PART TWO
So now I take this challenging name-shifting track in reverse. The
potholed road leading to Thirty Acre Farm, on the farm hill a group are
having a picnic but don't notice me. Back into the tree cover, there's
a "no vehicles" sign here too, with an additional sign underneath
"except for access". Errr... there isn't really much that vehicles can
access on this track!
Walked back up the exciting downhill and mounted to again race through
the mud puddles, somehow I UPD just after the second one but at least I
didn't get wet. As I approach the staggered crossroad I see two horses
from the right track which I could catch up with, where will they be
going? At the crossroad I look ahead and see that they are not there. I
look to the left track, and they are not there either.
Back over the M25. Back over Headley Road. Back past the field
crossroad where I saw the deer. And back to the mudbaths with
diversions, I attempt to ride the diversion over the first one but the
additional height my muni gives me causes thin brancehs to entangle in
my helmet vents and I stop. I remount and attempt to divert the second
mudbath, but again the tree roots throw me off. I remount again and I
see that wooden fence, where the thick churned impassible mud loomed. I
take no chances and hike through it, downhill, and over the residential
road.
A potentially exciting downhill, similar to the first technical
downhill on this ride is ahead. I mount and get somewhat excited,
rolling over tree roots that provide natural steps and generally
getting bodyshaken as the wheel rolls over root over root, the water in
my CamelBak sloshing around like crazy. A thick root near the bottom
causes what I call a "tangling UPD", where my foot comes off the pedal
but the muni stays under me. Eventually the left Snafu pedal whacks the
fabric back of my 661s and I eventually come off, automatically running
a good distance downhill before I can get control back into my legs.
Finally I cross that first road Mill Lane, walking up some of that
technical downhill and majestically uphill-remounting before reaching
the summit. The sight of the golf course gives me a true sign that I'm
heading home. To the open crossroad junction with the farm gate, the
cows have gone now.
On the return track to the car park. As I enter the mud section I see
somebody on a mountain-bike coming towards me, the first and only
encounter with another somebody on this ride. Instinct tells me to keep
to the left, where the layer of mud is! The biker passes without
comment and I make my way back to the right, immediately UPDing in the
mud in the process. My right pedal catches the heel between my shoe and
my 661s, ouch. Remounting, I see the widest section of track with the
widest lump mud. I wonder why I UPDd on this bit and tried to ride
around it, but the thin tree branch reminds me why.
Feeling tired after a knowing 85 minutes but unknowing 4.7 miles, I
eventually reach the home straight and see the other bridleway fork on
my right and I'm back at the car. I put the muni away in the boot and
rest my arms on the car roof, helmet still on. A mountain-biker rides
from the road into the car park and takes the left bridleway fork, he
gives me an acknowledging look. What would he have thought if I hadn't
put the muni away?
--
gkmac
"It's a marvellous thing to see, someone in full flight on the
unicycle." - Stuart Maconie, Radio 2
"Oh no! Both my toes have gone numb!" - Joe Hodges
"You also met me gk! I was the one eating the sandwich!" - Adam Gayne
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