Our 2nd ever official Monday Night Group Ride saw a fab turnout of 23 GoodGym Yorkies on a beautiful spring evening. We started off welcoming newcomer, Andy before a quick run through the weekend's achievements, which David absolutely smashing the challenging White Horse Marathon and the absent Rich completing the frankly ridiculous Fred Whitton Sportive. We'll let him off for deciding to rest his legs this evening!

Tonight's task was at Yearsley Grove Primary School, which is a good 4km or so away, so Nick led a perfectly punctual run out for about 5 or so people, whilst the rest of the group hopped onto 2 wheels and cycled to the task. We might need a bit of practice sticking together as a biker gang when we realised less people had arrived than we had set off with, but eventually everyone wad accounted for and the task could start

At Yearsley Grove, we met Amanda and Adele who gave us a run through of what was needed and set us off to work, with half the crew focused on a general garden tidy up and the other half helping caretaker Malcolm with starting to put together some new raised beds.

James S was soon getting stuck in with the sledgehammer and knocking in new posts for the raised beds, whilst everyone tackled the weeds that had built up across the garden. Full wheelbarrows of weeds were then being taken across the play area and dumped to the side out of the way.

Does stuff mean biscuits - Max

With the task getting towards completion and the GG crew having weeded every inch of the garden, there was a timely boost of cups of squash and chocolate biscuits, to give everyone a bit of energy before the fitness session

As Ed is still injured, the fitness course was perfectly modelled by Lucy who demonstrated the route which involved hopping on one foot, little jumps before a standing long jump, throwing a ball into a hoop type thing before a sprint race. 3 circuits of the course seemed to be enough yo keep everyone entertained and not too tired out for the run/ride home

And so to team tidy up at the Mela. New recruits joined Vicky and Jenna to pack it all away. There were no signs of flagging in the afternoon heat, with Vicky now the gazebo queen! The team dismantled gazebos, stacked away tables and chairs - and a random goose, carried gear to the car park and collected in the flags. Pete- our international man of mystery was breast of the situation! The Mela saw ten thousand visitors today. Bravo!

How the tables have turned! No longer creatures with head torches! We swapped the sunset for the sunrise shift. These 6 goodgymers were up with the lark to set up for the York Arts and Health Mela. The sun was shining and Bec was buzzing to be on a task at 7.30am. First we were tasked with hanging bunting where ever we liked. Then we split, with Bec and Jenna taking barriers to outside the art gallery. There we set up the second site with flags, another changing gazebo (without any sides - what?!) and carried huge Taiko drums ready for the first performance. Meanwhile Vicky, Leanne, Tristian and Clare, unloaded for the various charity stalls, set up tables and chairs and looked pretty on deckchairs, outside the Yorkshire Museum! Everyone agreed this was the best time for a task and rewarded themselves with coffee and pastries.

Four of us met at museum gardens to help set up for the arts Mela tomorrow.

After a chaotic start due to the gates being blocked, stall holders soon were able to unload their stuff and we helped erect many gazebos, some with more ease than others!

We will be back tomorrow at the crack of dawn to continue….