Rain didn't stop play tonight: nine of us braved the drizzle. Chris Tedman led us up into Wykeham, where we rode the outside track. Ian Squires peeled off not long after as he was having trouble with his ankle (he also showed his battle scars from Scotland ).

We did plenty of the favourite tracks around Wkyeham. Just before Dead Man's we met a woman walking her dogs who mentioned that the forestry had revised its access notices on the eastern part of the woods, changing it from open access to no access (apart from on the recognised rights of way). Anyhow, she's going to get in touch and we can maybe at least question someone about our continued rights to use it. 

We stopped half way down Dead Man's to cross that bridleway over the field on the right. There was a bull in it. A HUGE bull. Anyone wearing red? Er, yes. We crept around it, Nick, Richard and me having a brief panic when the gate swung shut leaving us in the field with the bull.

We then went down that gully, and kind of along the stream (instead of going up the other side to Sawdon). Then we picked up those bridleways across fields, tacking back towards Ayton. I'm sure these trails have a farmyard animal nickname of some sort (Pigs, chicken and goats? Something like that.)

Then back to The Forge for a well deserved pint. Thanks to Chris for leading. Won't be long before we're needing lights again.