what did you do with your fazer today ?

[noggythenog]

A701, A701, A701 A701

 
We have got more than one road up here you know?

Ok


A702, A702, A702, A702

[sinto]

Ok

A702, A702, A702, A702

[unfazed]

Lest you forget, the little A703

[sinto]

Lest you forget, the little A703

Yeah it was beginning to feel left out

[noggythenog]

Lest you forget, the little A703

Yeah it was beginning to feel left out

What's it like?.....many hedges?

[sinto]

Lest you forget, the little A703

Yeah it was beginning to feel left out

What's it like?.....many hedges?

Foccin plenty

Especially this beauty
http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/meikleour-beech-hedge-p249401
Not on any of above roads, but worth the detour

[noggythenog]

Lest you forget, the little A703

Yeah it was beginning to feel left out

What's it like?.....many hedges?

Foccin plenty

Especially this beauty
http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/meikleour-beech-hedge-p249401
Not on any of above roads, but worth the detour

  ...aye ive flown passed that hedge on my to Crainlarich i think, good shout, will go to the top of nicks list i imagine.....i wouldnt hedge my bets though

[unfazed]

Looks like a good place for the Hedgetrimmer to get totally carried away 

[sinto]

Were you flying in a plane or on your bike?

Pics don't do it justice, it's bloody awesome as you go alongside it and the realise it's a hedge, and not trees
Deffinetly the largest hedge in UK, not sure of Europe though .
Just checked so it's the tallest in the world yeehaa

[Skippernick]

To quote the great Mick Dundee, "that's not a hedge, that's a hedge"

[Hedgetrimmer]

[Hedgetrimmer]

A701, A701, A701 A701

Tick! 

Ok
A702, A702, A702, A702

Tick! 


 

[sinto]

Good reply hedge

Nice roads and the A72 that runs along the bottom of that triangle is great too

[noggythenog]

Fair play mr trimmer ....A701 has to be one of my favourite roads.....shame ive only done it twice on a bike.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Definitely a nice road Noggy, but I didn't get to enjoy it at it's best today. Not only was it a bit damp and drizzly in places today, but all through Moffat and for some distance along the 701 there was loads of diesel on the road - the fumes were choking. So I had to treat much of it like an ice rink. On the other hand, going easy when on a road like that for the first time is no bad thing I suppose.


Sinto, yes, that little link of the A72 was pretty good too, but the best of today's ride was definitely through the hills. The 702 is quite challenging there; lot's of little blind crests that hide sudden twists in direction, you have to be on your guard first time you do that bit, so again, probably just as well that I took it fairly easy.

[esetest]

As I am annual leave today , and it is mild and dry , went for a bimble on the Fazer , headed out  to Longleat via the Mendips and came back home via bath, stopped for lunch at the Little chef.

[esetest]

Pics

[Hedgetrimmer]

Mini adventure today. Lured by the promise of some sunshine (I must be looking at the wrong weather sites or something ), decided to go see what was accessible in the Lakes. Zapped down the A595, then A591. After that I didn't really have much of a plan, so when I saw signs for Bassenthwaite lake, I thought I'd turn off for there as I haven't been down by that lake shore before. Nope, road closed    Ok, into Keswick, and head for, er, what's that sign say...Borrowdale, that'll do. Loads of little streams running across the road along Derwent Water shore, and material washed out from the hills above, so taking it carefully, but quite passable. Stopped at Grange:




The wind was really beginning to pick up here, coming off the fells above and rushing along the valley, and it didn't look too promising as I looked towards Castle Crag, the guardian of Borrowdale:




The higher hill tops lost in clag, and looking pretty threatening. But sod it, I'd come this far, I'll press on. So through Seatoller and the climb up to the Honister pass. Looking back:




Just after cresting the top of the pass, stopped for a tricky shot; perched on the bike at the roadside, pointing steeply downhill, right foot firmly on the rear brake, I fumbled the camera out of my pocket while the wind tried to blow me off the road towards the drop into the beck, but got the shot




Further down, and the wind was really howling down the slopes on either side now, but thus far it was manageable...until I stopped and wandered down to the beck side for a quick snap. Here, I could barely keep my feet, and had to brace with feet apart just to stay upright, constantly glancing back at the bike to check it hadn't been blown over.



Then when I got going again it was at a very sedate pace, fighting the gusts to stay on board. Just before Buttermere, got caught behind a couple of cars who were being really gay about a little bit of flooding on the road here and there - three of em stopped at one point, and got out to discuss if they could drive through a particular mini lake. I went passed em, ploughed straight through and waved them a cheery thumbs up

Stopped next to Buttermere lake, I think the pointy bit is High Seat:




And stopped for a cuppa at the empty tea room, where they looked shocked to have a customer




Then turned around and took the pass that cuts across the fells between Buttermere and Stair. Just as I took that turning, there was a sign warning of ice, "Route Not Advised"...no danger of that today!




But much of the road had gravel, larger stones and vegetation washed down from the fells strewn around on it, and parts were like riding up a shallow waterfall, with the run-off streaming down it, so care was needed:




And the view looking back showed that rain was fast approaching, in fact the first heavy drops had started to spatter my visor already:




And the hillsides were everywhere alive with waterfalls:





Further along, a bridge had been washed away, so took an alternative route, a little lane down to the Newlands valley, where there is one of my all-time favourite Lake district views:




That's Hindscarth on the left, with Scope End in the foreground, Robinson on the right. Not the best light for it today, and I really want to get this shot on a crisp, clear day with the snow lying on the fells, but still couldn't help stopping for a snap. Then back into Keswick, where the rain started to hammer down, and did so all the way back to Carlisle giving me a good soaking, until I got home, took my lid off...and it stopped  

[slappy]

Some nice photos there, you are braver than me, got up to Kendal myself last Sunday to visit the inlaws, would not have even considered going further up.

[dazza]

Nice one Nick, may be time to add an enduro to your collection.

[HarryHornby]

Looks like a fab day out Nick.  top pics, thanks for sharing.


My day wasn't as good but I did get to go for a ride, first time in weeks!  Totally bonkers, 1 week before Christmas and there I was in Tshirt, normal jumper and leathers with summer gloves, this weather is nuts, but meant I got a ride.


I popped over to Sheppey via Dazza's favourite drag strip (I was going to give you a shout Dazza but we had guests arriving this afternoon and I only had a quick 45 mins).


Great to be on the bike again though, blew the cobwebs out the carbs and gave myself a big grin :-)

[joebloggs]

Good reply hedge

Nice roads and the A72 that runs along the bottom of that triangle is great too

If you find yourself up near Inverness you've got to take the road to Fort William, follows the contours of Loch Ness, blinding road.

[dazza]

I've been laid up with an extreme strain of manful since Tuesday Mr Hornby plus had quite a hard off on the DRZ before that so been nursing an extra nobbly kneecap but yes, this mild weather is amazing. As soon as I can stop coughing for 5 mins, I'm going to venture out on the Fazer.

[NorthWestern]

Fitted an R1 rear wheel, disc, caliper and hanger.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Nice one Nick, may be time to add an enduro to your collection.

There were a few times where I thought a dirt bike would be more suitable, but the Fazer took it all in it's stride 

Some nice photos there, you are braver than me, got up to Kendal myself last Sunday to visit the inlaws, would not have even considered going further up.

It was only the unseasonable temperatures that got me to chance it really. To think the A66 was closed briefly due to snow just a short while ago, and now, no trace of it, even on the tops.