Sunday 28th July

Woke up fresh as and headed out side to warm up.  Tinkerbell and Silverfox arrived right on time (at this time Sandals texted and advised she was starting up the hill as planned) and we headed around the river to hook up with Dozer and Bugs at the bridge by the Woolston Cut.  From here we headed along the usual route behind Ferrymead warming up all the way.  Hooked up with Phatboy, got rid of jumpers and jackets and headed up St Andrews Hill.  Start time 9.30am.  Good grunt heading up, Bugs and I headed up the steep Marama Crs while the others went the normal route.  Marama is shorter by a fair bit. Kept cranking up the  hill with a short stretch by the bus stop on Major Hornbrook.  From here a short burst up to the single track where Sandals was waiting at 9.50.  Good solid climb.  We tootled up the Lower John Brittan track then onto the upper.  Everyone mad the hairpin even if a couple made a new one.  Cleaned the  techy section and loved the track.  Down to Cavendish saddle then we climbed to the Gondola.  First daylight climb and this seemed steeper than it was in the dark.  Stopped at  the Gondola and some had a bite to eat before blasting back down.  Phatboy making a wrong turn before getting back on track.  From here I led up Mt Pleasant.  Loving the climb and feeling grand.  Regrouped and rugged up at the top before starting on down.  Phatboy had a woops just after the rock turn as did Sandals.  No problems so continued the blast, then into Greenwood.  Loving the flow and the rocks, past a couple of riders who knew we were coming.  Stopped at the hump after the cattlestop.  Left enough room for everyone to get into the mud and Dozer put in a nice slide without knocking anyone over.  Led on cleaning it all except thumping my knee on the 2nd rock.  Onto Ct Thomas we went.  Loving it but did not clean it all but whats knew really.  Down the bottom we hit some slop but not much then out to Dotcom for tea!!  Good pump home with a slight head wind.  Home by 1 sharp.  Lovely to have such a good posse for the ride.