I was supposed to go out for a trail ride with my brother Trev yesterday but was feeling a bit rough and backed out. Trev went with our septuagenarian mate Bob instead.
At 72 years old, is Bob the oldest regular trail rider using a TTR250?
I am hoping Trev will be along later to tell some tales of derring do on the ride but, as he borrowed my camera, I am uploading the pics he took - all of them - so will probably tidy them up later after Trev has had a look through them.
Looks to have been a good day with a few nice water crossings plus a lorra lorra mud and washouts.
Those lanes look very washed out in places - and the river appears full.
I like the naturally placed tree blocking the ford crossing.
Hopefully between now and the 22nd the weather should be clearing up and the sun should shine. It may give the lanes a bit of time to dry out prior to the event.
Bouncing Bob has really earned his moniker, but doesn't bounce as well as he used to.
I don't bounce as well even now so I'll probably be well out of it by the time I reach 72.
It feels like its been raining here in Devon for months and this was probably the warmest day of the year, so it made for good trail riding weather.
The long rutted lane up on Woodbury common was full of water, but both Bob at the end I realised we had ridden it staying up, so that was a first!
I just hate ruts
After that lane I got in a muddle with the sat nav and picked up the return route (Brian had put it on for me and I didn't really study it much before setting off) and we nearly got to Branscombe before I thought to myself this is all road and no lanes, so its the route home... So thinking we would be riding the lanes the wrong way, we turned left and headed off to Honiton to pick up the correct route. Has a cuppa and a bacon butty at the truck stop before setting off in the right direction!
Did a couple of lanes coming away from Honiton and then got onto the Stockland lanes which were in fine fettle and similarly up around Membury
The first water crossing just about came up to axle level, so made for a good bike wash to clear off some of the Devon mud.
The next river crossing at Higher Wes****er Ford was too deep and as per the photo a few trees caught around the bridge stopping any route across even if it wasn't deep. We went into the field and use the lower crossing, but even that was deeper than usual. You know you are in too deep when the noise from your engine goes dull...... However, there is a route nearer to the tree that should be ok to use.
The last six photos are of Woodhayne Lane and this is where we had the most fun. Bob bounced a couple of times here! Novices would struggle on this one
The day left me feeling very tired, with me going off to bed at 9:30 and not waking up this morning until way past 9!