Saturday, May 31, 2014

Mmmmmm......

No biking this weekend, as Maz is working, but as it's been a gorgeous day, got the BBQ out and tried something I've been thinking of for a while, pizza. A revelation!. I'll be doing this again!.

 

 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Racing the storm!




A wee pre-nightshift spin tonight, with no jacket or anything....

Which was fine until I got to the viewpoint atop carrick hill, and saw the storm moving in from the north, very fast, and complete with biblical thunder and lightning. Crikey.

I never managed to beat it...

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Midweek Lakeland escape...

 

As it has become evident that my shift pattern is changing, after 16 years of having a week off every month, I decided that I'm going to use the last remaining ones to best effect. So a wee plan was hatched, friends were invited, but I knew they were all working, so off on my tod I went to the Lakes.

After a reasonably early start, and a quiet 3 hour drive south, I pitched up at a lay by just outside of Glenridding, next to the mirror like ullswater. First up was a long farm track which terminated with the rocky climb up toward grisedale tarn, and then on up the steep pitching steps to dollywaggon pike.

 

 

This part of the trail is pretty busy, as it's part of the coast to coast route through the area, from grasmere over to patterdale, so there were lots of incredulous looks at a big sweaty scot carrying a bike up a mountain, all cheerful though!. Once up on the plateau, and heading over nethermost pike toward helvellyn itself, the views were absolutely astounding all around, from high street in the east, scafell pike in the west, Skiddaw and blencathra to the north, and even Blackpool tower and heysham nuclear power station to the south!.

 

Looking west over the langdale pikes

 

Path up Ill bell

As I was on my own, I had made the decision to ride at maybe 70%, to avoid a tumble on what can be very exposed and rocky terrain! but to be honest! I wouldn't do this again. The lakes cannot be ridden at 70%, full concentration! commitment and a bit of speed is required. Lesson learned. Once up onto the summit, the views were even better.

Ullswater from helvellyn

 

Striding edge

 

And again...

 

Descent off helvellyn..

All that was left was the descent down sticks pass, and as I said earlier, I took it too easy going down there too.

Sticks pass

20 minutes after getting to the car, I was in Ambleside YHA, for a bath, change and then a well earned bite and beer, before retiring early due to a bigger day the next day.

A quick bite for brekkie, and I parked the car at the bottom of dubbs road for a wee cheeky assault on some footpaths above kentmere!. The plan was to climb garburn, but instead of descending down the usual route into kentmere, carry on up Yoke, over Ill bell, froswick and thornthwaite crag, before turning west over Mardale Ill bell, and descending the famous Nan Bield bridleway, then taking the high Borrans route back to the car. Cracking day, I'd definitely do that again.

Leaving garburn pass

 

And off up onto Yoke

 

A wee pal...

 

Windermere to the south

 

Path up into ill bell

 

Ill bell summit

 

Nan bield switchbacks in the centre of picture

 

Ill bell from thornthwaite crag

 

Western fells

 

Harter fell down to nan bield

 

The lakes in one picture. Sweet.

As everyone I know knows by now, I love the Lake District. Haste ye back...

 

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Who says there's nae hills in the shire?

 


I've been trying to get some of my fellow Glasgow MTB club members down to ayrshire for a while now, and the mayday weekend possibly wasn't the best time to ask again. Anyhow, my mate Graham made it today, and joined Robin, Stu, Julie and I for a day of quality pity trails, real ale, and good food.

Weather was surprisingly good, 13 DegC for most of the day, which made the huge amount if climbing tough. As we were showing Graham around, we wanted to show him as much as we could, which meant a hell of a lot of climbing. A baw hair short of 4000 feet to be precise.

Great day, great trails, good food and beer. Home for a shower and a curry, and plans for heading up to Yorkhill children's hospital tomorrow to see our wee niece, the wee soul.

Good weekend.