Sunday 28th June

A brisk morning to start.  Went outside and was soon joined by Silverfox and Tinekerbell.  Just before we headed off Bugs arrived then Sandals drove up to say she would meet us at the Bridge.  We took the usual route around the river to Ferrymead Bridge.  The dirt section certainly had a greasiness to it.  Got to the bridge and found, Mellonfarmer, Dozer and Helmut (who was on a thinwheeled old school racing bike). Sandals had already started. We got rid of some layers and headed up St Andrews. Bugs and the Mellonfarmer headed off into the distance.  The rest of us at a steady pace headed up onto Marama and the back onto St Andrews but the other 2 went up Canon Hill.  I was certainly tail end charlie.  Just kept grinding and found the front 3 up at Longridge.  Every coasted upto the start of Lower John Brittan.  Helmut decided not to attempt the climb but headed around to greenwood on the tarmac.  Sandals and I kept on going while the others chatted.  Bugs and Mellonfarmer eventually caught us.  At the top Mellonfarmer, Bugs, Dozer, Tinkerbell took the top track then up broadleaf and down the usual run.  It seems it was a bit slick in spots.  The rest of us headed into the old entrance.  Helmut was in front to the first rocks where I passed him.  It was pretty greasy and slick but I was doing well and gapped the others by a big bit to the ruins which surprised me somewhat.  The others came in and rather than wait in the cool breeze we continued.  Sandals had kept on while I was robing up.  Started well but hesitated at a rocky point which stuffed my flow.  It was pretty sketchy at times.  Dry then wet then dry then greasy.  Bugs hurtled out of nowhere at the last hairpin before the bottom.  No one else near him.  We regrouped with the others all appearing slowly.  Mellonfarmer was heading to lunch at Taylors so he did Godley while the rest of us slid down the top half of Ct Thomas until it got dry then it was so much more fun.  Headed to Dot Com before the ride home at a nice steady flow.  Good to get out but the tracks were shite.