Tuesday 4th August.

Dozer meet at Bugs at 5.40pm and they rode though Ferrymead heading to St Andrews Hill. Up we went at a steady pace as we were meeting Rubberjaws at Upper Hornbrook Rd at 6.30pm. Stopped to remove jackets about half way. We got 3/4 of the way up and it was only 6pm so we slowed then stopped in a sheltered stop for 10 minutes. The cold strong cold southerly had arrived. Headed upto the meeting point to find we were still 10 minutes early. Sheltered in the bushes with Dozer before Rubberjaws arrived.

Rubberjaws arrived and we headed up for a couple of loops.  Rubberjaws had to cut short the ride for family reasons.  We headed up the normal route with Dozer pulling out a lead.  Wind was blowing hard all the way.  Did the hairpin and over to the trees where Rubberjaws headed down the hill towards Upper Hornbrook.  Working out a route and taking a route that we had ridden / slashed walked up before.  Got onto the farmtrack which led us back to the start.  From here we headed back up and where Sandals deviation joins the track we headed up the guts.  Not bad way to get to the top but cloud was low and wind was in your face. At the trees Rubberjaws headed down the normal track having trouble with mist covered glasses while Dozer and Bugs headed towards Greenwood.

After we split from Rubberjaws we headed around to Greenwood. The cloud had set in now. The lights were reflecting back off the cloud so we could only see 10 m in front. Bug's lead in with Dozer behind. Bugs got a small lead over Dozer until we had a catch up just before the ruins. Bug's continued leading from here having a great run. Dozer dropped back a little and had a issue with a hole he didn't see. Nearly went over the bars but saved himself in time. Bug's waited half way down to see that Dozer was still coming down before he continued the rest of the way. We then headed down Captain Thomas enjoying the part of the track that had been worked on 2 weeks back. No issues for either coming down here. Dropped into the new track just past the cabbage trees which neither of us had ridden before. Was steep in places but both enjoyed the new challenge. Continues down to the bottom then down the road into Sumner. Straight into the Southerly and across the Causeway to Ferryead. Called in for beer and hot chips. When we left the pub the rain had started and the temperature was freezing. Home for a hot shower then bed. Great ride and the tracks were mint.

Meanwhiles at the other end of the hills, below the clouds, and with no shortage of visibility, MellonPharmer and McGuyver zoomed up and down a few times in the McVicars Block.