Another night, another midge death squad. This time it was the turn of Bootham Stray allotments to experience a midge swarm of biblical proportions. Note to self, if it's been raining then bring bug spray!

As tonight was well over 6k in total we met for promptly at 6.15 to set the party pace group off, joined by a small GG bike gang. Ed led the remaining GGers after welcoming newcomer Dan and numbering off by naming our favourite flat things in honour of Earth Day. I'm informed that Hydrostatic Bearings are the best flat things ever!

We arrived at Bootham Stray allotments and soon got to work turning over a disused patch that really needed a lot of work. And then the midges came...

I feel ticklish all over - Ben

On one side, Mitch's tool of choice was a 4-pronged spinny thing that he used to twist the weeds together, as if he were eating a bowl of spaghetti. Whilst the rest of the crew, armed with forks and spades, soon made light work of the turf, weeds and roots before tackling bigger things like old guttering and ground sheets.

It was an entirely different vibe over on the other side with Bec spending the night on the tiles whilst Dan got hammered, as the two of them uncovered some old tiling and the head of a hammer respectively.

As the night wore on the midges got the better of us and we called it a day, but not before a group photo and some jaffa cakes kindly provided by the task owner. We then set off back to the Priory Street Centre where Bec learnt that spinning around helps you to touch your toes, and that if you touch a wall with your armed stretched out, then put your arm down, you'll fall just short of touching the wall when you bring your arm back up. Who knew!?!?

This week we started by presenting our GoodGymer of the month award marvelous Max, who has been active behind the scenes on the whatsapp community as well as being a more active and engaged taskforcer. Well done Max 🍾

We also awarded the Cape of Good Deeds to our fab co-area Activator Vicky, who was completing her 400th(!) Good Deed. Amazing effort. Give Max and Vicky a big cheer.

We then set off to York Cemetery with a nice run along the river, with some obligatory wall squats along the wall. Upon arrival we were greeted by superstar Clive who was well prepared for us as always. We soon got to work with loppers, rakes, spades and shears clearing an area that was previously part of a sensory garden but was in need a bit of TLC.

It took a little while for some of the GG crew to get to grips with the difference between a rose and a bramble, but we soon found our rhythm and started making some excellent progress in what seemed like a pretty straightforward task.

However things quickly took a turn for the worse when the midges decided they didn't like being disturbed and soon started feasting on any exposed GoodGym flesh that they could get their teeth (do they have teeth?) into.

With morale dipping and the midges biting, Ed put an early end to the task and started the fitness sesh - our GG York version of Paper, Rock, Scissors featuring Squats, Pencil jumps and Star Jumps. Fortunately everyone knows that Squats blunt star jumps, pencil jumps wraps squats, and star jumps cut pencil jumps, of course!

23 gorgeous GoodGymers gathered at the Poppleton Community Centre for Springtime Shenanigans.

Big Pete set off first with the 15kish fast pace group (actually nearer 13k) followed by Little Babs leading the 7kish not so fast pace group (actually nearer 6k) and Old Nick with the 10kish sexy pace group (OK this was actually over 11k)

Heading across the fields towards Moor Monkton we enjoyed the post solstice lighter night even if the weather wasn't exactly springlike.

There was mud

There were riverside paths

There was slipping

There was a barky dog

And a small horse

There was rain

There was sliding

There was more mud

but then there was Beer and Pizza back at the Poppleton Social!

If you missed this edition no worries we are going to be having a social trail run on a regular basis through the Summer so keep your eyes peeled for next time

❄️ 16 excellently hardy GoodGymmers met on a chilly Monday evening for another two-task session.

🦸‍♀️ We were thrilled to congratulate Abi on her incredible 500th good deed (501st tonight, technically) and hope that the cape managed to keep her warm!

🚲 Ed led a group punctually for a longer run, 4k each way to help York Greenways near Knavesmire Wood. Here’s what he had to say about it:

🏃‍♀️🏃5 of us headed out from Priory Street and were joined by Carl en route before being greeted by Peter from York Greenways at the task.

🌳 We each decided upon our tool of choice and got to work on sweeping or shovelling back the greenery that had grown over the top of the cycle path. Carl and Bec zoomed down the track focusing on quantity, whilst the rest of the guys with shovels were able to hang back removing the tougher clumps of grass that had broken through the path.

💪 In fact Carl and Bec put in such a sterling effort that they thought the task was done when we still actually had about 10mins left, so swiftly got back to work!

🦷 Meanwhile, the rest of us named, numbered and warmed up whilst discussing our childhood dream jobs (in honour of National Dentist Day, apparently). From Blue Peter presenter to archaeologist to fighter pilot, we discovered the ambitions that most of us had failed to meet, or have replaced with alternative achievements!

🧭 Leanne and Laura led the run to Holgate Community Garden, navigating the ginnels to go via the Barrett house to collect the tools needed.

🧹 We’d been promised stiff brushes and these were supplied, along with rakes, to tackle the leaves stubbornly stuck to the basketball court and paths. Teams assembled around lights to get stuck in and clear different parts of the court. Alternative tools had to be sourced to address the broken glass that appeared but Laura was on it and dealt with it quickly and efficiently.

🌱Once the basketball court was done, smaller tools were provided to start to tackle the grass growing around the play equipment. Leanne did a great job of demonstrating her climbing skills and flexibility on said play equipment whilst Steve spread his clumps everywhere. The remaining grass clumps were gathered and distributed and it was time for the group photo.

📸 The play equipment seemed a natural structure to pose with before some people snuck off pre-fitness to help take the tools back to the house of Barrett.

🌛 Those who stayed for fitness were treated to a paired (and triangular) hill sprint joy, on the slopes around the garden. Oh, and it was a full moon, so that was a nice backdrop.

🍻 It was soon time to head back to base for stretches before pub/home. And we could all breathe a sigh of relief that the rain/snow had held off for the evening.

🏁 Thanks everyone, hope you warmed up quickly and hopefully see you soon. You can see what we’ve got coming up here, including shed demolition on Saturday morning and race marshalling/social walk on Sunday.