A Personal Motorcycle History.......Or A Misspent Youth? Part 2

What follows will probably only make sense if the previous post is read first.
There I was the proud owner of my first motorcycle all paid for, legal in the eyes of the government and in possession of a shiny blue Stadium crash helmet. However as I said before having never ridden a motorbike, absolutely no experience whatsoever.

 Dad took me onto a private road and explained the controls. Made sure not only that I understood where they were, but also what they did and why! I'll post the image of the ST70 again below....

This image is taken from the internet (apologies for any copyright infringement)
The engine gearbox etc were  based on the world best selling Honda Cub. Well proven technology, the gearbox is connected to a centrifugal clutch, This was one less thing to learn at this stage. The front brake controlled from the right hand lever on handlebar (as UK bicycles and motorbikes).The right foot controlling the rear brake and the left foot the gears... all 3 of them! Of course the mighty engine producing 5.2 bhp connected to the twistgrip throttle on the right handlebar
Off I wobbled, no dramas that I remember...after about an hour of gradually getting the hang of things and increasing my speed and practising braking I was given some sobering advice.
Thoughts I have never forgotten...Any small bump or scratch caused by a collision on a car....would more than likely have resulted in a visit to hospital...or worse had it been a motorbike.

At that I was on my own...next day I commuted to work in Kendal from Windermere. No problems.

I loved it...it was summer of course and as well as the commute I would be out every evening and days off exploring the Lakes roads and lanes. The motorbike enabled me to venture so much further than the pushbike. 

Every week I was reading the Motor Cycle newspaper from cover to cover, listed within it were the national and local events for Trials, Scrambles (Motocross), Grass Tracks and Road Racing. It wasn't long before I was spectating. Fuel costs were minimal almost 100mpg from the ST70 and although at this stage I wasn't travelling that far I was certainly putting the miles in. it wasn't all plain sailing though I had a couple of tumbles...neither at any great speed or with any damage to me...there was a little loss of paint on the Honda though.

After a few months I clearly remember one Sunday morning announcing I was off to watch The Travers Trophy Trial at Alston. Over 50miles and over Hartside. Dad said I was asking a lot of the little bike and a bit of mechanical sympathy was never a bad thing. I didn't go. 

I was earning about £15.00 a week, my "Board" was £5.00...What I needed was a bigger bike, with my limit being 250cc as I was yet to pass my test.

The image is from the internet (apologies for any copyright infringement) It is identical to the one I owned

 I had only owned the Monkeybike for less than 4 months, during that time we had moved to Kendal we had a large garage...which wasn't used for cars (the camper was to high)....Into my life came the above, a Honda XL250 Motosport. A 4 Stroke single cylinder 4 valve engine, kickstart only  It was bought used, again from James Walker's in Kendal. Proper clutch this time of course, 5 gears! and about 4 times more powerful. The choice was influenced by what I was seeing at the events I was spectating at, and it's apparent ability to traverse rough ground.
 Surely now there was no distance to great. It was still fairly economical, almost twice as fast, more technologically advanced...and frustratingly unreliable! Not unreliable in a bits dropping off/breaking way...just never knowing if it would start...unpredictable might be a better word.

A classic case...January 1976 and I had been watching an All Wheel Drive Trial above Dubbs Road near Windermere. All went well, I had enjoyed the day...until it was time to go home to Kendal. Would it start, would it buggery! No phone at home in those days...I had been brought up to be as independent as possible...time to start pushing then. Fortunately the first section is more or less downhill, perhaps it would start running it off/bump starting? Nope...flat to Staveley and just beyond on the A591. But then a long uphill (where a Police motorcyclist stopped and said he would give me a tow if I had a rope...I hadn't..great offer though) before a coast down into Kendal. Upon pushing it into the garage at home after about 7 miles it was for sale in my mind. I turned round and thought I'll just give it one last kick over....of course it started....

I took my motorcycle test in Kendal in the January 1976 as well and passed first time...I'd been putting the miles in somewhere in the region of 6000 miles in all weathers in the 5 months or so. The test was no whre near as rigorous as the present one. From memory, a few questions on the Highway Code. Then the tester walked round the block, you rode in the opposite direction hence he saw you a number of times including his "suicide" move as he stepped out in-front of you to carry out the "Emergency Stop"....Brave Man!!

As the  old cartoon said "That's all for now folks"

Stay Safe and Take Care

Social Distance Walks 014/015/016

 See I said there would be more walking type posts!
More local exercise walks, yet again the good weather continues...we'll pay for all these dry "lockdown" days. At the risk of repeating images from previous posts, on these rambles (at speed, they are exercise after all) I have concentrated on the closer interest in the main rather than distant views.
Please excuse/correct me if I have any of the plant names incorrect..hope you enjoy the photos...

Thursdays walk was North along the Lancaster Canal to Farleton.
A canal milestone, 10 miles to Lancaster...although you'd have to cross the M6 a couple of times risking...death! There are less dangerous alternatives , although these will add to the total distance.

The pair of Mute Swans have built a huge nest on the canal at Farleton.

Lesser Celandines

Stitchwort

Back along Emsfield and Old Lanes. these tractor tyre imprints caught my eye..clear to see how dry the ground has become.

The Horse Chestnut down the lane in growing at an incredible rate...compared to an earlier post. There is approx 9" of growth on these branches in a fortnight.

Easter Sunday and a rapid trip up and down Farleton Knott just over an hour up and down.
 These are Hartshead Ferns I think aka Mother-in-Laws Tongue.

Looking East from the true summit...From L-R Barbon Fells, Great Coum, Ingleborugh.

The summit crags from below

One of a number of cast iron mile markers on the A6070 as I headed back to the village.

Mayflower aka Lady's Smock, early I think for round here?

Today (Easter Sunday) I headed West the woods behind Hale being my target.
The hedgerows are really Springing (see what I did there!) into life.
This is Hazel on a freshly laid hedge in Old Lane.

Violet

Jack in the Hedge

Fresh Sycamore leaves, what a wonderful colour.

Ragged Robin...He's a good Old Boy (that's an in joke for one particular viewer)

Bluebells

The "crossroads" just inside Hale Wood...I actually took a path which isn't on any of the above!

Newly opened Beech leaves, is there anything which indicates Spring is here more than this?

Backlight Dogs Mercury

The dilapidated bridge as I headed back home across The Mosses, Farleton Knott in the distance.

Willow Flower
Back up to date with the walks and rides...there is I believe more wild/bird life to be seen in these troubled times. A byproduct of less vehicles and just generally less human traffic in all its forms perhaps? It might of course with less background noise and intrusion more is noticed. Either way it's welcome.
Tek Care and Stay Safe.

A Personal Motorcycle History....Or A Misspent Youth?

Another Me, Me, Me entry..with no apologies for the self indulgence. This could get a bit wordy.
 Not the usual type of post on this blog, but life changes and sometimes it's just time to reflect. So feel free to click elsewhere....there will be more walking/cycling etc posts along in the near future. This post will be one of a series..of I'm not sure how many!

 So as Lewis Carroll said "Where should I begin". The start would be as good a place as any...

 My first memories of a motorbike are from perhaps age 5ish. Most Saturdays I would be collected by my Maternal Grandad from Windermere and taken through to Ambleside for the day. No doubt to give my Mother a rest, (Dad worked Saturday mornings then) we didn't have a car. looking back I was probably spoilt by my Nana and Grandad, Uncle Ray was still "at home" then...and in the shed was his motorbike an AJS 500cc Twin. This was his everyday transport, I was allowed to sit on the AJS (whilst on it's stand). Sometimes it was started so that I could hear it run, always being told not to touch the exhaust pipes as they would burn me.

 My Grandad and my Father had both used motorbikes as transport in the late 1940's and 1950's as many people did, cars being pretty much out of reach financially for most people. When Mum and Dad got together his triumph 500 Speed Twin was not only used for his daily commute from High Oxenfell to Windermere (in all weathers), but for trips to watch races and scrambles all over the country with their mates. Silverstone and back (2up) there and back on a Sunday...before any Motorways!
 I was regaled with stories of a group of them all heading off to these race meetings, some of the antics and adventures..no breakdown service in those days. Dad had done his National Service in the REME and was a motor engineer (specialising in automatic gearboxes later) so punctures and breakdowns were not the trauma they cold have been and something could usually be fashioned to get them home.
 Of course motorcycles were dangerous (they still can be!) and both Dad and my Uncle Ray spent time in hospital with broken limbs. But to me hearing of the freedom and fun that you could experience non of that mattered.
 By the time I was 6 or 7 Mum and Dad had bought and converted a Standard Atlas into a campervan. This and future campers would give Mum Dad my Sister and I many future fantastic holidays and fuel my love of the outdoors and adventure. If there were local Car or Motorbike events we would go to spectate..many of those venues are no longer used...Silloth was a favourite I remember.

 My Uncle Ray had sold the AJS, so there were no motorbikes to see and dream of. There was then a period when other things filled my free time. Like other kids I kicking a football about ( I was never any good). We now lived in Bowness, so riding my bike, exploring the hills, woods, fishing and generally messing about beside and in/on Windermere was were I would be found most of the time I wasn't at school or asleep.

Motorbikes were all but forgotten, I'm sure my parents and Nana were very pleased.

Skip on a few years and age 16 I'm on the ferry across Windermere with my bike off fishing to Rawlinson Nab. There next to me was a Honda SL125...like the one below. Wow I thought, how cool is that? It was clearly out of reach , mainly because would have been limited to 50cc capacity but also by its likely cost (I had no idea how much it was anyway). I had a small amount of money saved up from work at weekends and school holidays, On the way back from fishing I called into the newsagents and bought the Motor Cycle newspaper...Oh dear!!

 I was still at school and had elected to do an extra year to obtain some extra GCE's (that dates me). I had no clear idea what career I would like to follow so more qualifications seemed like a good idea. Looking back with 20/20 hindsight this was a mistake. I didn't enjoy that last year, most of my schoolmates had left and were earning "proper" money. By now I was 17 so I left with my 6 GCE's and off I went.

 Jobs locally were hard to come by anyway, so I did the weekend/holiday job "fulltime" for a couple of months. Then a fulltime job came up in Kendal, decent enough money, and I was taken on.

 Only one problem, getting there...a motorbike was the answer of course. In those days no test required as long as it was below 250cc (madness looking back, its a wonder any of us survived!)

so off I went with Dad to "James Walker's" motorcycle emporium with £200 burning a hole in my pocket. Long since gone, and run by his son Frank (in his 60's then) he was a real character. It didn't take me long to decide on the steed of my dreams, I'd seen "Easy Rider" I knew what I wanted....

Please accept my apologies for the image quality and to whoever owns the copyright

Yep...a Honda ST70 Monkey Bike!
Mine was exactly like the one pictured, bought used for the princely sum of £170 the remaining £30 was enough to tax and insure the beast. We loaded it in the back of Mum and Dads camper and off we went home.
Now bear in mind at this point I had never ridden a motorcycle......
Thanks for reading
Tek care and Stay Safe.
To be continued....

Solo Social Distance Rides 005/006/007

Three more days of what has become the new normal. So 3 more rides, these were actually over 4 days (split by a walk). The weather continues to be superb...very frustrating I must admit. Rationing oneself to only approx 1 hours exercise in such excellent conditions certainly tests the resolve!
My personal little project to traverse all the metalled roads and Lanes within 5km of my home continues. Here's a few photos from the latest rides...

No caption required.

Looking North from Milnthorpe Bridge as the River Bela enters the Kent estuary.

Beetham Church, taken on good Friday no services of course due to the "lockdown"

Different bike similar photo to a previous post...with the exception that the tide is covering much of "The Marsh" Good Friday's tide was over 10 metres!

The A590 today looking towards the Lakes, I doubt it has looked like this since it was built over 50 years ago....lets hope as soon as the "lockdown" is removed we will all be using it to access the areas we love so much.

I wonder how old this old milestone is...my guess is it was moved during construction of the A590 only 50 metres or so away. Preston Rich isn't a person...it' an area Rich being short for Richard!
No chance of missing the Benchmark either!

The Lancaster Canal aquaduct over Peasey Beck, the main feeder of the River Bela...in fact from this point in it's journey to the sea it is the Bela. 

The Lancaster Canal as it leaves Crooklands and heads off for Kendal....or at least it did once.

My first sighting of this seasons Bluebells, early I would say for round here. they were on a sunny bank along Nook Lane.
I'll probably go back to walking for a few days and give the bikes a rest....who knows?
Difficult times...Tek Care and Stay Safe. 

Redundancy = Retirement ?

Good question!

It's one I've been wrestling with for quite a few months now. I was actually made redundant a fortnight ago yesterday...the 25th March. It was not unexpected, I'd seen it coming for at least 6 months. the "Lockdown" set in place (correctly of course) on the 23rd March was the final nail in an already ailing company.

I have been in continuous employment for 44 years 6 months, so have definitely done my "bit"! There is no doubt that I have felt more tired mentally, partially work based but also through losses of family. I have in the main enjoyed both companies I have worked for, the colleagues I have worked with have made going to work a pleasure. Indeed many have become firm friends.

I've been lucky with my health as well , only 1 days absence since 1977 (I had 3 weeks in plaster in late 1977 after a motorbike tumble). In many ways a charmed life so far especially considering some of the daft things (in hindsight) I've done over the years.

So here I am on the "scrapheap of life" ! 😃

I really don't see it like that at all, I have looked forward to having all my time "free"....and of course what happens...I'm confined to barracks by the "Lockdown". That's only short term of course, but a lot of the ideas and outdoor activities are on hold. They'll keep!!

I still haven't decided that I've definitely finished work for good, maybe an odd day or two a week  perhaps. I'm sure Winter will be more of a challenge, but I fully intend to have at least he Summer and early Autumn off.

As this is a particularly personal post and it seems all about ME..ME..ME! I'll end this on a positive note and admit to having a secret affair (well from the blog anyway) over the last 18 months with my new love...

...Miss Miata!
The above image taken this time last year in happier times.
We've had a ball! It's meant the motorbike has had a lot less use. Many of the trips I would have done on the motorbike as solo, are now shared with P who loves the "Red Car".
 I haven't featured any of these trips on the blog, but going forward I probably will.
Anyway, well done if you've read through my ramblings this far...
Tek Care and Stay Safe

Solo Social Distance Rides 002/003/004

Staying on the bike/s for the time being, I have continued with my "project" to ride all the roads and lanes within 5km of my home. We continue to be blessed with dry weather, it finally started to warm up today...thank goodness! The images below are really only a record of my doings (for me!). If they provide pleasure or are informative for others that's great....

Sunday, and I headed South and Southwest.
The image above is the Lancaster Canal as it's cut (sadly) by the M6.
The sign on the right hand side stating a welcome to Cumbria and the Lake District...unfortunately this currently isn't the case.
We beg people to stay away...Please!

I rode through Yealand Redmayne and Storrs, before dropping down to Leighton Moss. 

More lanes heading broadly North, and past Hazelslack and it's tower seen above. I rarely use this lane....it's usually liberally coated with cow muck!

Through Storth I then headed back via Dallam Park and Beetham.
This splendid metal Heron adorns the Heron Theatre in Beetham.
A short stretch of the pleasantly quiet A6 and then Pye's Bridge Lane home. 

Monday and I changed bikes to my carbon Defy...the downside to riding a "faster" bike is fewer photo's (the engine is the same of course!)
This is taken from Sandside looking across the Kent estuary to White Scar the Southern end of Whitbarrow Scar.

Today I concentrated on the area to the area "behind Sandside and Storth.
Inevitably I rode part of the coast as I linked the lanes together.
This photo looks North up the Bela thread of the estuary to Heversham head. 

It's a stiff climb from sea level to this point just below Haverbrack. It gives a great view to Whitbarrow, with the skyline filled with the Lakes hills...so near yet so faraway...

....and from the same point looking in a more Northerly direction.
 The large body of water the River Kent as it enters the estuary, Red Screes in the centre of this rather hazy view.
I rode back home from here via Beetham, Hangbridge and Moor Lanes before picking up Old Lane once more.
Cycling is a funny old game...it might just be me but I generally find my mind wandering as I ride along in solitude. It's hard to believe whats happening, but so very, very serious. I almost feel guilty taking my hour or so exercise (even tho' I see few people and touch nothing other than my bike) But I like many other people live in a flat, first floor in my case...so no garden...but how LUCKY am I to be able to access such wonderful countryside and fresh air....I really have nothing to complain about at all.
Tek Care and Stay Safe

Solo Social Distance Ride 001

A change of tack today....or at least transport. I've walked all the footpaths and bridleways at least once within a distance/time acceptable under the current restrictions. So today I decided it was time to do some easy rides from home.
 I have had a good look at the OS maps, and have imposed a distance limit (from home as the crow flies) of 5km. this still gives me lots of options, very little if any I haven't been ridden before. But some of these lanes and bridleways only an odd time or two. I intend to try and traverse all of them as a project on my daily exercise during the lockdown.
It was overcast and cool today....we are promised sun and a much warmer day tomorrow. Anyway lets not get ahead of ourselves....here's a few images from today's ride.

I used my Titanium Elan with its optional lighter wheels and wider mixed terrain tyres. Ideal for the rough potholed, gravel strewn lanes today.
This is Nook Bridge.

A wider view of Nook Bridge and Farleton Beck.

Road Closed the sign said...and indeed it would have been for anything other than a bike.
This is just along the lane from Nook to Whetstone, the old limestone culvert (beautifully constructed) overwhelmed in the floods earlier this year.

I turned off before Whetstone to descend via Black Yeats to Crooklands.
I took the opportunity to take this photo of the Lakeland hills before I dropped down though.

The basin just West of the M6 on the Lancaster Canal. The boat/barge (not sure) is the Water Witch and belongs to the Lancaster Canal Trust. It takes folk for trips along this section of the canal in Summer...although maybe not this year 😨
I don't take as many photo's when I'm riding, so I must try harder!
From here I made my way back home by Ackenthwaite. Only a short ride (trying not to take the Mick) but a pleasant change from the walking over the past 14 days.
Tek Care and Stay Safe