Summer in the City
We were short of a few regulars for our Summer Solstice gathering at the ancient site of the Railway Tavern - Tomsk CBA after his guiding exploits, OD CBA, Hustler AWOL, Tippers retired, Psyclist cycling up some hills or playing beach volleyball, Bobb stalking a German bloke along the Cote d'Azur. That didn't stop us having a marvellous evening though.
I arrived at the RT to find Royston Figgis, Miss Joselyn the bearded lady, Oaky, Hotblack, NSFW, Preserved Swanwick, Le Duc d'Huez, Jem and the Lynx sitting outside in the continental terrace area enjoying the balmy weather.
With the Hustler up North, it fell to Le Duc to act as BB for the evening. We sampled Millennium Fox by Red Fox, Darwin's Origin by Salopian and Sir Roger's Porter by Earl Soham. The Quaffer committee was one short with no Hustler and we just couldn't think of anyone else present who knew anything about ale so Oaky and I voted Sir Roger as the Quaffers' Choice.
The conversation ranged from how to keep real ales through to Preserved's forthcoming odyssey around the mighty Blackwater River but very little audaxy stuff. That is, apart from the Lynx's meticulously planned assault on the ACME Grand next week - rock up with a tiny saddlebag, his lunchbox, a waterproof top and a routesheet and saunter round. We also had the chance to compare the old and new ACME ss tops as Preserved was wearing both - it being midsummer and 20 degrees he was only wearing the 4 layers yesterday evening (still 2 fewer than Bobb in 32 degrees though).
Best of all, it was sandals weather and Hotblack and I took full advantage. I did sneak on some socks on the way home as it was a bit breezy by then, particularly after I got off the train.