saturday 31st October

ist ride for me since the big trip.  Not even been on a bike.  I went outside and only The Cook was there to ride with.  We headed around the river to the towpath at a steady pace.  At ferrymead bridge I lost a layer before leading the way up St Andrews, Marama, back onto St Andrews.  Stopped to check my phone once to read Mellonfarmer would not be joining us (doing this instead).    Continued on up the hill at a steady pace, I was feeling better than I thought but then the pace was not all that quick.  The Cook was not feeling flash and dropped back a ways.  regrouped before the last steep climb up major Hornibrrok.  Had another regroup at Upper Major Hornibrook.  I led off up the singletrack having a really good run and digging it in a bit.  Regrouped at the top before heading into the old entrance to greenwood.  Stopped at the ruins for a regroup and to let the Cook get a bite to eat.  A blast down Greenwood then followed, not the fastest but still had plenty of fun.  We then headed up Godley.  The first bit was typical dab and push up the rocks before getting a bit of a flow for the rest.  I climbed steadily and went straight into the downhill.  Wait at the Col and finally saw the Cook way back.  he had some trouble it seems.  Up and over the next little Hill feeling good.  Quite boney through here and I dabbed round the two breaks rocks.  Down and over PFMTBC Rock and then regrouped before heading above the road and around the sheep trail to Godley.  Nice flow here.  regrouped again and then down the hill across the road and onto the single track.  Nice flow.  Regrouped at the top of Anaconda before blasting on down.  Swooping around the bends, becoming a passenger a couple of times and straight out the tail. Had a pee while waiting for the Cook and a short stop before climbing up and out of Taylors.  I spun quite nicely to the top and then we headed down the road. Unfortunately we caught a whole bunch of traffic going down and no room to pass as plenty coming the other way.  A break at dot Com where we were availed of a cheeky (literally)sight or 2 :) before we headed back with a nice little easterly across the causeway.  Felt really good at the end of the ride.  Went and got some Day of the Dead and some La Calavere Catrina before relaxing for a while.