Time for a nice relaxing sunshine cruise, Sunday 5th July 2009.

Assembling at the Cave at 09:00 were Steve B, Chris D, Jon, Alex, Alan W, Paul and the Gollum. Waiting around a few minutes after the bell, just in case, we got a call from Sleepy, aka Jay, who was coming but who had managed to ignore two separate alarm clocks so was still in his jimjams. Easiest way to get him was for us to collect him near his home, so that's what we did, finally leaving Heaton around 9:25.

We headed north in the GollyMobile and Alan's 4x4 pedestrian killer and were ready to ride up that nasty little tarmac road at Thrunton Wood at about 10:25. Chris D led up the top fireroad as we sauntered up to the head of the Crags. It's a fairly long climb up here by the time you've done that awful straight road, but all you think about is what lies ahead at the top if you've done it before.

Taking to the first bit of singletrack eastwards, the main bunch was gone by the time Steve and Golly got behind Paul to bring up the rear. Unfortunately, Paul's very first taste of the place resulted in a big "off" as his front wheel collected a rock he didn't see and down he went like a heap of - spuds? The outcome didn't look great either, with his handlebar gouging a nice groove on his inner, upper thigh (think "oh, oh, that was mighty close") and that was going to make the rest of the ride less than easy, but like all good MAC troopers before him, he chose to soldier on regardless.

The weather wasn't the best as we hit the top summit, preparing to tackle that infamous gouge as the Gollum decided to lead Alex, another first-timer here, down the potentially catastrophic rock chute. Over the last 4 or 5 years we've watched this thing gradually get deeper and deeper - maybe we are partially responsible, but the bulk of damage came from Enduro and trail motorbikes. Even if it's left as it is without repair, however, it will remain a target for us as both a test of skill and a deliberate trap for newbies!

When Golly hit the top stones they were bone dry and things looked good for a reasonably grippy descent. Seconds later the heavens opened and turned it into a really dodgy Black Hole. Miraculously we all got down without major issues, with Alex managing to force his way past the Gollum for the last bit when the old fool got wedged in the main gully. Only embarrassment came after Chris managed to get all the way down only to drop it on the run-out at the feet of Alex and Golly. Nothing hurt but pride!

We tried to shelter under the trees here for a few minutes but the persistence persisted so as he couldn't possibly get any wetter, off went Golly again down the final rock chute to the junction at the tree line below. We were more-or-less riding in a river doing this bit but still all smiling, and even Paul had to concentrate so hard he almost forgot that nasty leg injury.

Chris was first away followed by Alex and the rest as we enjoyed the swooping, soft-under-foot trail beneath the trees. Once we'd all got down to the stream crossing it was giggle time with the thing in flood and the overhanging tree "bridge" distinctly slippery in the rain. Golly got over there first then Alex acted as chain link as we passed each bike over in turn to the opposite bank. One or two close calls as the others jumped from the log but nobody got a ducking this time.

The rain eased soon after and half way up the firebreak to the long singletrack it stopped altogether, and the sun came out to start drying our sodden bits. After a quick warning to new bods we were off along this sandy stretch of rutted singletrack, with it's early gully traps waiting under water for the unready. We were all too good to get caught out - this time!

next up, with those menacing crags at our backs, was that horrible, straight-up climb along the treeline up towards the Oil Tank. Half way up there Jay had a problem but I can't remember the details, but it didn't slow us too much as we continued the climb after the stile. It was actually pretty decent today as it's normally either completely sodden or covered in snow when we do this. Up top it was time to stop for a breather but it turned into lunch around midday as we tried to get our breaths back at the stone circle.

The Gollum took off like a thing possessed to reach the top of the next stony singletrack far enough ahead to get the camera out, making full use of the Coiler's extra traction to dismiss the rock gardens comfortably. At the head of this section it was Steve who decreed our next direction, pointing down a very steep cut most of us haven't tackled before, although I think Terry H mentioned this one on Thursday night as a good one to investigate. He was right! It was indeed steep up top and did require maximum concentration, making it extra difficult for hardtail pilots but we managed to get down OK and this delivered us to a taped-off trail that suggested we were headed the wrong way up a Downhill course!

After trekking half way up this next steep and muddy climb, we decided to turn back and do the inviting looking singletrack that pointed in the more gravity-pleasing direction. This was proper unexplored territory now and after a bit more super singletrack we ended up at a gate to a meadow, right at the north west, Callaly edge of Thrunton Wood. There was only one other possibility from here so we took it after quite a bit of discussion. It resulted, unsurprisingly, in a massive climb where a visiting Scotsman's incorrect-sounding advice (to the Gollum, at least) proved absolutely correct and got us back on track for the top of the Wood again after a nice little walk up a vertical crag face.

This finally popped us onto the north firebreak across to the main visitor car park. All we had to do was continue down the tarmac to the cars, waiting below down that massive hill. However, it was just 2:00pm and Golly enquired of Paul how long he had left as he was on a family deadline. With a little time left, Golly suggested it would be a shame to miss out the last bits of downhill singletrack, so he got the thumbs up from the others and off we went climbing again back into the trees.

Somehow the Old Faggot managed to misdirect the next two miles and ended up way past where he needed to be. However, remembering a previous "escape route" he managed to dig that one out and proceeded to blast along it with the loonies snapping at his back wheel, great little section, hairy fast for the old bod, but a decent stretch, luckily. Emerging from the trees and regrouping on the fireroad, it took Steve's steadying hand to point us in the right direction for the final fling as we'd just covered almost the whole length of the place trying to find it!

That final fling follows the little burn back down to the caravan site where the cars were parked. It's slightly downhill, plenty technical with roots and humps, as it weaves its way down through the trees. Golly ran out of steam half way down as usual, with Alex quick to pounce on one of the trickier bits, and the only other holdup was the savage little kick at three quarter distance where in these conditions it's almost unrideable, so most or maybe all of us dismounted and pushed up. Nice, soft, leafy ground for the final few minutes worth of run-in to the finish, in glorious sunshine at about 2:30.