It's awful, there's dry powdery stuff where all the mud used to be...

...and it turned my arms pink. That was Johnnies verdict of the trails when he went out sunday morning, and he was right.

What a fantastic weekend, saturday I embraced my cultural stereotypes, I sat shirtless in the garden, cremating lots of red meat on the BBQ and getting pissed. Excellent! We got some of Charlies toys out, stuck a big sheet of paper to the shed for him to crayon and paint (i've now got a multicoloured shed) and a big bucket of water for him to play with. We invited some family round and we had a brilliant afternoon, messing about and having a laugh. Charlie loved it and everytime he clapped his hands we all applauded which bemused him. Rough and tumble on the lawn, chatting with family, just a really nice day.

Sunday I got up late, mrs was going to her dads so I nipped out for a quick ride, scoping out a route for a night ride and avoiding rivi which would be rammed. Climbed up winter hill, did the climb up to 2 lads for the first time this year, easy with dry conditions, gears, suspension and a large oxygen debt. Flew down 2 lads and wildes back up the rake and on to hole in the wall. Just as I got there a guy on an mtb wearing LRC roadie gear arrived, I asked him if he was taking a holiday from tarmac (yes) and I said it was too nice for following cars anyway (ahaha) this must have hit a nerve as he then completely trashed me on the climb. Bit of a stutter when he failed to climb out of the stream crossing and I caught up but then he put the power down, he had a good 30m on me by the time he hit the top. First time I've been humiliated like that in a long while. On winter hill the res looked superb, the grass looked orange and the water was purple, amazing. Was gonna go for ice cream at brian hey farm but the queue was a good 30 or 40 strong so I went and did san marino instead, at the end of which I had to trow myself to the ground and soak it all in, amazing weather, superb trails, just everything really. Admittedly my spazzed out calves/thighs may have had something to do with the lying down part. Got home just as my mrs parked up, superb timing. Had to have a cold bath, my leg muscles and joints were really burning, not too bad today but having a rest anyway.