• The best laid plans.

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:14 pm**

Everything started so well but within the first five miles, a "do you fancy trying this track" comment followed by "okay" meant all bets were off as time to reach our planned destination slipped through our fingers. North became east and we embarked on a 100 mile mystery tour with no idea where we were going from one minute to the next.

The weather on Fri afternoon was somewhat spring like but the clear skies meant it would be a cold night with a high chance of dew (and condensation). Carrying only bivvy bags, we took shelter under the only tree we could find with a flattish piece of grass beneath it ... he looks happy because he hasn't got out of his pit yet to discover just how cold it was.

... doesn't look just quite a happy now he has does he?

Some new favourite tracks discovered and a flock of bike curious sheep.

Packing up on Sat morning, I had to concede that Mike's Max Wall impression was actually very good indeed.

... but not as good as Sunday's Hipster impression

All told, I think we covered about 100 very varied miles, put a 15 hour day in on Sat (they were that varied), had two nights out, sausage and chips in a basket and a lovely time ... it's a result in my book.

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:13 pm**

D'you know, I haven't seen a merkin in a while...

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:24 pm**

psling wrote:D'you know, I haven't seen a merkin in a while...

And that’s a rather lavish example

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:27 pm**

Presumably you made it to the RSF knees-up? Would be interested to hear a bit about it if you have a spare moment. Bit jealous wasn't there but "can't do everything" sadly

.

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:59 pm**

Presumably you made it to the RSF knees-up?

No Reg we didn't, going there was the plan that we failed to execute.

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:23 pm**

Ah. Commiserations. Still, looks like you made the best of what happened instead, which is the BBB way

(That beard's a bit scary Mike, reminded me of Charles Bronson somehow, and not the actor bloke...)

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:30 pm**

Mike, reminded me of Charles Bronson

Exactly what I thought Reg

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 8:05 pm**

It's either that stu or he's really missing Scott

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2019 8:14 pm**

I wasn't going to say that!

Posted: **Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:46 am**

i am missing scott and our trips out to shropshires finestest pubs n bivvi spots. Sitting on the long mynd just isnt the same on ya own. Ill post some pics here later of our trip :0)

Posted: **Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:32 am**

Ah, that where you both got to.....

RIP wrote:Presumably you made it to the RSF knees-up?

Made it along with a few others.

There was an informal slide show on the Friday night.
There’s around 10,000 slides which have been uncovered in someone’s loft, which the ups are trying to whittle down to include in the book.
Another box has been discovered documenting a RSF trip from Derby to Derby (Australia), and as they were going past they thought they may as well take their bikes up to Everest Base Camp. Well, why not....
The first time someone had done this properly with assembled bikes. It took them 2 weeks to get up and down and only 20% of that was rideable.
The surprising thing was it was done in 1984.

Other other thing coming out of the slides is how little stuff they took.

Books should be out in June.

Saturday as 100 years to the day of the first crossing.
All kinds of bikes were present, with a lot of vintage machines.
Various riding and pushing to the top, including a boggy death march at one point.

People made there way back on various routes for a talk in the evening about the original crossing.

Posted: **Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:39 am**

Mike wrote: i am missing scott and our trips out to shropshires finestest pubs n bivvi spots. Sitting on the long mynd just isnt the same on ya own. Ill post some pics here later of our trip :0)

Or being in the tally ho or ragleeth you get funny looks after your 3rd and your still Billy no mates