What I though was a stomach bug that plagued me the week before the Aberystwyth came back with a vengeance, what followed was a 2 week nightmare that resulted on the 10th June to me being admitted to hospital crying in pain and the next day operated on to remove a rather large growth in my abdomen. So strictly no riding for 6 weeks, and a load of drugs. I'm now 4 weeks post operation and slowly recovering, though not as fast as I'd like.
So what does an active person do when they are told to do nothing.
Well on Saturday I accompanied Darrel to attend a Dean Trail Volunteers (DTV) Dig Day. We'd been intending to help out at a dig day for over a year, but our schedule and races tended to clash so we'd never made it. However Darrel had brought a new frame of one of the guys and with me laid up there was no missing this one.
I was going in a supervisory capacity, as unable to do much to help. So here's what happens at a dig day.
Meeting time is a relaxed 9-9:30 in front of the cafe, Alan Grist Chairman of the DTV was there as we pulled up and introduced us to the other guys digging. After a relaxed chat, it was time to head into the woods.
The plan was to work on a skills section of the free-miners trail, this section would have balance beams and skinnys on it with trail linking the obstacles together. Picking up our tools we were given brief instruction on how to dig the trail and then let loose. Darrel worked one way with another Alan digging in the opposite direction. Me, I watched for a bit but not being one to sit still I helped with what little I could do and took pictures. The atmosphere was cheerful, and the more experienced diggers gave tips and as well as the physical work there was a healthy banter.
We talked about the boar and my disappointment that I've never seen one in the flesh, of course there was bike talk, and we even stopped to watch the bikers riding the wooden drops to the side of us. The banter kept coming ad the trail grew, and at last it was ready for DTV Alan to start adding some rocks from one of the pits in the forest to form the base of the new track.
Those that know me will know that Darrel is a plumber and used to manual work, so it was odd to see him sweating as he dug away, it wasn't easy and was physical but a great work out for those look for an alternative to a gym session.
Once the trail was dug the soil needed to be removed from the side of the track as the Boar have a habit of refilling the trails if topsoil is left to the side :) As Darrel's strength started to fade, Alan came over to let us know it was finish time. the 2.5 hours had flown by and looking back I was impressed at how much track had been dug. Digging it however is only the start, it would then need filling with rock, gravel added onto the top and then 'whacker plated' down. All this work is done by hand!
As we packed up tools and headed back to the centre for a well earned cuppa, I looked back over what the small group had done and felt a massive sense of achievement.
After a drink and chat at the centre, Darrel went off to ride and I placed myself at the edge of the DH tracks to watch. As I walked up I heard a couple of guys on AM bikes moaning at the state of the bottom of one of the trails, I bit my lip as I walked past (normally I would of said something but still feel vulnerable). If the 2 guys had come to help this morning the difference those extra hand would of made would of been finishing the whole section and getting it filled with rocks. OK the dig this morning wasn't on the DH tracks, but the sooner the sections on the Freeminers are finished the soon the guys can start work on the DH trails.
The dig day was really good fun, we were made to feel welcome and no-one moaned about me not being able to do much. It truly is a case of any little help you can offer will be gratefully accepted. In the future, before you go and pay for a gym session why not save the pennies and pop down to your nearest trail dig day. You'll learn a new respect for the trails you ride, you'll appreciate the work that goes into developing and maintaining them and you'll have a great workout.
With the DTV volunteering doesn't come without it's perks, anyone who digs on the day will get a free drink at the centre, if you attend 10 dig days you will get a free parking pass for the year. By helping out you get to talk to the people designing the trails and give your input into the developments of the centre. You also get to meet new people and make new friends.
I'm hoping to be attending the next dig day, why don't you give it a try, miss a mornings ride in return to build trails that last years.
So if you are inspired to give Trail Digging a go the next Forest of Dean dig day (which just happens to be DH trail maintenance) is on the 19th July at 9am
The DTV can also be found on facebook here
