypass before hitting Heaton Park's undergrowth, much to the squealing delight of four young ladies at the gate who'd very nearly witnessed their exhibitionist male groupie almost written off as he tried to swerve his scootee through the middle of a double decker bus. Nearly one less to worry about.

Anyway, onward under Armstrong Bridge and down into the Dene where the forward party made a slight error as the wooden bridge was shut while building work goes on, so they had to backtrack to join Ian and Terry at the concrete crossing. That just left the dene to negotiate which was done without further mishap and as time was a -pressing, we came straight home via the Tram Track behind the Ministry while the Townies turned off at their respective favoured spots.

Two weeks until the next Thursday Nighter unless someone is prepared to take it on while Ian and Terry are on holiday next week?