Bucket list stuff

Sorry more bike related. I have an adventure bike  that was designed and built and tested in the Himalayas and the mountains of Wales. It is a belter and those of you who have found my YouTube channel will have seen some of its adventures. 

Anyhow a week before Christmas when I was feeling $hit with the man flu I got a call from the bike dealer I brought the bike from inviting me for a day of Green Lane'ing in early January. I wasn't sure it was for me but I said put me down as a maybe. On Saturday I was frosty and 1 degree and  I had doubts but it is times like that you have to push yourself or really start a rapid decline. So I layered up and set off in foggy 'cool' temps but was rewarded within 5 minutes of view of cloud inversions along the early part of the route.... I should have taken photos !

Got to Bob Minions in Derby and was offered coffee and a warm welcome before we ( 6 bikes - all Himalayans ) headed off to meet other like minded souls at the Square and Compass pub in Darley Dale. 

We were told it was gentle green lanes  - bit of gravel etc but we got mud, rocks 30 feet of 1 foot deep water filled trenches - a few fell off, pleasingly I didn't but we all had fun and on the return to the pub we were fed and watered - an excellent day.

Note to self live each day and take as many opportunities as you can....

A couple of pics 

First wheels turning of 24

OK not boating but another passion....

Due to family commitments, a horrid virus and then Rachel getting the virus my time on two wheels lately has been limited. Today was the first day when I got the chance to turn a wheel. It was a Screwfix visit to buy another angle grinder and disk to remove the old mortar on one of my chimneys as its got a leak !! Normally a 20 minute run to Ashbourne ( or Leek) but todays was Ashbourne but it gave me the opportunity to go the longer way via Ilam and Dovedale. As to be expected there was a lot of surface water on the lanes and a lot of mud. Tools acquired then a slight reverse but I added in Wetton the Manifold valley Grindleford then Foxt to home. 

Descending into the Manifold valley the mist dropped the temp to about 3c. Back home just after sunset. Felt a bit bad the Himmy was a bit messy but I'm due a ride on Saturday with the Royal Enfield peeps with a couple of the new 452's. Set up by the dealer who I've got a reservation on the 452 with and the run on Saturday has some light green lanes to a pub in the peaks where RE are providing lunch. Not done such before so subject to frost looking forward to it. Then the Himmy will get a clean!

One thing the 452 has to be a good step change and more better than my humble 411 as today it was the perfect bike to be out and about on. O and yes when getting fuel in Ashbourne got two fellas talking to me about their bikes when they saw the Himmy..... 

Did you get out today boat or bike ? 

Ilam

Dovedale

Manifold valley

Looking right across north Staffordshire, on a clear day you can see the Wrekin