A "Lockdown" Walk from Home to Ploverlands...Hutton Roof Crags

After 7 day's daily exercise on the bikes, (when I've taken very few photographs) it was time to use my feet as the good lord intended. This afternoon I set off from home to make my way across to Hutton Roof Crags. I'd only just got on the canal adjacent to home when I realised I'd forgotten my binoculars...oh well! The Spring flowers are looking great, my photo's really don't do them justice...anyway on with some pics...

Just a few metres from home and I was pleased to see that this family of Mallard ducklings were growing up and appear to be doing well.

Moorhen

Through Curwen Woods and across to Slape Lane...the woods carpeted with Bluebells

Orchid...but which one?

Hartshead Fern

I left Slape Lane and entered Pickles Wood...managed by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
It ha apparently had continuous cover since the medieval period and therefore a unique habitat.

Higher up the fell in Lancelot Clark Storth, this old front axle was beside the track. Off a Grey Fergie perhaps? No doubt left after it had been used to demolish some of the Limestone Pavement in this area. Those wheel bearings look past it to me! 

Cowslips

The summit Trig on Hutton Roof Crags, or more correctly Ploverlands...it's a Marilyn as well.

Lots of Gorse on the way back to Newbiggin Lane...a wonderful coconut aroma through here

Naughty Cows...this one in the foreground most definitely the ring leader!
I walked back across Home Park Fell arriving back just as a few spots of rain fell...the first for about a month from memory.
Tek Care and stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycle History....Or A Misspent Youth? Part 5

Following on from the last post I now had a car for daily transport. This meant I could have a less practical motorbike for leisure use on the road. I had after all owned the MZ for 2 years!  Enter the....

Yamaha RD350LC

(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)

Mine was identical to the one above

 Purchased used, although only a month or so old and less than 600 miles on the clock. Powered by a 350cc liquid cooled 2 stroke twin cylinder engine. A wet weight of 150kg and 47bhp made for very lively performance. It also handled very well (there was a one make race series which started the careers of a number of future world class racers). I ran it for a short time on wet racing tyres which gave it unbelievable handling for an otherwise stock road bike. 

 It was a complete departure from anything I'd owned, great for an after work blast...but wearing over a long day out. Perhaps this wasn't right for my type of riding. We'll return to this thread later in the post...

Suzuki SP370
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same model as above, but silver rather than red.

 Meanwhile I still had the KTM, and as I'd discovered not a practical bike at all. I needed to get rid of it, so part exchanged it for the Suzuki SP370. I took a massive hit moneywise but was pleased to see the back off it...owership was definitely a mixture of Type 1 and Type 2 Fun!

 I bought the Suzuki SP370 new they were being offered at a very good price £795 if I remember correctly. Powered by a docile 370cc single cylinder 4 stroke engine, it was a complete...and welcome...contrast to the KTM. It made a very civilised trail bike, and a more than capable light touring bike. I replaced the high front mudguard with a lower tyre hugging item, this stopped most of the spray at the risk of blockage by mud.

 Overall I enjoyed the ownership of the SP370, it went on a very wet tour of the West Coast of Scotland to Durness. It rained everyday, but didn't miss a beat. It was also very frugal, especially compared to the RD350LC I owned at the same time. 

 This post has a confusing timeline (to me at least) due to the way the bikes were bought and sold. Indeed I have had a couple of phone conversations with Tim trying to get things in the correct order! 

Honda CX500
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was exactly like the one pictured above

 Summer 1981...I think! and I swapped the RD350LC for a Honda CX500. Bought new from Sapphire Motorcycles, and a complete change from the Yamaha. The CX500's engine is a watercooled 80 degree 4 stroke V twin producing just under 50bhp. Considerably heavier than the Yamaha and with poorer handling...doesn't sound great does it? 

 The CX500 could certainly munch miles though, a large fuel tank, comfy seat and the convenience of shaft drive meant I used it for the longer rides I preferred.

Meanwhile on the off-road front things were about to change again...

Fantic 175 Trials
(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Things are a bit hazy about this one, I'm confident mine was this model...but mine didn't have lights

 Another bizarre move in hindsight...I part exchanged the SP370 (slightly battered, and modified) for a used Fantic 175 Trials bike. The engine a 175cc 2 stroke engine in a soft state of tune. (it also occasionally would fire in reverse!..disconcerting to say the least!)

 I bought it, not to compete on but to use really as a "playbike". Tim had a Bultaco Trials bike at the same time. It was used for a few trail rides, other than the restricted fuel capacity it helped to make any obstacle east to surmount. It was the only Italian bike I've owned, and against their reputation at the time was reliable...except for the right footrest falling off... but that could have been contributed to by user error!

 I'm nit sure how long I kept the Fantic. An impractical extravagance, it had to go...

Suzuki PE400

(This image is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)

Mine was the same as the one above

 I part exchanged the Fantic for the Suzuki PE400. The PE400 was used, but from memory had had an easy life and was generally in good order. Powered by a single cylinder 400cc 2 stroke engine, although an off road racing bike it was a much less focused machine than the KTM I'd owned previously.

 Memories are again hazy of this bike, I used it for trail riding with the Trail Riders Fellowship and don't remember an reliability issues...indeed I can only really remember a couple of rides on it. Although I'm sure it was used a lot more than that.

I'll leave this post here, thanks for reading...we'll reconvene in a day or so.

Tek Care and Stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycling History....Or A Misspent Youth? Part 4

Although the Honda CB400 Dream was quite a capable bike it was a bit bland perhaps. I'd probably only owned it about 4 months at the most. Anyway I was earning quite a bit more money so decided I should upgrade to something a bit larger...and more powerful...

A Yamaha XS750
(this photo taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was exactly like the image above

 Bought used from Sapphire Motor Cycles in Staveley. It had less than 1000 miles on...barely used! The XS750 has a 4 stroke, 3 cylinder engine with shaft drive and triple discs to slow its not inconsiderable weight down...a real grown-ups bike! It produced round about 67 bhp, and was supposed to have a top speed of 110 mph. I certainly never had it up at that speed mind. The handling was typical of large capacity Japanese bikes of this era. Just look at the super skinny forks.

 Very comfortable over longer rides, I can't remember what it was like on fuel...it was way more powerful than anything else I'd ridden before, but didn't encourage "spirited riding". My mate Tim was still into off road riding, and as I liked the idea of keeping the XS750 in good order I thought a small easily manoeuvred off road bike would be a good idea...Oh dear... 

A Honda SL125
(This photo is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was exactly like the image above

 It had taken over 5 years but eventually I had a Honda SL125, having being seduced by one back on the Windermere Ferry all those years ago. I bought it used (well used in fact!) from James Walker's in Kendal. Powered by a single cylinder 4 stroke engine, developing perhaps 12bhp (when new) quite a contrast to the XS750 in my parents garage (which I was slowly taking over). It was very light though..which made it ideal for the use I had in mind.

 The SL125 was used throughout the Winter of 78/79 with minimal maintenance Daily commuting the short distance to work and off road on days off, including "Runs" with the TRF (Trail Riders Fellowship). It was indeed ideal for this purpose, incredibly reliable considering the abuse it received...it snapped it's chain twice from memory...but I always carried a repair link so no worries there. It did however break a piston ring...reducing it's power,  but actually not stopping it!

 I was enjoying the off road stuff, the SL125 was doing a great job. Winter is fraught with error and I had a lot of money tied up in the XS750 parked in the garage not being used (I think I only owned it for 4 months) I felt I should change it for a proper off road bike. (My parents thought I was Mad...so do I now!) So....

KTM 400 GS
(This photo is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was for all intents and purposes the same as the image above

 I traded the XS750 in at Sapphire Motorcycles for the KTM 400 GS, a full on off road racing motorcycle. Mine was used, but not if that makes sense. I'll explain...I'd called and asked Sapphire if they could get me a new KTM 400 GS, they couldn't. Off road bikes are introduced as new models/versions every year with the latest innovations and modifications learned from the previous seasons racing. They told me that the importers, Comerfords in London had a bike which had been prepared and run in for their sponsored rider Vic Allen to ride in Enduro's. I can't remember why he'd never used it...perhaps injury?

 I agreed to buy it...they sent it on the train! to Oxenholme. So I now had 2 off road bikes. I think looking back I'd lost the plot. The KTM was a thoroughbred racing machine...ridden by the human equivalent of an old nag! The 2 stroke engine had more power than any normal rider could cope with, top quality suspension components a very capable fully road legal machine in the right hands. It was also fully road legal

 I had a love/hate relationship with the KTM, it wasn't a bike to potter about on. But if you were in the mood to press on it could certainly do it....70 mph off road feels quick believe me. It was very well made and adorned with neat touches to make "in the field" maintenance.

Probably not the most practical bike I've ever owned....

MZ250 Supa5
(This photo is taken from the internet apologies for any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same as the image above

 But this one was! Massively underrated at the time and an object of fun to many. In the Spring of 1979 I realised that owning 2 off road biased bikes was silly...so part exchanged the Honda SL125 at James Walker's in Kendal for this MZ250. An East German (Crikey...before the "Wall" came down!) very  well priced 2 stroke single cylinder engine tuned for torque and long life rather than performance. Having said all that, there was at the time a one make race series for them! 

 I really enjoyed owning the MZ it was very reliable and economical on fuel (as you'd expect). The only failure was on the kickstart lever, which was an easy fix. I used the MZ both for the daily commute, day trips way and as transport to the hills for walking trips. I think from memory I rode it for about 12000 miles. 

 I hadn't bothered with car ownership or even had lessons to take a car test up to this point. It was whilst I owned the MZ that I felt owning 2 motorbikes and no car was perhaps a bit limiting when away from bikes I enjoyed walking...and skiing in the Winter. But these posts are about motorcycles not cars....

Well done if you've read this far..and if you've kept up! I'M struggling to remember dates so goodness knows how anyone else make anything of it.

Tak Care and Stay Safe

My Last 3 Daily Exercise Cycle Rides....Back Up to Date!

These are from Wednesday, Friday and today. All on the Elan with its wider tyres to deal with the off road/gravel sections. As mentioned yesterday the amazing weather continues, although it's always cooler on the bike even with a light wind. Much of the terrain has been traversed before and similar images have appeared in previous posts...there may be something of interest.

On top of Bridge 159 looking North, on my way to ride the lanes below Lupton.

Lot of Ramson flowers now.

Friday and I was again heading North to ride basically a loop encircling Farleton Knott.
I stopped here only a couple of hundred metres from home to take this picture. This pair haven't nested here for a couple of years...I think the increased traffic on the towpath (due to Covid 19) may frighten them off....we'll see.

This junction is called 19 Trees by the locals...I wonder why?

Back home along the canal towpath above Hilderstone Lane.

Today with all the metalled lanes traversed within my 5k limit I was free to do a bit of  "Gravel Grinding". This is on Dollywood Lane near Slackhead. the elan is quite capable as long as you take it slowly and show a bit of mechanical sympathy!

I linked a few bridleways and minor lanes together, then rode South back home on the canal.
Farleton Knott omnipresent as always!
Take Care and Stay Safe

A Personal Motorcycle History.....Or a Misspent Youth? Part 3

As described in the previous post on the subject, I was frustrated with the Honda XL250. Spring is a great time to change your bike (this would be a recurring theme!) together with my fondness for travelling further afield swayed me towards a pure road bike. March (I think!) 1976 saw me the proud owner of a brand new....

Honda CB250 G5
(Apologies for the use of the photo taken from the internet and any copyright infringement)
Mine was the same as the one pictured except on a P reg (hence no front plate required)

 This felt like a much larger bike than it actually was. A 250cc twin cylinder engine, SOHC fed by twin carburettors and an electric starter! Plus a disc front brake, although from memory it wasn't the best to say the least. A max speed of just over 80mph in real terms, was with hindsight more than enough.

 I piled the miles on this machine travelling to motorcycle events across the North of England and had a short camping tour round Kintyre in Scotland. I also used it for transport for work and to go walking and fishing in the Lakes. The summer of 1976 was of course one of the best, from memory it didn't rain in Kendal during the day from 1st April until mid July, motorcycling heaven. If I wasn't hooked before I was during this period of fantastic weather.

 Up till now motorcycling had been a mainly solitary experience, moving to Kendal away from Bowness meant I had lost touch a bit. I learnt that Tim Wray (from Bowness) had the same bike...in the same colour as well. I called round to see him and to have a chat...people with motorbikes always have plenty to talk about. Tim also had a Kawasaki KE175 trail bike...motorbike mad! We would become great fiends....and still are. 

 Tim was keener on trail/trials riding than the road, lots of time was spent exploring the capabilities of various off-road bikes over the following years. 

 The Honda was used mercilessly, I clocked up about 14000 miles in the 12months or so I owned it. I only came to grief once more by good luck than skill, colliding with a Wine & Spirits delivery van a couple of 100 metres of home...resulting in a rather battered Honda...and no damage to the van at all...Dad had been right!! I was a bit cut and bruised, but remember straightening up the Honda in the garage during the evening to be ready to ride over to Scarborough the next day for the road racing.

So the following Spring, March again I think I traded in a rather battered CB250 for another Trailbike....

A Yamaha DT250 Monoshock
(Apologies for the use of the photo taken from the internet and any copyright infringement)
Mine was identical to the image above.

 Bought brand new in March 1977, and another 250cc engine, it was the first 2 stroke bike I'd owned. It was used again without mercy both off road and on and from memory never missed a beat. Lots of fun was had...including a 2 up trip to Hereford and back in the day from Kendal. It spent many days caked in mud and hammered over rocks. 

 It did however in early December bite back (perhaps it was over enthusiastic throttle use) spinning up on frozen grass and falling and trapping my right foot. This happened on the Garburn Road...a favourite area in those days. Barely able to walk, I eventually rode home. Mother decided I should go to the hospital, a severely sprained ankle which resulted in a plaster cast and 3 weeks off work. The cast was removed on Boxing Day. 

 Something which I'd almost forgotten...I had taken up skiing in the Lakes, self taught (like motorcycling!) and without a car...this bike was ideal for ploughing through the snow to get to Kirkstone...Skis and poles across my back and a rucksack with skiboots etc also on my back...I'm shivering now typing this!

 I kept the Yamaha for 13 months I think (Tim will correct me if I'm wrong!) I cant quite remember why I felt I should forget about the trail riding?...I certainly enjoyed it...perhaps I thought there was more chance of injury? Anyway it was Spring....new bike time! So off to James Walker for the 5th time and I bought a....

Honda CB400T

(Apologies for the use of the photo taken from the internet and any copyright infringement)

Mine was the same as the one above.

 Back to a Honda and a 4 stroke engine 400cc SOHC with 3 valve heads, not a performance machine really 27bhp and would reach mid 90's with a following wind. Tim had also bought one, although he still had an off road bike as well. He sold his quite quickly.

 The Honda Dream name was revived for this model (which I think only lasted 1 year) but in all honesty this wasn't really the bike of my dreams. It was still my daily transport and was used again for light touring, including a holiday to Galloway with Tim he still had his red version of the same bike. Strangely Tim and Ang now live on the Mull of Galloway so I know he liked the area!  

 I can't remember how many miles I clocked up or in fact exactly when I sold it. What I can say is things were going to get a bit crazy.

Thanks for reading

Take Care and Stay Safe

Social Distance Walks 017/018/019

The dry weather is still with us...and sadly so is Covid 19. So the Social distancing continues, daily exercise is still allowed..from home. Here are the latest walks, there have been some bike rides in between them which will feature in a future post.

Tuesday, and I headed Southeast towards Curwen Woods. This fine Limekiln is in the grounds.

Ash Flower

Danelion Clocks are appearing, this one in Pipers Lane

Honeysuckle is getting going the hedgerow beside Pickles Wood was covered with it, there'll be a grand show when it flowers later in the year.

Wood Anemone. 

The woodland floor covered with spring flowers

Another limekiln near Oakwood Farm, back home through Curwen Woods

Thursday was not the best day mentally...don't know why..along the canal to Farleton and back.
I did capture this Mallard with an impressive brood (is that correct?)

Today (Saturday) I set off with a specific target in mind...but I was distracted by the Cherry Blossom on the trees as I left the village.

Along the canal to Farleton, then onto Nook Lane. My target today the hill in this view...Scout Hill

Leaving Nook, a number of bridleways led ever upward. This gate is one of hundreds which mark the line of the Thirlmere Aquaduct as our precious Lake District water makes it's way to Manchester.

A trig point!...how long is it since we saw one of them! Scout Hill is 285m high and provides a great viewpoint. This is broadly South, Farleton Knott in the mid ground, Arnside Knott the bump in the distance on the right.

To the East, Barbon Fells, Great Coum and Ingleborough in the distance.

To the North things are rather more cluttered.  A repeater station and the Hood Ridding Wind Farm.
In the distance the Howgill Fells to the left of the Trig.

Back much the same way, a last look back at Scout Hill between the trees from the canal near Farleton...3 hours there and back...only 1 person (with 2 dogs) seen...at a very safe distance!
Take Care and Stay Safe

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