October 24th, 2006
Autumn
After a long hot summer autmun eventually arrived.
Not short-sleeves warm anymore, but not cold enough to be crisp. Distant fells hide in a cladding of steel grey while the lowland trails are lit by a low sun. The ground is holding water, claggy mud gets everywhere. Streams are swollen knee deep. Try to avoid the mud being thrown up by the rider in front. If it tastes like shit, it probably is shit.
Into the woods where the rooty singletrack is wet and slippery and covered in mulch. Fungi are everywhere, some of the biggest field mushrooms I’ve ever seen. Boggy bits are deeper than you remember. The cold at the gates makes the passing of hip flasks even more welcome, and home made concotions (sloe gin anyone) are savoured.
Once the ride is over it’s just warm enough to sit outside a pub for a later afternoon beer, then home for well-earned stodge.
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