XRV Christmas get together/ride report

[alpslapper]

Hope you all got back safe and sound. It was fantastic to meet you all. Although the only time it stopped raining was when it was snowing or pelting down sleet rain like bullets, it only served to add to the adventure

I'm still trying to dry out the camera and card so I can get the pics up and write up a report.

But in brief, lovely basic site, great little pub, good food, mudwizz put together an utterly brillant set of lanes, including our own road of bones, and the nicest bunch of people you'd ever wish to meet.

Right, Im off to see if I can sort this camera out somehow so's I can get some pics up.

[Dilbert]

I'm afraid Mudwiz lost Deb on the finer points of off-road suspension, but he was fairly drunk at the time

Wasn't the "entertainment" wonderful, bet you can't wait to see who's on next time

[meljordan]

A Great W/end Cheers All I Have 2 Photos Alps One Of You Looking Cool And One Of Mudwiz Just Looking !!!both On The Final Leg, Though Up/downloading Them Is Beyond Me Can Boots Help???

[meljordan]

HELLO AGAIN I FOLLOWED THE FOOLS GUIDE AND IT WORKS (I HOPE)

[alpslapper]

The ride up to The Wild Boar was fine and I got there about 8pm. Went into the pub to find Mel and Airwolf ensconsed by the fire.

Instantly it was a warm and friendly atmosphere. I was wondering if the 2 guys were xrvers when I clocked the xrv.org tshirt on Mel .

Lots of chat and banter while waiting for Mudwizz and BTBloke who turned up around 10.30pm, having done battle with rain, snow, suicidal cows with horns and a gps that kept telling BTBloke to turn right, into a stone wall.

I gave BTBloke a hand to pitch his tent, just as the hailstones started. Wet through we rejoined Mel Airwolf and Mudwizz back at the pub fire. When Mudwizz finally made it to the campsite, us jeering at him having to pitch a tent in less than ideal conditons, he looks at the loos and shower rooms and sez why would he pitch a tend in the dark and rain when there's a perfectly good bunkhouse already erected and empty ie the gents

Intelligence is a wonderful thing isnt it

Next morning we woke to the dulcit tones of BTBloke at the ungodly hour of 7am !!! To his credit though, he had brewed up and shortly after Airwolf shouts out who wants a bacon butty Ya couldnt ask for a better start to the morning. My camera didnt catch it good enough but there was a beautiful red sky at dawn.


Good Morning Campers



Getting ready for the off:








First order of the day was to get petrol and sort out BTBloke with a new battery - his original had been kackered on the run up with all the appliances he'd been running: satnav, heated grips, microwave, electric kettle etc So it was a run into Buxton to find a petrol station and a bikeshop:

About this time the rain started to fall a lot heaver and there was a definate icy coldness in the air - snow couldnt be far away







And sure enough :





Mudwizz is actually laughing like a hyena under that lid



I'm laughing under the lid too - but its more a manical laugh


It was then back over the a54 to the campsite to collect Matt and Airwolf and out into the lanes

Look one hand !!!











Airwolf glides past - it was great riding behind him looking at the way he ''waltzed'' the bike over those rocks and boulders


Mudwizz in his natural environment







Matt styles it throgh


Airwolf on gate duty


Mel flying past


BTBloke does the bizz






Lots of water crossings but this one was a cracker



Mel making a splash



Anyone know where the pub is?



Mudwizz and Airwolf work out where we are ... ish...



We must have found the only pub in the country that doesnt do food. We did have a lovely warming coffee though. BTBloke bags the fireplace to do an impromptu bit of drying out.



Back out on the lanes, and they just got better and better:









Until we finally found THIS





The photos dont really show the angle, steepness or the fact that some of the boulders formed steps 1 to 3 feet high

Mudwizz figured we could do another route, so off we went - see Mels pics - but we got bogged down on that route too, with just about all bikes stuck facing upwards and darkness approaching fast.

Mel regrouped us and with a one, two, heave, and a bit of drama here and there, we got all bikes turned around and all bikers down safely. By now it was pitch dark.

It was rechristened our road of bones by Mudwizz, which can only mean one thing: we'll be back in the brighter evenings to have another go at it and get to the top

An interesting ride in dark, sleet and dense fog in places along country lanes followed and we fianlly made it back to the Wild Boar for a well earned christmas dinner.

The camera was by now waterlogged and starting to play up as you see so no more pics



but it was a good night, and great to meet so many people off the site. Dilbert and mrs Dilbert, Davesoutham and mrs Dave, along with Ten and Fewtreess joined us for the meal and it was great to meet them.

A good night was had by all, and the next day we broke camp, some headed home, and some for the dirt bike show.

Altogether a really excellent weekend and thanks to all who showed up and made it happen

[matthelliwell]

Matt styles it throgh

That should read "Matt stands up when he sees somebody with a camera as he doesn't want to look like a complete muppet".

[z-weiser]

Good photos - looks like a great time was had by all!

I turned up on sat morning but had missed you all except Airwolf who chuckled knowingly at the thought of a Vara out there offroad in those conditions! (especially mine with it's off-road allergy!)

hats off to you all it was bad enough driving through it nevermind riding!

gutted i couldn't come for a ride with you but will plan better next time and re-arrange work!

Z

[Sharribee]

Absolutely outstanding piccies, looks like a fantastic weekend the snow pictures are great.

Very muddy looking at the end though

[Lord Vader]

Brilliant pics,looks like you all had fun
Mudwiz Standing in the snow
Next Years Calendar??? got to be the January Pic

[Dilbert]

If you come up again give me some warning and I'll check out some more lanes for you, there are a few through Macc Forest, but I'm not sure about legal access and then there's the one I was telling Mudwiz about at Gradbach, going down it to the river might be "interesting" coming back up would take more than a little courage and a strong right wrist, a bit much for me, maybe I'll get some photo's sometime to tempt you back (and maybe I'll have a license by then too )