Etwall Ride & BBQ

Surprisingly, in view of the wet weather (as forecast) 28 members of the public turned up at Mickleover for the ride to Etwall. Our aim in putting on such rides is to encourage them to do more cycling, but today's weather may have put them off for life!  After early morning sunshine the rain came over exactly as forecast and continued for the rest of the day.

The riders await at Mickleover for the ride to start.

Once again our Ranger team rose to the occasion, both as Ride Marshals and as the Catering Team, who worked away in the rain to provide hot burgers and drinks which were well received by the riders on our arrival at Etwall Leisure Centre.
Before the rain we had erected the gazebo which soon blew over in the pre-rain wind, but later proved to be an invaluable asset as a shelter from the rain. About half of the customers took advantage of the free swimming in the pool and we presume that the pool water was warmer than the water which trickled down the necks of those preparing the food and drinks.

The scene at Etwall with the gazebo, right, now prevented from blowing away by the weight of water on it's roof and Anne and Val (partly sheltered by an umbrella) cooking the hot food.

We could not have the BBQ closer to the building due to the risk of smoke setting off the fire detectors, which would have automatically brought out a fire engine and the exit of swimmers from the pool.
Highlight of the day was the smell of burgers cooking, which wafted through the trees as the riders approached the finish at the Leisure Centre.
Thanks to Mavis, John, Anne, Yvonne, Stefan, Alan, Ian, Martin, Joy,Val and Geoff for your perseverance in such difficult circumstances. Hope you are by now dried out.