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Sat
4 November 2006
 Rossi
Bins It!
It
was bright and early when I met Tony at Morrison’s petrol
station for a morning tour of lanes in the Liskeard area.
Heading up to Addington to take in the first lane of the day
we met Pete and Paul coming out of the lane. They didn’t
take much persuading to tag along as they were expecting to
spend almost as much time map reading as they were riding
the lanes. That made it 3 strokers with my Yam, Tony’s
KTM and Paul on a CRM, with Pete being the only thumper on
the XR250.
So
it was back down Addington with plenty of leaves on top of
heavy mud making for slippery going. Pulling away from the
junction near the bottom of the lane the back lit up and fishtailed
madly. Changing up to 4th it was still spinning, but then
gripped, launching the bike up the bank. Next thing I was
on the deck and the bike had wrapped itself round a granite
gate post. Both the bike and the post have the scars to prove
it! As I type this I am also counting the aches.
At
a slightly more sedate pace we took in Lake Lane , Old Road
, Moorswater and Looe Mills before heading up Railway Lane
which claimed Pete and Paul in the rut. At North Boduel we
stopped for a coffee break as Pete took a flask from his rucksack
– well prepared is Pete. Heading down Scawns, we took
in Trevilis Woods and on through Beara Farm. Rather than turning
right for the Lerryn loop we took the left to Shillamill where
we passed a crew marking out the lane for the Wintry Trial.
I have to say they were being a bit mean with the tape, forcing
riders into the gully on the first corner rather than up to
the right, meaning that speed was lost before attacking the
steps. Anyway the Yam made it fine but it was some time before
the others made it up to the corner at the top. Heading on
to the end of the lane I waited for the others to arrive,
and waited…… Returning down the lane I found Tony
had unfortunately snapped his chain, and made a good job of
wrapping it round the front of the swingarm. After some time
trying to free it, it was clearly not going to shift. So that
was the last lane of the day, well nearly.
I
went off home to fetch the trailer as the others pushed Tony’s
stricken KTM up to the road. The final lane was taken in my
car as Tony directed me to take the lower road into St John
through the tidal ford rather than negotiating the tight turns
on the normal road with the trailer. By the time I returned
the same way, the tide was rising and the marker was showing
the water was close to a foot deep. Fortunately the car coped
better than the bikes had earlier.
Tuesday
24th october
East meets West! Bish
The
Eastern contingent of Rossi, Steve Wilson and I headed down
to Smokey Joes for a 9.30 start... full of enthusiasm I rode
the XT from Saltash (must be a good 40 miles!) and experienced
the joys of the Goss Moor bypass... luckily everyone was good
humoured when I arrived at nearly ten O'clock. Steve Woods
and Jay had planned a major expedition and soon we set of
to a series of muddy byways that passed through Skinners
Bottom onto Manor parsley rocky and gnarly root
infested lane, on to Hurling Barrow lane and then on through
the couple of lanes that go under the old railway bridge at
Goonbell. Out onto Football Lane ( complete with jumps and
grumpy dog walkers) and right at the end down to trials section
at Blue Hills  (circle
then the ridge). Next a bit of road work up to the infamous
lane leading with steps (the XT's suspension loved that!),
then onto Lambriggen. Cider Farm Lane , Wheal
Honey Lane and Wheal Frances Lane were then despatched
with pace. A bit of road work towards Truro, including another
dog having a go at Steve Woods...
The
famous push your bike to the ford at Tretherres
Lane was next which gave me the chance for some great
pics:
 Rossi,
takes the direct route
 A
crossed up Steve Woods
 Jay
- you only get your knee down in MOTO GP!
 Steve
Wilson gasses the Beta.
 Jay
lays down cover for any pursuing Rambliars...
Then
onwards for a well deserved refuel and munch at Tresillian.
Refreshed
we set off for the series of nice lanes known as Treffry
then Merther, leading us to the muddy bank at Tresawsan
- Rossi's WR 'accidently' filled in Steve Woods in a
haze of slurry mud slinging... whoops, revenge will be exacted!
Next
a
bit of road work to the fantastic trials section at Lamorran
Woods following the lane out through the farm at Gare
onto the lane at Freewater - stopping at Tregony munch
break number 2
North
out of Tregony to the lane at Pensagillas, surprisingly
grippy for once! Then onto the lane at Tregerrick - where
I went for a quick dab on the return leg only to find the
howling WR400 of Steve Woods zipping past, wobble, stall,
it's pickup time! A quick stretch of road work to the garage
at Bessy Beneath, onto the creek crossing at
Treworga , then through the fast and rocky lane at
Philleigh onto the King Harry ferry.
Home
stretch!
Wrinklyn lane, a bit of roadwork to the narrow woodland track
near Kea Woods, onto the gorse forest at Carrine
common and through the byway at Baldhu. A zip through
the 3 linking lanes known as Kerly Downs - Steve Woods
gets strike one against Rossi! - bit of road work through
Chacewater to byway at Wheal Busy (Steve gets strike
two at Rossi! ) and into the car park at Smokey Joes... A
major tour and great day out, shame about the return leg back
up the A30/38 to Saltash...
Thanks
to Steve and Jayfor a fab ride!
Sunday
22nd october
Down
west run... Steve Woods
On a
very! wet sunday morning, eight trail riders turned up for
the local run "down west" Alex Carter on a very
clean Gas Gas Pampera 250, Stephen Courtney on a Dt 125, Mick
Ross on a tidy Honda XR 185 of some vintage (made Bob Hancock's
day), Neil Gray on a tidy WR200, Jay on his KDX, Richard Keast
on a supurb 250cc Ram Quad, Richie Carrington on a Sumoto
200cc quad( looked a bit like a big black spider if you saw
the size of Richie on this quad you would no exactly what
i'm on about) recovery was covered! by Bob (spanners) Hancock
on his 100 year old much modified XR200, and the group was
taken around a local route that was prepared by me! Steve
Woods on a WR400.
Well as I was saying we met up at Smokey Joes and it was chucking
it down, but being of a view that nothing was going to spoil
are day we set of any way. Turning right out of the car park
and heading for the series of flowing lanes known as Myrtle
lane that head towards "Skinners Bottom" and onto
"Manor Parsley". The two nadgery lanes here were
given short shrift by all.Then it was on towards Porthtowan
and over the cliff top byways down into Porthtowan across
the valley and out over the opposite side of the valley. At
the top of this byway we had a 5 minute stop as the rain had
decided to come down so hard it was a bit sore on the old
chops ;0) It was at this point that Richie Carrington decided
to call it a day muttering something about headaches and his
night out!(i think it had more to do with the fact that all
7 foot of him was coiled up on a quad that looked like it
was made for a four year old;0)
Any way the rain had settled to monsoon cat 3 so of we went
again taking in a few lanes around St Agnes , Perran, on through
the cider farm, to the series of interesting lanes at Silverwell
where Steve courtneys DT decided it had, had enough. Recovered
by Bob and his trusty tow rope (have you ever been towed bike
to bike emmmm ferk that) Any way we all made it to Chiverton
for fuel and grub where Steve Courtney decided to call it
a day due to the problems he was having with the DT ( he got
home ok) and Neil on the WR had to go in order to Tile the
bathroom, paint the house and cook sunday lunch (least ways
that's what he told us honest, Mrs Gray).
After lunch!! we chucked the quad and rider over the wall
onto the byway behind Chiverton and rode the bikes over behind
him, then pushed on to some byways and ucr's in and around
the Poldice area . On one of these byways there is a fair
river crossing that was running deep due to the rain. On reaching
it Jay and I who were a little a head of the group used the
footbridge that is obscured from view by foliage and appeared
on the other side of the ford just as the Ram Quad and Bob
came into view! Oh ferk says I having realised that it must
look like we have just gone through! Damn too late, said Quad
is in up to the tank and giving it what for, I think the size
of the huge tyres on the quad probably kept him above water.
Any way after a bit of argy bargy Richard got the Quad through,
and not to be out done Bob decided he would have a go to (bit
like that is Bob as others who have previously ridden with
him will know!). After that we all decided to call it a day,
after all you can only stand so much fun in one day ...........
Thanks lads for a great day
K.T.R.C.
on a wet Sunday down West
After
a pig of a week at work, I was really looking forward to one
of 'boy' Yeates West runs, but sitting on the CRF at 8.30
am, hammering up the dual carriage way, in the pouring rain
which stung your face like needles, things did not look promising.
As
usual I was last to arrive and Ian (WR400), Ken (WR250) and
new guys Andy on his DT 350 and Spencer on his mint KTM 450
were ready to go.
Ian's
50 mile route took us on loads of byways via Callestick up
to Carnkief, Reen Manor, Lambriggan and back to a very slippery
Manor Parsley via Silverwell,where Spencer cross rutted the
KTM, and ended up in the hedge, picking the last of the seasons
blackberries.
The
rain just didn't stop, everywhere was flooded, rain down your
neck, boots full of water, goggles steamed up ….you know
the score……we can get people on the moon …..So
what's the problem with making waterproof boots and goggles
that don't steam up……God knows!……for Christ
sake! Somebody please, just do it!...............end of elderly
trail riders rant….
On
to loads more muddy, flooded byways at Penstraze, to the Kerley
Lanes and the tree high gorse of Carrine common.
Starting
to get cold now …still having a good time….every
one is wringing their gloves out….'waterproof', 'breathable'
'windproof'………all bollocks!……. I
reckon everything lets in rain eventually…still at least
I wasn't wearing jeans like Andy; …he must have been
so cold!
Now heading home …through byways at Twelveheads, Kerley
Lanes and finishing at Salem……….definitely
time for hot bath….amazing…. rain has stopped…..55mph
on the dual carriageway is such a pain on the CRF…..now
almost drying out……..but just time for another downpour
2 miles from home.
Thanks to Ian for yet another top day out, and for new guys
Andy and Spencer for sticking with it.
Cheers
- Robin
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Down
West Trail Ride
When
I left Falmouth to meet up with Jay in Camborne for a midweek
trail ride it was raining cats and dogs, So by the time I
arrived at Jays I was a tad wet. Twenty minutes later after
a cuppa, round of toast and a dry out we set off and to top
it all the rain had stopped. We started off with a bit of
road work  before
encountering the first of many lanes that eventually brought
us out at Manor Parsley 1 and 2 we went up the steep stone
one and down the root infested one a couple of times each
as they were slippery due to the recent rain and we didn't
ride them with the grace and elegance we would have liked
the first time. Anyway after we had finished playing we headed
off in the direction of Porthtowan and over the spectacular
cliff top byway's to St Agnes on through a few lanes to the
trials section at the bottom of blue hills. Both cleared that
feet up and carried on to the series of byways at the top
of Trevellas including the infamous steps. Cleared them without
any bother and carried on to Lambriggen (new byway post been
erected) through the long wet byway at the cider farm. Then
on to the series of lanes at Silverwell, stopping at Chiverton
for fuel and lunch. After lunch we did all the lanes around
the Blackwater area including one that has been rutted out
by 4x4's and created a miniature lake! After taking the plunge
I soon realised that this little lake was pretty deep. I stalled
after hitting a large underwater rut, looked down to see the
water lapping within half an inch of my air intake, so pushed
the WR out and with in a few kicks she fired back up. I promptly
turned around and rode back through, Jay opted out as his
KDX is somewhat shorter then the WR and he feared it would
have drowned...We then headed off towards the Kerly Downs
lanes on to the Poldice byway, Sewage works, Sunny Corner
and many more finishing at Martins motorcycles in Brea.........
Cheers Steve
...
7th October (...
Fantastic weather !  Just
a motocross shirt instead of the waterproofs today. We number
six, Rossi at the front on the WR (very little front tyre
wear on this bike...), Robin, Steve, Eric, Tony and myself
occasionally giving out directions from the back. A quick
circuit of Dobwalls and into the Herodsfoot direction, taking
a real mixed bag of lanes on the way to Lerryn.
The most civilised trail-stop in Cornwall followed - a fresh
cuppa from Lerryn shop, made specially for us... what a top
place. Chatting about the trails it turned out that Tony had
done mainly desert riding, so the gritty Cornish mud and slate
were a bit different - he and the KTM coped really well.
Refuelled we headed off and took in the Pelynt
and Lanreath area, enjoying a grippy  Shillamill
and fairly gooey Crooksball, excellent rear end slides from
Robin and Eric on these tracks!. At the top, definate lack
of go in Rossi's WR (a rare occurence) was diagnosed as no
fuel. My supertanker XT then came into it's own as a rural
petrol station, happily dispensing unleaded into a water bottle
- our maths regards the premix was probably generous though
after looking at the exhaust.
 Muchlarnick
then beckoned with most of us opting (sensibly) for photo
or support cover
- Steve didn't need any and flew up the left hand side of
the big step on the Beta, the slippery stuff only catching
him a bit further up - but top marks, he did get to the top.
The traditional right hand route didn't suit the WR so well
with the slippery slate stopping it.
A return leg to Dobwalls was despatched quite rapidly with
just a couple of unschedule shrubbery visits off the Railway
Lane rut - pretty slippery to say the least.
All in all a top ride... roll on next weekend.
... 1st October ... A very wet &
stormy one! We started out with 5 - Iain at the the front,
Steve, Mark, Jeff and myself at the back. Looped around Dobwalls
to St Keyne, including slippery old Rosenun - check out the
pics.
 
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