20/04/2009 by Missus Toast.

We went to our first Big Build Day today, and blimey, creating a trail from scratch is a bit different from repairing an existing one.  We were taken to a wooded hill, and…let loose.  Stick to the yellow flags and go between the marked trees, and off you go!

I have to admit, when we first got there, the task seemed to be fairly monumental - digging out the track, making sure that we got down to the clay stuff. It initially seemed like we were just making a mess, but it actually started taking shape really quickly.

As you can see, Mr Toast was…ho ho, getting into the swing of things with his trusty pickaxe (I’m here all week, try the veal).  Beyond him are the Grimey Limeys, who, in addition to being thoroughly nice people and awesome trail builders, also have the Best.  Club Jersey.  Ever.  Their part of the trail looked miles better than ours, so we watched what they did, and copied them.  Eventually we ended up with something like this:

There were about fifty or so of us building today, and it was impressive how much stuff got done.  As you can tell from the photos, the weather was great.  A little too great, unfortunately - as usual, Mrs Toast’s back + sunlight = sunburn.  Ho hum.

Also seen whilst trail building:  a mother duck and TWELVE ducklings (deadbeat dad nowhere to be seen):

The ducklings were obviously very cute, and very young - they’re the smallest ducklings I’ve ever seen.  We also saw another impressive bit of wildlife - Mr Toast said, with faint tone of alarm, “Love, I’ve just seen something slither into your bag”.

I was expecting an adder, but out popped…a lizard.  I vaguely recalled that we had lizards in the UK, but this was the first time I’d ever seen one.  He was small, quite a deep emerald green, with two black stripes on his back.  Checked a book on British wildlife, and that, combined with the power of Teh Internetz, informed me that it was a common lizard (although they’re normally more olive/browny coloured.  We must have found a flamboyant one…).

Not entirely sure why they’re called common lizards, given that they seem to be seen quite rarely.  Perhaps they don’t know which fork to use in a fancy restaurant, or put the milk in first when they make the tea.

Anyhoo - ducklings, lizards, barbecue, and the immense satisfaction of using pickaxes productively.  If you weren’t there, I bet you feel pretty stupid now.

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20/04/2009 by Missus Toast.

Had quite a decent ride on Saturday - did the first couple of sections of FtD (missing 11 and 12 and it was pretty busy), then all of the green loop, then sections 13, 14 and 15 to finish off.  I rode with Mr Toast, which pushed me quite a bit.  I felt like I was going slower, but we actually finished the green loop quite a bit faster than I do normally.  I think that I tend to stop more when I’m on my own, which leaves me a bit more refreshed and zippy when I’m riding.   The breaks are not so much because I need a break, more because I’m taking in the beauty of nature.  Of course.  Ahem.

Speaking of the beauty of nature, take a look at this little chap!

We saw him slithering near the start of section 15 - it was quite hard to get the camera out and get a picture of him in time. It’s only the third adder I’ve ever seen, and only the second live one!

FtD was a little odd - as I’ve mentioned, it was very busy with more ‘casual’ riders, so I actually managed to overtake quite a few people! :P  At one point, I heard people whooping and hollering behind me on section 8, so I pulled over as a couple of kids went belting past, flying over the jumps (with no helmets, tut tut).  I was able to activate smug mode as I passed them on the climb at the end, as they pushed their bikes up the hill.  IN YOUR FACE, KIDS!

Ride: Cannock Chase

Trail: Most of FtD, green loop in the middle

Highlights: Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!

Bad bits: Getting a bit panicky because someone was nearly on my back wheel on section 13.

Post ride food snaffled: Cookie

Good dogs seen: Not many. There was a scottie, and a pair of chihuahua…I think they were puppies, but they could have been fully grown. Although I normally don’t like the breed, I actually thought these ones were quite sweet. Maybe I’m mellowing with age…Mr Toast still referred to them as ‘horrendous little shit rats’, however.

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