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!?!?

We had a group run like attendance at the task this evening and I'm grateful for that, as we really needed every available muscle to make a dent in the 19.2 ton rain water soaked pile of sub base material. Welcomed by Jan, Callum, few other volunteers from the Friends of Group and Daisy the dog we were promptly involved in a GoodGym classic, namely spadework and wheelbarrow racing, all with the aim to create a path making Fishponds Wood accessible to all. A big number of barrow rounds was completed within our one hour task slot, however a lot of sub base material still remains for those who are keen to give it another go and see the path to completion.

7 goodgymers came out in the sunshine to do a spot of litter picking.

We got armed with bags and pickers and split into team Holgate park and Acomb Road. After 45 minutes we collected quite a haul including a pair of pants and a trainer!

It was Vicky's 400th good deed so she celebrated with Barbara by doing some hill reps whilst the others enjoyed a bit of sun.

We then headed to a local cafe for lunch and said our goodbyes just before the rain.

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