OT, other Hobbies

[HRHpenfold]

As I couldn't find an other hobbies board, which is a shame, as I know some others have some real exciting hobbies that get lost in the general board,

Although I do like to fiddle with motorcycles, I also like to get out into the local countryside, having spent a boring day, Saturday with the wife visiting relatives, Sunday I was determined to escape, it was drizzling with rain, but relatively calm, Barbara was doing her usual though, trying to get me to do what she wanted to do, all met with a firm NO, anyhow around mid day I ventured out on my bike, and off towards whinlatter pass, This is where I fell off about 6 weeks ago on ice,breaking a bone in my shoulder, I came down the steep hill, then turned left with the road, and about 15 metres, came off hard,



here is a bit of a quarry, not a professional quarry, one of those started by the farmer in order to quarry stone to build the miles of dry stone walling that is around, and long since abandoned, once transport made it easier to haul rock, rather than quarry it close by,



I clambered halfway up, with difficulty due to my shoulder still being a bit sore under stress, just to take some pictures, not uncommon for cyclists to do by the look of things,



the first bit was easy, but clambering over the loose shill, was more difficult,



the shill is like wading through a strong stream, you stride a foot, but end up only an inch or two up the hill,




I love the yellows, browns and greens of the landscape, especially as the mist rolls in,



Coming back down is much more difficult, you start sliding on the shill and the only way to stop is to grab a passing prickly bush, ok with gloved hands which I had, but they were in my pocket, I stuck a foot in the bush as I past, but still ended up drawing claret,



I decided to follow the river at the bottom, I passed the river thousands of times and watched hikers take that rout, so now I was going to see for myself,



I passed a bridge, but I didn't take that, it lead up the hill, and looked slippery,



I started to climb, high above the river, the mist was starting to get through to me, so this warmed me up,



I struggled over many obstacles, not easy when you have a bike and a sore shoulder,



and some way down a track,



eventually I came to the end and to see what was worth the effort,



Spout force,



Anyhow, I set off towards whinlatter, up the big hill,



managing not to go over the edge,



I wasn't the only one out, bloody cyclists get everywhere,



once at the top, I decided to follow the trail that led to the little wooden bridge,



but you couldn't really see anything, only the trees and the river below,



so I went back to the main road, wet and a bit cold, but still looking for more adventure,

[HRHpenfold]

I turned right onto a cinder road, these are carved around the hills, in order to fight fires and provide access for logging the trees, I limboed under the gate,



I took a photo of the road I had just left,



and stood a while, watching the mist roll in over the hill,



I crossed over another stream, on a bridge covered in icy puddles,



and headed off into the distance,



The road resembled a river all rocky and water running down it, and the trees hung over giving a surreal kind of light, but eventually I cam out of it, into the relatively brightness, of the dull misty day, I came to a junction, left was the correct way to go, so it was decided, I turned right,



I followed a few miles until reaching a hairpin bend, these are roads that the Gs were made for, not enough of the roads here, but common in many places in America,



I turned onto one of the cycle trails, these can be challenging, especially when your bike is shod with smooth road tyres, I must buy a set of proper tyres,



the track twisted and turned, and with the smooth tyres, I kind of bottled it, when I cam to a switchback, up hill, and muddy, as soon as the rear wheel started to spin, there was another track that led back to the main road,



I headed towards the Lorton valley, down towards the stream, then climbing again,



once at the top I took some pictures of the mist on the hills,





and passed some locals, doing something with hunting dogs, they seemed to view me with suspicion for some reason,



and the view towards Lorton, well worth the effort,



when I got to a cross roads, I always turn right, then head down the hill and into Lorton village, so this time I decided to turn left, and came to a gated road,



and views towards the back of Lorton,



I continued along the road through another gate, and into the back of the village,



it was such a great road, that I will be incorporating it into the Border raid Saturday bimble,

when I arrived back home I was soaked and cold, but had a fantastic day out!

[Fazer'd and Stunned]

That looks like it was a really good day out! I must say that I keep wanting to get out on the pedal bike but lack of time and crap weather when I do have a chance keep stopping me. The MTB thing isn't really my scene, I prefer the road but have to admit that I am tempted given the number of forestry tracks we have close to us but the cost of a good MTB is frightening unless I can be sure to really get a lot of use from it. My son has made noises too but no sign of action from yet! That's following a trip to an event which takes place close to us, the Strathpuffer link, 24 hours of riding on a forestry course of 11Km length, either riding solo, as a pair, team of four or team of ten. Mad, but looks great fun if you are fit enough and tough enough.

Were the 'hunting' types perhaps hare coursing? Maybe a good thing to keep out of their way as some of that fraternity are not noted for their social approach to others.

Andy

[HRHpenfold]

Jan 26, 2015 14:00:03 GMT Fazer'd and Stunned said:

That looks like it was a really good day out! I must say that I keep wanting to get out on the pedal bike but lack of time and crap weather when I do have a chance keep stopping me. The MTB thing isn't really my scene, I prefer the road but have to admit that I am tempted given the number of forestry tracks we have close to us but the cost of a good MTB is frightening unless I can be sure to really get a lot of use from it. My son has made noises too but no sign of action from yet! That's following a trip to an event which takes place close to us, the Strathpuffer link, 24 hours of riding on a forestry course of 11Km length, either riding solo, as a pair, team of four or team of ten. Mad, but looks great fun if you are fit enough and tough enough.

Were the 'hunting' types perhaps hare coursing? Maybe a good thing to keep out of their way as some of that fraternity are not noted for their social approach to others.

Andy

I am not really a mountain biker either, I have road tyres on my bike, I won't put a great deal of money into a MTB, mine was free, but cost about £75 to do up, even if I was buying decent I would look for a used one in mint condition,

having said that, I intend to do more this year, including riding to places then chaining the bike up and doing some hill walking, or exploring, retirement is not that far away and I need some cheap hobbies,

I do need to take me camera with me the Iphone is carp in bad weather!

[teejayexc]

The geezers with the hunting dog were probably poaching, hence viewing you with suspicion*

Nice report and I admire your stamina cycling about in those hills. Pleased to hear you kept it mostly off road though, too many lycra clad** twits about nowadays.


* to be honest, I'd be suspicious of a leprechaun suddenly appearing out of the mist.

** please tell me you don't wear lycra

[teejayexc]

Jan 26, 2015 9:22:57 GMT HRHpenfold said:

As I couldn't find an other hobbies board, which is a shame, as I know some others have some real exciting hobbies that get lost in the general board,

Or you could have just continued this thread...



Hobby thread

[HRHpenfold]

Jan 26, 2015 18:14:35 GMT teejayexc said:

The geezers with the hunting dog were probably poaching, hence viewing you with suspicion*

Nice report and I admire your stamina cycling about in those hills. Pleased to hear you kept it mostly off road though, too many lycra clad** twits about nowadays.


* to be honest, I'd be suspicious of a leprechaun suddenly appearing out of the mist.

** please tell me you don't wear lycra

Oh yes I was wearing my Lycra under crackers, wouldn't go out without them,

Ladies ones of course!

[HRHpenfold]

Jan 26, 2015 18:24:07 GMT teejayexc said:

Jan 26, 2015 9:22:57 GMT HRHpenfold said:

As I couldn't find an other hobbies board, which is a shame, as I know some others have some real exciting hobbies that get lost in the general board,

Or you could have just continued this thread...



Hobby thread

I could have, but then I would have to search for it and there are others, that I could have found, it would be much easier to find,

Otherwise we might as well just have the general board and nothing else!

[m40man]

Jan 26, 2015 18:30:33 GMT HRHpenfold said:

Jan 26, 2015 18:24:07 GMT teejayexc said:

Or you could have just continued this thread...



Hobby thread

I could have, but then I would have to search for it and there are others, that I could have found, it would be much easier to find,

Otherwise we might as well just have the general board and nothing else!

Or have asked for a 'Hobbies' board .

[bobh]

Some great tracks there. Lovely scenery, too (when you can see it!)

Round our way everything is inches deep in chalky clay mud that builds up on your tyres to the point where they stick in the frame. Plus it gets badly rutted from all the farm machinery. So I don't usually go off road until things start to dry out (hopefully) in the spring.

My son, who is mountain bike mad, lives in East Devon where there are some really good trails on the heathland, and I sometimes get the chance to go out with him. Of course, he can run rings round me, even on a single-speeder.

And yes, Trev, I do wear Lycra (or other man-made or wicking fabrics - the latest craze seems to be bamboo) - there's nothing worse than a cold, damp cotton t-shirt next to your skin as the wind whistles past on a downhill. And it washes and dries much more easily.

Just for a laugh, here's a pic of the old boy at Woodbury Common, near Exmouth:

[teejayexc]

Jan 26, 2015 18:41:50 GMT m40man said:

Or have asked for a 'Hobbies' board .

With the stature of some of the members a "Hobbits board" may be more apt

[HRHpenfold]

Jan 26, 2015 18:41:50 GMT m40man said:

Jan 26, 2015 18:30:33 GMT HRHpenfold said:

I could have, but then I would have to search for it and there are others, that I could have found, it would be much easier to find,

Otherwise we might as well just have the general board and nothing else!

Or have asked for a 'Hobbies' board .

I was trying to throw the hint, whilst giving management a purpose in life, and an opportunity to massage their own ego!

[HRHpenfold]

Did we get a hobbies board?


anyhow out this Sunday, I took a camera, a schitt camera, that I got for Christmas a couple of years ago, from my wife, as I asked for a decent camera, and because she is too stupid to know the difference, I got a schitt camera,

The waterfall Spout force,



the river down below,



a strange looking rock, marble like, when all around were granite,



my trusty steed, old and steel framed, in rough but usable condition,





I went abouve the snow line for a look,



I was sure that I caught site of another diversion club member, hi Fi,



was this Trev, with Martin in the background?

[Fazer'd and Stunned]

It's good that cycling is so popular, although I read a very negative article in the Scottish Field recently which was very geared toward the landowner side of the argument about access, maintenance costs etc. I suspect there may be problems ahead, especially in Scotland where the Right to Roam legislation has created a situation where landowners are much less able to stop access (good thing too IMHO) but which didn't think through the potential problems such as who pays for the repairs etc which inevitably have to be done?

Amazingly, even Lance Armstrong can't seem to damage the sport too much any more, despite his latest "I am a complete 2@ and a***hole" escapade; link, crashing into parked cars, and getting his girlfriend to cop the blame. Pity the idiot doesn't just find a hole to crawl into and never crawl out.

Andy

PS. Edited as I should have added, if any of you are serious enough on the MTB's consider coming to Scotland as there are miles of really good forestry tacks which are of course open to the public but see relatively little use.

[HRHpenfold]

Feb 4, 2015 9:25:42 GMT Fazer'd and Stunned said:

It's good that cycling is so popular, although I read a very negative article in the Scottish Field recently which was very geared toward the landowner side of the argument about access, maintenance costs etc. I suspect there may be problems ahead, especially in Scotland where the Right to Roam legislation has created a situation where landowners are much less able to stop access (good thing too IMHO) but which didn't think through the potential problems such as who pays for the repairs etc which inevitably have to be done?

Amazingly, even Lance Armstrong can't seem to damage the sport too much any more, despite his latest "I am a complete 2@ and a***hole" escapade; link, crashing into parked cars, and getting his girlfriend to cop the blame. Pity the idiot doesn't just find a hole to crawl into and never crawl out.

Andy

PS. Edited as I should have added, if any of you are serious enough on the MTB's consider coming to Scotland as there are miles of really good forestry tacks which are of course open to the public but see relatively little use.

Someday maybe, but there are a few miles of tracks to explore in my back yard!