Shipston on Stour to Hook Norton
I slept well; a definite vote for the Exped Downmat which ballistic had kindly carted down for me to use. Thanks kindly old bean
Morning time and I'm gently woken from my slumber with the distant sound of sizzling and the aroma of fresh bread..
Tastes as good as it looks, peeps
After a very leisurely breakfast there's some fresh air to be taken.
No prizes for guessing who owns this particular Panda..
Effort is spent but the lads can't get the quad going..
I get treated to a ride in Toad's Ural outfit, I wedge myself into the sidecar. Loved it.. made my weekend..!
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Rumble chug clunk rumble..
Remember, it's not about the destination.. It's about the journey
Slow ya' know.. It's the way to go
A terrific and wonderful thing. Me likey… me want!
Freshly made Pizza is presented for lunch
An excellent evening and morning.. With fabulous hospitality! This is the third stay at a tosser residence on this particular ramble.. I'm becoming a bit of a sofa surfer.
Anyway, its Saturday afternoon and we're off to The Pear Tree inn at Hook Norton.
So there'll be more beer (are my reports becoming predictable?)
Today we'll be joined by two more tosser folk,
weavo and
fishbird. It'll be a welcome trip down memory lane, being the first GStronaut reunion since our last trip back in April 2010. Its been waaayyy toooooo long chaps..!
Memory Lane is handily located adjacent to Brewery Lane, which of course, works very well for me
Ash kindly takes on the unenviable task of chauffer to ship half a dozen well oiled tossers around the Cotswolds. What a star!
First stop is Chipping Norton and The Chequers. London Porter on tap? Don't mind if I do..
Next stop is The Norman Knight in Whichford. Splendid little pub, and home to The Patriot Brewery. A tasty mild is served, then something else that I can't remember but I liked it. Tasty, tasty.
Yours truly and young Morgan, a fine lad with fine taste in trousers. Morgan owns a pet brick on a rope (not pictured).
I take in a bit of new music as we're chauffeured around. I've not listened to any Muse in quite a while, but this one's a winner as we carve through the darkness..
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As the lyrics go.. "Out of control… we're out of control…".. Surely, that's not a reference to Ash's driving, is it?
feckin brave man getting in anything with Ash behind the wheel
eek
We're then off back to the Pear Tree to meet up with Jim and Dave.
Toad, with his expertise on all things nosebag steers us away from dining at the pub and instead spirits us away to a
very good curry house. Another inspired culinary choice. Chicken Jalfrezi and rice with a Chilli Cheese Naan Bread, washed down with an ice cold pint of Cobra
And then it's back to the pub, for more fine ale and a ridiculously long game of 'Round the Clock' which took ages probably because we were a) mostly pissed and b) rubbish at darts. We got in guest players at one stage... here's Hook Norton local Nobby chucking the arrows.
I do finish the game off in style, though
The second game is abandoned
Toad and Ash hit the road around midnight. Weavo and ballistic retire to bed.
Fishbird and I stay up for a few more ales. The best o' gear, this..
It must be around 1.30am when we turn in and the folks there were perfectly happy to serve ale late on. Cracking!
I head off to bed and I'm most certainly elephant's trunk.