tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72073482819297560072024-02-06T19:36:40.814-08:00GORP, manure and self gratificationGeneral comment, outdoor lifestyle activities, running, barefoot running, mountain walking, camping, minimalist camping, bivvying, wild camping, cycling, mountain biking, road riding, equipment for cycling and running, fitness and nutrition, and wilderness.Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-72192558346329475122013-05-22T17:29:00.001-07:002013-05-25T03:43:12.554-07:00Soto - micro regulator stove OD-1R<br />
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<img alt="OD-1R" src="http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/img/OD-1R_img.jpg" /></div>
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To be able to contact a manufacturer these days and receive a personal reply solving your problem is a rare thing.<br />
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Not only did Tomo at Soto achieve this, but he replied immediately, offered me options for solving said problem and kept me informed throughout. And when head office in Japan could not help because it was holiday season, Tomo organised for the American office to ship the replacement part, all for free - OUTSTANDING!!! With products winning awards and wonderful customer service, the only way is up for Soto!<br />
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I feel that I am in some way doing Soto a disservice in starting with this mention of a problem, (actually a manufacturing 'defect') but in some ways these after market services are what actually distinguish one purchase from another. Often we won't have experience of alternative products, but it is safe to say that these days in most sectors, there are many products which will perform their intended function admirably, so what really stands out is aftersales; warranty, information, and how problems are rectified - the dreaded 'customer service' or lack thereof.<br />
<h4>
Background</h4>
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In my research, I looked at many examples of similar products, but none fitted the bill, for me, quite so well as the OD-1R, despite its lack of awe inspiring name, as from other brand offerings; Rocket, Reactor, Devil, Dragon, Zip Flash...</div>
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<a href="http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/img/OD-1R-img/OD-1RWEB1-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/img/OD-1R-img/OD-1RWEB1-L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Having experience with a Trangia set up and alcohol burners, I decided I wanted the reliability of a gas stove. I had spent much time, effort and of course money putting together my ideal lightweight set up. It started with my intentions of long distance cycle touring, but on seeing the benefits, it organically spilled over into every aspect of my enjoyment of the outdoors, culminating in a full hike/camp set up of just over 6 kilos, without water, which I tested to great success and satisfaction on the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims trail across Spain.<br />
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Main considerations of course, lightweight, small pack size and not too extreme a price tag, when we are talking about minimal gains for big bucks. 73 grams <b>including</b> a built in igniter, at £70 the OD-1R ticked all the boxes. No messing around with a lighter or matches in a high wind, just get the gas flowing and click the igniter.<br />
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<a href="http://shop.jetboil.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/p/c/pcs_black_setup_1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://shop.jetboil.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/p/c/pcs_black_setup_1_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/images/products/242405_enlarged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/images/products/242405_enlarged.jpg" width="200" /></a>There were many canister top stoves like this, at around the same weight, but add an igniter and weights almost doubled. This little thing seemed a bit too good to be true and so alarm bells started ringing. Why were other manufacturers not able to offer an equivalent? So I read up more on the 'built in igniter' situation. Turns out, in the past, built in igniters were none too reliable. They can get affected by wind and being a piece of outdoor kit, it is not ideal that they succumb to the inevitable rust, muck build up etc. Well, Soto's solution to this problem is to have an internal igniter, within the burner post. This protects the igniter from the outdoors and so improves ignition, which, as we can all understand, is pretty high on the agenda when it comes to stove performance.<br />
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I looked at the equivalent jet boils and their efficiency, but pack size wasn't all that fantastic and nor was the weight by comparison. I looked into all aspects of weight and pack size, considering overall cooking set up and the different combinations each stove type allowed. Despite this, the OD-1R still stood out for me. I then read up on the clumsiness of a canister top stove and so came across the standalone burner with connector tube.<br />
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Still hooked on the light weight and size of the OD-1R, I came across an elegant (lightweight) solution to the instability concerns.<br />
<a href="http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Canister%20Stands/Canister%20Stove%20Stands.html">http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Canister%20Stands/Canister%20Stove%20Stands.html</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Canister%20Stands/Images/SuperLegs_Primus_small_4479.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Super legs'</td></tr>
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So, exhausted from trawling the internet, I committed!<br />
<h4>
First thoughts</h4>
First thoughts on receiving the product were just how small and light it really was, how well put together it seemed. The one thing that I noticed straight off and that many people on checking it out had also noticed was the seemingly flimsy pot supports. You can see from the image how they fold away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78-Yi4mAb7tYo5BKeD0cGBWh8cNoR5cFpAnkFX7U5LPGdjF0UiYL0CekejjEd2K1iQlnCADwBGIrED525AyqU0TV7qWj4hhqa-ZT4LXODtI01yekEXVZl5jc44WNkcilaMROSXiqMUFiH/s1600/micro+regulator+stove+closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78-Yi4mAb7tYo5BKeD0cGBWh8cNoR5cFpAnkFX7U5LPGdjF0UiYL0CekejjEd2K1iQlnCADwBGIrED525AyqU0TV7qWj4hhqa-ZT4LXODtI01yekEXVZl5jc44WNkcilaMROSXiqMUFiH/s200/micro+regulator+stove+closed.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
The legs pivot upwards into their usable position and then the pivot slides down to lock out. To pack away, you simply pull the legs upwards and pivot them down into the position you see here.<br />
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Noticing this as a potential pitfall, I was always very careful to make sure I locked them out properly before loading them with pot weight.<br />
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Unfortunately though it was a leg that failed for me whilst out. The stove was still usable, but a bit of a tilt was required to stabilise the pot in the future. Thank God for my super legs!<br />
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<h4>
Links</h4>
So what can I give you compared to all these other reviews which are worth checking out on the same product.<br />
- <a href="http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Cook%20Gear/Stoves/Soto%20OD-1R%20Micro%20Regulator%20Stove/Test%20Report%20by%20Curt%20Peterson/">Test Report by Curt Peterson</a><br />
- <a href="http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Gear-Reviews/Search-Results/Camping-stoves/SOTO-Micro-Regulator-Stove-2011/">LFTO review</a><br />
- <a href="http://www.petesy.co.uk/soto-od-1r-micro-regulator-stove/">Pete's blog</a><br />
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I really find that no matter how much you look for reviews, you can't get enough information when you are looking into buying kit and as much as magazine reviews are enlightening and you get all your measured tests done, what you can't necessarily get is layperson's terms usage experience. Those little quirks of experience that can only come from ongoing usage. And when you are still not sure what to get, you make a choice, sometimes a reasoned one, often based on price, sometimes on asthetics, but you are never quite sure, so I suppose I can in this case tell you that if you are in the same situation as me, not totally sure, if you go ahead and buy it, then if it does go wrong, Tomo is a reasonable man and there to help out, so you can be safe in that knowledge. And because of that, I also want to help Soto and compliment them and their product, because they have treated me superbly and I have gained much pleasure from my reliable little stove, so with that in mind...<br />
<h4>
Usage</h4>
Standard twisting installation onto the top of the gas canister. Extend the regulator handle which neatly folds up for storage. This allows you to unfold the pot supports/legs. Once locked, all you need to do is give the smoothy actioned regulator handle a few good twists until the gas is flowing and then click the large red igniter button - As easy as that!<br />
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The igniter is damn reliable as well, so much so that I now, rightly or wrongly, don't bring a lighter as back up. Two or three clicks at worst and you have a roaring gas stove.<br />
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And when it comes to packing away, the OD-1R comes with a neat little bag, which stops you scratching your expensive non-stick pans, if you store the burner within.<br />
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With this stove the simplicity of the process is the key!<br />
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" /><br />
<br />
Aside from what I hope is an anomoly in the leg failure, the main negative to note is the lack of wind protection. The effect of wind is noticable, both visually and when it comes to heating time. However if, like me, it is a matter of wildman/woman pride for you to achieve suitable protection from a tree or other wilderness feature, then this is not such an issue. It is a noteworthy point nonetheless.<br />
<br />
This burner kept me sane on a lonely and cold cycle tour when hot food was imperative, has assisted in many a wet wood fire start, and easily fed four people on the Camino de Santiago, in wet conditions and at temperatures as low as -5. It has definitely had a hard ride and I had this in mind when I first tried it after a 6 month trip away. I attached a canister and despite my concerns, it lit after a couple of clicks of the igniter. I am now convinced of it's performance and longevity - A trusty companion for the outdoor life.<br />
<h4>
Next generation</h4>
<br />
<a href="http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/img/OD-1RX/OD-1RX-3L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/img/OD-1RX/OD-1RX-3L.jpg" width="320" /></a>So if you haven't noticed, I am a big fan of this stove and I was excited to see Soto advertising their more recent offerings. It is refreshing to see that they have developed what from the product name is to be the replacement for the OD-1R, the OD-1RX, which now incorporates an updated burner head to address the one area, where the performance was only average in the tests (and in the real world), wind protection.<br />
<br />
Check it out for yourself, I think if my OD-1R wasn't looking like it was going to last forever, then this would be on my shopping list... or maybe I'll just donate the 1R to a friend and upgrade anyway!<br />
<a href="http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/item/OD-1RX.html">http://www.sotooutdoors.com/products/item/OD-1RX.html</a><br />
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<br />Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-87845683867450757182012-06-22T15:50:00.002-07:002012-06-22T15:53:22.288-07:00I should be in the Western Isles of ScotlandI should be in the Western Isles of Scotland<br />
I should be a few kilos lighter<br />
I should be midge bitten<br />
I should have a lean physique with bulging quad muscles<br />
I should have grown used to passing many hours with only my self for company (yikes!!!)<br />
I should be sporting a fantastic cycling tan<br />
<br />
I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself, but I AM!<br />
<br />
I was just reading about a friend Ben Allen's awesome touring trip from from Canada into Mexico. <a href="http://benallen.ca/">Read here.</a> He has recently ditched the bike to set off hitchhiking down Mexico. Seems as though he is enjoying the freedom of experience as I had intended, while I am sitting here, day by day on a sofa watching TV, jealous.<br />
<br />
Add to that the annoyance at having been this very evening deceived by yet another person's feigned interest in buying the car I NEED to sell to be able to survive this summer, it is safe to say that things aren't going to plan!<br />
<br />
Initially I was able to keep my touring hopes alive. But after 5 weeks of physio, the physio and I agreed that it would be worth testing the waters, injury wise. So I sensibly chose the short blast to Brighton - 45 miles as a good testing ground. To make it even easier, (whilst also testing the back to back riding that is required in touring), I split the 45 miles into two days - 20 and 25 miles respectively. Considering I was happy doing 60-80 mile days, back to back before injuring, you will see that a puny 25 miles, even in a weak state shouldn't have presented a problem. However, after weeks of rest and physiotherapy and constraint, my injury manifested itself similarly just before arriving in Brighton.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;">Oh the frustration, I cannot tell you - The kind of morbid acceptance which seemingly allowed an odd satisfaction in cycling one legged into a city, enjoying the odd looks of car drivers and pedestrians. Very weird!</span><br />
<br />
So, referral back to the doctors. This now means an acceptance of the fact that I am going to have to call off my circumnavigation trip, at least for the near future. I imagine it to be unlikely that I will see a knee specialist before the end of the summer and I don't expect there to be a miraculous cure. In fact I am wondering whether this is going to hinder my potential for an active life...well, for life. I suppose we'll just wait and see.<br />
<br />
Either way it does not fill one with optimism when the doctor says, "yes... well...normally with knee injurys, cycling is the one thing we <i>CAN</i> recommend because it is a low impact controlled movement".<br />
<br />
SUPER!!!<br />
<br />
So - new plan - learn to sail. More on that and the reasons why, later.Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-56467652440569206872012-05-04T11:56:00.000-07:002012-05-11T03:41:27.915-07:00Injury delay and photo highlights of trip so far<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
So after some unexpectedly painless early miles on Sunday's attempted start of the remainder of the UK Circumnavigation, my knee sent me a message that I was a bit premature in trying to get going. It pretty much seized up just after stopping to take a photo of Southend Pier. That was 40 miles in.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-KSeS7kIiIl9I-RbKOF0ASmEARH_lpDLr5ZHzxrzHFZGNuWk9hmlhReuX0tOFRM4W2S6XwSc_obnu_Y7JhaxT-AGX-wswd4v7bZyIb8YKFxabwc81A8cNI5ivoHhHCwNKzWfLtac_fup/s1600/circum+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-KSeS7kIiIl9I-RbKOF0ASmEARH_lpDLr5ZHzxrzHFZGNuWk9hmlhReuX0tOFRM4W2S6XwSc_obnu_Y7JhaxT-AGX-wswd4v7bZyIb8YKFxabwc81A8cNI5ivoHhHCwNKzWfLtac_fup/s640/circum+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Route completed so far - Hope Cove to Southend - Not exact route, but a good representation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I accepted defeat and bought a train ticket home, thinking that for optimism and sanities sake I should get an open return. This gives me a month for recovery and to get back to Southend with bike and gear.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Doctor Tuesday morning, referred me to a physiotherapist, though annoyingly over a week away. Doc mentioned that my lower leg might bow outwards slightly more than other peoples, meaning that ligaments and tendons might be moving over more prominent bones than they would in normal people, meaning more friction, inflammation and subsequent pain. This makes sense with regard to the type of injury it seems to be, (Iliotibial band syndrome - Tract up the outside of your leg - lower knee to hip, that exists to give lateral stability to the knee)<br />
<br />
Overall, it's annoying! Just an anatomical issue, which I can't really get around. Oh well!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Now that I have had to (hopefully) delay and return home from Southend, I am contemplating what I can do to fill this time void, previously to be filled with pedalling. I am in recovery mode now, dosing myself up with Ibuprofen and applying anti-inflammatory gel intermittently. I am going to give it one week of full rest, no activity, in which time hopefully I shall get a physio appointment.<b> I was going to write this - </b><i>[</i><i>Then I am going to consider climbing and slacklining again. This will coincide nicely with my brother returning me my climbing gear and my slackline. </i><i>Climbing I am sure will not stress the ITB and I need to be active some way and slacklining, I hope will just aid with conditioning. We shall see!] </i><b>But then saw this - ACTIVITIES I CANNOT DO WHILST RECOVERING FROM ITB SYNDROME.</b><br />
<div>
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<div>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em; width: auto;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="Sports_activities_to_avoid_while_symptomatic">Sports activities to avoid while symptomatic</span></h2>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Soccer">Soccer</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Running">Running</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stair_climbing" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Stair climbing">Stair climbing</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountaineering" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Mountaineering">mountaineering</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlift" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Deadlift">Deadlifts</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squat_(exercise)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Squat (exercise)">squats</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Court sports, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Tennis">tennis</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Basketball">basketball</a>, or similar</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Martial arts">Martial arts</a>, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Karate">karate</a> (especially where being bare foot emphasizes any symptoms being caused by leg/foot abnormalities)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Bowling">Bowling</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skating_(disambiguation)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Skating (disambiguation)">Skating</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Wrestling">Wrestling</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacklining" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Slacklining">Slacklining</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cycling">Cycling</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Dancing">Dancing</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Parkour">Parkour</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowing_(sport)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Rowing (sport)">Rowing</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softball" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Softball">Softball</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnastics" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Gymnastics">Gymnastics</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitesurfing" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Kitesurfing">Kitesurfing</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Futsal">Futsal</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
Enough of the negative - here are some photo/images of what I have already experienced in the 500 miles of what I have achieved so far on the circumnavigation of the UK.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi3q2gunHv69p8gmJqSMmg4-ITZyac9g4R8DkuFXoA7TueFUmqsaEFej4luoWYz1I7OxwaLmuEl8RBqn7xgR9qg_oWyQ8n4VjPwv2aiGQpfXVWgAid2SGe91YRJO3lXmauRzGkj03zngi/s1600/circum+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi3q2gunHv69p8gmJqSMmg4-ITZyac9g4R8DkuFXoA7TueFUmqsaEFej4luoWYz1I7OxwaLmuEl8RBqn7xgR9qg_oWyQ8n4VjPwv2aiGQpfXVWgAid2SGe91YRJO3lXmauRzGkj03zngi/s640/circum+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting used to my Garmin which is superb piece of kit I run off solar power. I can record all the details of a day on it, as you can see down the left hand side. As well as knowing exactly where I have gone. Tough days like my first (above) on the undulating coast of South Devon. 1,614m of altitude gain is the equivalent of cycling up Ben Nevis and then some. Can see by 188 beats per minutes max heart rate how difficult some of those hills are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN5MS4pW3DoB04bKAR42hNJ7Wwx08L0LbSdaNLb9u1ZDuvsxp1-2_t_b9Rix8wNYuwSmu_fRcIRhzypb8M_xv5og4ufxtwHg2OqcHkkICTU4zVaxMTUWA0JBSa5-YY6yTRu5_ABDeHvos/s1600/DSCF3497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT2SFSkBPwvPi08kcri2jZhDnJ_pybrioDGffHyeHh-rHVT2Mt_6ZiGq9oM5vCRLK2yXoZkavm5801JdAaeeB6QoZkRuNk_4vxy3uy9HSlhblZx5j7o4r6pczd31v2Ad0wAOj1FZq0Q3G/s1600/DSCF3481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT2SFSkBPwvPi08kcri2jZhDnJ_pybrioDGffHyeHh-rHVT2Mt_6ZiGq9oM5vCRLK2yXoZkavm5801JdAaeeB6QoZkRuNk_4vxy3uy9HSlhblZx5j7o4r6pczd31v2Ad0wAOj1FZq0Q3G/s640/DSCF3481.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torcross - Slapton - Bank of shingle protecting a cut off freshwater lake, supporting much wildlife, particularly the winged kind. A beautiful part of the world, a place I have visited much and a really nice part of first day ride. Nice and flat for a few miles before that coast in the background towards Dartmouth really ramps up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdQcv9DCTpTpfKCuYI_dT-Ty8DRUpuxNgt_6mQyCoTFYAK3-ThAmR6K9Aj44wRNycoQRZxX1BIog0BQvedsb6VH92K-HfDaeJzUPyNY5fzj8LOQv0M9uV_z3m-_o0mcgmpEA-osVJQViy/s1600/DSCF3491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdQcv9DCTpTpfKCuYI_dT-Ty8DRUpuxNgt_6mQyCoTFYAK3-ThAmR6K9Aj44wRNycoQRZxX1BIog0BQvedsb6VH92K-HfDaeJzUPyNY5fzj8LOQv0M9uV_z3m-_o0mcgmpEA-osVJQViy/s640/DSCF3491.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dartmouth Castle - Kingswear Castle across the river mouth. Used to string a chain between the two castles, to prevent enemy ships entering the then very influential shipping Port.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIiaDg7mqg75Q8Ks69J3d9omV6axo42he7-ms3XNQ3UJtZlJPAOysENTsDjxYHopv2kqiVNOZa6H3m6Q3X7xC6mBQdc6IJIyamrP_kyH87sDQRuDywYxxnGegEy0ZyeSzg9IoS5gtNLlk/s200/DSCF3496.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Ferry Crossing - Only here did it<br />
feel like I was actually starting the trip</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1Luyt9yCgJwW6vc9svf7ezxTKBjdqgpE3ZyCppqgn39xI9frSDxcOdbtI_gFEx3G5QN6SrQHldJRzBRRpeXNhhwYqJ6xLIWeVRcPJb-rYQJZSluu1YEuUGNZFNP0DuAhAzqwiiOusFPG/s1600/DSCF3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1Luyt9yCgJwW6vc9svf7ezxTKBjdqgpE3ZyCppqgn39xI9frSDxcOdbtI_gFEx3G5QN6SrQHldJRzBRRpeXNhhwYqJ6xLIWeVRcPJb-rYQJZSluu1YEuUGNZFNP0DuAhAzqwiiOusFPG/s320/DSCF3494.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferry to Kingswear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1Luyt9yCgJwW6vc9svf7ezxTKBjdqgpE3ZyCppqgn39xI9frSDxcOdbtI_gFEx3G5QN6SrQHldJRzBRRpeXNhhwYqJ6xLIWeVRcPJb-rYQJZSluu1YEuUGNZFNP0DuAhAzqwiiOusFPG/s1600/DSCF3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIiaDg7mqg75Q8Ks69J3d9omV6axo42he7-ms3XNQ3UJtZlJPAOysENTsDjxYHopv2kqiVNOZa6H3m6Q3X7xC6mBQdc6IJIyamrP_kyH87sDQRuDywYxxnGegEy0ZyeSzg9IoS5gtNLlk/s1600/DSCF3496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1Luyt9yCgJwW6vc9svf7ezxTKBjdqgpE3ZyCppqgn39xI9frSDxcOdbtI_gFEx3G5QN6SrQHldJRzBRRpeXNhhwYqJ6xLIWeVRcPJb-rYQJZSluu1YEuUGNZFNP0DuAhAzqwiiOusFPG/s1600/DSCF3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIiaDg7mqg75Q8Ks69J3d9omV6axo42he7-ms3XNQ3UJtZlJPAOysENTsDjxYHopv2kqiVNOZa6H3m6Q3X7xC6mBQdc6IJIyamrP_kyH87sDQRuDywYxxnGegEy0ZyeSzg9IoS5gtNLlk/s1600/DSCF3496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMkv2D91zOa0Au-_HbZ2RpwNVM0oMODyULdqaukPTWLTugou3lTl_BW4_O8wc7hEufv61jy88Nd7eMQPVVf6QSCwGvvE8kbQxNiWYwH9drzyMpkm2ds7dBMIv_hvyTRmDpdQiipC1T5v2/s1600/DSCF3497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMkv2D91zOa0Au-_HbZ2RpwNVM0oMODyULdqaukPTWLTugou3lTl_BW4_O8wc7hEufv61jy88Nd7eMQPVVf6QSCwGvvE8kbQxNiWYwH9drzyMpkm2ds7dBMIv_hvyTRmDpdQiipC1T5v2/s400/DSCF3497.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaldon looking over at Teignmouth</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi672EjPpfEMN9vhpjfa6T0WYZpMqEBhCkYqwrEQTm-_Vlg-VKbgBXoqXDR8qLBwosLZK1f7mqdnL6uUal66AtMUuKzoAaRmSqV8cDOXdNCb55g4bjdFv21CrUoPPSsOGgfWbelZlQfA3S9/s400/DSCF3503.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="265" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Ferry crossing from Starcross to Exmouth, <br />
avoiding a long detour into Exeter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi672EjPpfEMN9vhpjfa6T0WYZpMqEBhCkYqwrEQTm-_Vlg-VKbgBXoqXDR8qLBwosLZK1f7mqdnL6uUal66AtMUuKzoAaRmSqV8cDOXdNCb55g4bjdFv21CrUoPPSsOGgfWbelZlQfA3S9/s1600/DSCF3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ1UpWGueQLiaFrKRMikZOoBPJAjAqJ-lwTziB6HpUU43we0OlbY_jQtctZ795PlED_YEVC3N0dDVOTihLC2MpietQ3v-5v9rHjfg6aUsiUwi38367LrPOAH3NY1QVEC5NCprMpR57pJ1/s1600/DSCF3509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ1UpWGueQLiaFrKRMikZOoBPJAjAqJ-lwTziB6HpUU43we0OlbY_jQtctZ795PlED_YEVC3N0dDVOTihLC2MpietQ3v-5v9rHjfg6aUsiUwi38367LrPOAH3NY1QVEC5NCprMpR57pJ1/s640/DSCF3509.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the most spectacular views I have EVER seen - no exaggeration!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z0hhIdl_hppjvOlEyH61uuCmaee5JmwAI6y229blJ8_kGzVG-N47M6-Qb55lP78YmL4yeIPzXdaZN95Sl477Jy8kAfv1go9mcQtmKOlcl2SB2wXj0EEYe-nqKMjbXE2jQGWjgd0kwydv/s1600/DSCF3520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z0hhIdl_hppjvOlEyH61uuCmaee5JmwAI6y229blJ8_kGzVG-N47M6-Qb55lP78YmL4yeIPzXdaZN95Sl477Jy8kAfv1go9mcQtmKOlcl2SB2wXj0EEYe-nqKMjbXE2jQGWjgd0kwydv/s640/DSCF3520.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of Jurassic coast East of Sidmouth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqrKhX1hZanbQpq-neHdZf2TlcSoAIahiQkRGE3gJGEhb1b-oD1toyL9tb7USobh-5ZLZgrywamszPUGdxQbL57Uzkgj41XWAvqOu238_ZiNz5WJvVD15ZWi4eHYOeC7LFrxFYH1gdJCu/s1600/DSCF3530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqrKhX1hZanbQpq-neHdZf2TlcSoAIahiQkRGE3gJGEhb1b-oD1toyL9tb7USobh-5ZLZgrywamszPUGdxQbL57Uzkgj41XWAvqOu238_ZiNz5WJvVD15ZWi4eHYOeC7LFrxFYH1gdJCu/s640/DSCF3530.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First night's camp just outside....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyme Regis harbour</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaVOGaalhMwxPDLRir51TkTSG32DVpUIf9CLiUsGD5c-UwVnZ6ehVSuIr0KSa_gZpJYqeqJOAPYeVpn3ZGdOuaQOfIx01rIAxerIEqgMkqSFv72Yz61kd1dOOpLKDo2yObTOyPHg3cSi3/s1600/DSCF3543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaVOGaalhMwxPDLRir51TkTSG32DVpUIf9CLiUsGD5c-UwVnZ6ehVSuIr0KSa_gZpJYqeqJOAPYeVpn3ZGdOuaQOfIx01rIAxerIEqgMkqSFv72Yz61kd1dOOpLKDo2yObTOyPHg3cSi3/s640/DSCF3543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing cliff 'Golden Cap' so named for prominent shape and shade of sandstone - highest cliff point on the entire South Coast of UK at 191 metres </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5tUzvBiCwKq-QyKshPph5Ef8OuXwPDQu2SArwsxhFjzT8SLEBLy2_3g1MqOw4qgjI_Rbbn-ZTuqy_J2h996UjCJfO9fOS64Ml5tp1jjc6Ag_tMXH75GFU4jcBe5txdNeJVoxcz_Vsniz/s1600/DSCF3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5tUzvBiCwKq-QyKshPph5Ef8OuXwPDQu2SArwsxhFjzT8SLEBLy2_3g1MqOw4qgjI_Rbbn-ZTuqy_J2h996UjCJfO9fOS64Ml5tp1jjc6Ag_tMXH75GFU4jcBe5txdNeJVoxcz_Vsniz/s640/DSCF3548.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see just how high golden cap is here. On a good day, you can see Dartmoor and top of the picture, all the way down to the end of Chesil Beach. Was my first foray away from the bike. I took my road bike off road for a couple of miles to get to the base of the 'cap' without puncturing, then gave my feet some fresh air. It was wet, so a really nice climb!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_YsR5jTjJdGatc4Ca8ZOIZCHy1JITl4SIdjI6ys7CJ5_E38dSzYTfp_ibfzhyJaphfr6gJcQRO-UNMpEH0uIMqcb5BSqSxvPxq_p0mrWpzb7LAfdi_mYL7xEhTwsYPs_Bqs2NmyXdWfi/s1600/DSCF3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_YsR5jTjJdGatc4Ca8ZOIZCHy1JITl4SIdjI6ys7CJ5_E38dSzYTfp_ibfzhyJaphfr6gJcQRO-UNMpEH0uIMqcb5BSqSxvPxq_p0mrWpzb7LAfdi_mYL7xEhTwsYPs_Bqs2NmyXdWfi/s640/DSCF3551.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's that Pillock?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92jHk5iAxzxPetaXFfoqlpthY97xpZFRV2IkAwATvvLdtZExZCNK4-pmKJ3U_pznfRSxiJcfkL4_hubzOgiVsAF_ypYHDIbbYzqbwMM66AWipvgD3UIrntzB93eek7LiALXV3Gj38s50Z/s1600/DSCF3565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92jHk5iAxzxPetaXFfoqlpthY97xpZFRV2IkAwATvvLdtZExZCNK4-pmKJ3U_pznfRSxiJcfkL4_hubzOgiVsAF_ypYHDIbbYzqbwMM66AWipvgD3UIrntzB93eek7LiALXV3Gj38s50Z/s640/DSCF3565.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland Sunset, Rainstorm at Sea - superb view. End of a long day, heading out to Portland Bill, best time to get a good ol' puncture is twilight. 4 miles off road earlier in the day and you puncture on the road. One of those evenings, as I also thought that two pieces of my equipment, including my navigation (Garmin) had failed. Luckily was still in good spirits post puncture and enjoyed heading out to the Lighthouse under the ominous skies. See below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUPD0ek-Dox5ZECwO3doPyLSfkIusq9M2ZpsSAQ9eB_c7CIdTI8ris9ezWoAvMfPxFNDgQs7H0kluKSyLAflm7UDYOHzbBmzU9WNQG0WtRCTWmpmPCcc4E5-Z9-gbfNzTAqbOfHpdF0l4/s1600/DSCF3567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUPD0ek-Dox5ZECwO3doPyLSfkIusq9M2ZpsSAQ9eB_c7CIdTI8ris9ezWoAvMfPxFNDgQs7H0kluKSyLAflm7UDYOHzbBmzU9WNQG0WtRCTWmpmPCcc4E5-Z9-gbfNzTAqbOfHpdF0l4/s640/DSCF3567.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland Bill - Beautiful moments... These storm clouds were rolling across the coastline for miles. I felt like I was the only person on the South coast out of the firing line as the storm passed along the mainland coast, leaving the tip of Portland with clear skies above.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsgiY9MqChEJUOwmpqmK6poArAUbg-ORSLdUBCooSq3kskVtxqYsKNYYoM1rbrQ-JQc0b95NLmtT48U8AVQnov82ZPVjsxVBhOalhcRTVxzLwZSpe9aWr6Rr-3mkHnD6xrB9ZzxSvobMJ/s1600/DSCF3573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsgiY9MqChEJUOwmpqmK6poArAUbg-ORSLdUBCooSq3kskVtxqYsKNYYoM1rbrQ-JQc0b95NLmtT48U8AVQnov82ZPVjsxVBhOalhcRTVxzLwZSpe9aWr6Rr-3mkHnD6xrB9ZzxSvobMJ/s640/DSCF3573.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd night - poor horses. I woke with a start in the early hours and frightened the hell out of that pair, who took flight. 8 o clock a lady parked across the road, came down, opened the gate, fed the horses and left. I said hello, she said hello, completely nonplussed by my presence. So refreshing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkBDidO_cBafcxZUgVAzoUFgHd260JAqzI0dYhr-B5dpowyT6UAhgdayeZ3tZ6D-p1mbs0p2pZtnE2kKMGz3wH3LgRWDW4w4EiU7RsyiFuoezJMubUivX6svqeI0do_ppXtVu3nsRNcM2/s1600/DSCF3574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkBDidO_cBafcxZUgVAzoUFgHd260JAqzI0dYhr-B5dpowyT6UAhgdayeZ3tZ6D-p1mbs0p2pZtnE2kKMGz3wH3LgRWDW4w4EiU7RsyiFuoezJMubUivX6svqeI0do_ppXtVu3nsRNcM2/s640/DSCF3574.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of image - Sleeping within spitting distance of ol' Bill. A highlight of the trip so far!!! Like this photo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfiehNsOh2hApWTVv1c-4lZTdoZgXxIWbvPLxPz41ZtM_qcw8h0RwW8ju_HKl4hwxIrvjeWNLb21JVCIzX28ChI64Cr8rXitp0vweEyK-CwyE4j7GvcHVQY_lSKpTFxqZtsx0kcq14QgH/s1600/DSCF3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfiehNsOh2hApWTVv1c-4lZTdoZgXxIWbvPLxPz41ZtM_qcw8h0RwW8ju_HKl4hwxIrvjeWNLb21JVCIzX28ChI64Cr8rXitp0vweEyK-CwyE4j7GvcHVQY_lSKpTFxqZtsx0kcq14QgH/s640/DSCF3580.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Met some cyclists in Wareham after passing the Saxon walled city defences, (now grassy mounds surrounding the city) .Garmin not working, they suggested a route down to Corfe castle where I could then get onto the Studland peninsula road, taking me all the way to the toll ferry,across to Sandbanks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZeuF_rXQt5h5JYG9zQF-h16PgQdVnkTXWFeca7IQ4n5-Lx9pF2gGhiw5mmV339BPpfFT0UwOUWBxQOdMggIL7sJd9dimNqCwD5gnGla5r4Qe_9uVMqV-A5MAtk3hEpg8xP6wK7iToGNk/s1600/DSCF3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZeuF_rXQt5h5JYG9zQF-h16PgQdVnkTXWFeca7IQ4n5-Lx9pF2gGhiw5mmV339BPpfFT0UwOUWBxQOdMggIL7sJd9dimNqCwD5gnGla5r4Qe_9uVMqV-A5MAtk3hEpg8xP6wK7iToGNk/s640/DSCF3590.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studland Peninsula. Amazing place! A cross between the new forest and the Gower peninsula. Felt like I was in Spain on checking out the beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGUdy_qAPDLx95ITheVeOoliUCI1DRljLxrNw9kRII04me7ktHqWx3YEVq54MovcEtbhnFB5Y9xwPmysrACVphARsO_MMpcGpYl0W_dO9Pq2fRXJNuLBbt3M18UAk52X_5832OQUjXQzh/s1600/DSCF3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGUdy_qAPDLx95ITheVeOoliUCI1DRljLxrNw9kRII04me7ktHqWx3YEVq54MovcEtbhnFB5Y9xwPmysrACVphARsO_MMpcGpYl0W_dO9Pq2fRXJNuLBbt3M18UAk52X_5832OQUjXQzh/s640/DSCF3599.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the long stretch along the promenade from Poole to ferry crossing at Mudeford, (totally flat riding), and from there, east to Lymington, I turned north into The New Forest, through Beaulieu, with the intention of staying at a friend Hannah's house in central Southampton. Nothing like a last minute phone call for a request to stay the night! Through The New Forest, take the advice of anyone suggesting that you stop at Bucklers Hard. A bit of a surreal place, but all the better for it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portchester Castle - Amazing ruins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosham - pronounced 'Bozzam'. I don't think I quite checked it out as I should have, but still appreciated the amazing little village. I continued my way round the Chichester harbour on a bit of a nostalgia trip, having spent much time down here, my dad being a frequenter of Chichester yacht club. I miss estuary mud! Got stuck in it when I was a toddler on an investigatory mission. Turns out, even Red wellies and bow legs can't help you from getting stuck in that shit!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMQqXan-BuYqaPkpuCy43kqH09yTvZED3FD_h2H_kB1r0pF5sh05pELhnZESIBX-8EwhCznZbZQ-BgARmnBtPuL0U5xxFnNK1MlHiI11ATLUH6icW8glJDDv3LJGhye1Tf5G7DoYCS0sS/s1600/DSCF3640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMQqXan-BuYqaPkpuCy43kqH09yTvZED3FD_h2H_kB1r0pF5sh05pELhnZESIBX-8EwhCznZbZQ-BgARmnBtPuL0U5xxFnNK1MlHiI11ATLUH6icW8glJDDv3LJGhye1Tf5G7DoYCS0sS/s640/DSCF3640.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brighton's dead pier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmrAcJj82xEJky3pzVLZHCBa_q5falnBKufoRYg_lLcuK-w6oNYmCdAulYFUJFCNQ_g-_dcvSYvBNhpSYYiGKr6IoG7PIAp867SKBsiAKxPeF5aL7iCwT_6Eld-OjqkdEcTcdrJ8J6mQD/s1600/DSCF3643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmrAcJj82xEJky3pzVLZHCBa_q5falnBKufoRYg_lLcuK-w6oNYmCdAulYFUJFCNQ_g-_dcvSYvBNhpSYYiGKr6IoG7PIAp867SKBsiAKxPeF5aL7iCwT_6Eld-OjqkdEcTcdrJ8J6mQD/s640/DSCF3643.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Alive one</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF9HkTLNHGWHv7VS7B6drxP3Lrz3WO4Jbkf0MLRo6vYuWsxcw18n96xZGk8d_JIly57tNTmDZFDWEXG-CB9h_Dawi3nTKr_rB3YF4vZ7kOMv2lvWgzNRw-B6zWuvFEbZu5T7zdH1qJUWq/s1600/DSCF3650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF9HkTLNHGWHv7VS7B6drxP3Lrz3WO4Jbkf0MLRo6vYuWsxcw18n96xZGk8d_JIly57tNTmDZFDWEXG-CB9h_Dawi3nTKr_rB3YF4vZ7kOMv2lvWgzNRw-B6zWuvFEbZu5T7zdH1qJUWq/s640/DSCF3650.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left Brighton on the morning of the Brighton marathon. A bit hectic but a cool experience!</td></tr>
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More days of riding the flat part of UK's coast. The original intention of the trip was to get to know the UK better. I have already learnt a major truth that I was unaware of. Much of our coastline is flat. Having grown up spending much time in the west country I had grown used to the steep undulating nature of the South West coast of the UK. I suppose I just assumed the rest of the UK was the same, without really thinking. How wrong you can be! </div>
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From Lyme Regis east, generally speaking the UK's coastline is flat. I am told this is the case up to pretty much just below Yorkshire. Seems weird, a flat coastline, but when you understand the origins of the coastline, it is not so strange ></div>
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> I am reading a book by Nick Weston, (of BBC's 'Coast' fame). He explains how the english channel ocurred when the ice retreated off the North of the UK mainline. The weight of the ice that was once rested on the North of the UK was immense and after it's retreat, it lead to a see saw motion of the land that now makes up the British Isles. This resulted in the North rising and the South losing altitude. Along with the warming (which lead to the retreat of the ice), sea levels rose and so with these two combined, water started filling the lowlands [then created] between what we now know as Northern France and Southern England. This continued in from the tip of Cornwall, eastwards up into the North Sea. The final blow was the submerging of a land bridge that used to exist off East Anglia that is now known as 'Doggerland'. The name relates to the naming of sea or 'weather areas' that you will recognise from the shipping forcast. "Dogger, Fisher, German bight..." Cool to see what the land was like then. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1fKf75-RxUHXJUEnylJAZSDGYQWsPmoYjRUmIUohzLjAPHg4srX0Ys-LjLiz6GDeFlszGU6vIjFhTC6vF0pq64SGf4JfmudixQJN65-sOJ-mLrUiIUz0ikH7hJVqAeq_-2LzNII_HqBl/s1600/doggerland2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1fKf75-RxUHXJUEnylJAZSDGYQWsPmoYjRUmIUohzLjAPHg4srX0Ys-LjLiz6GDeFlszGU6vIjFhTC6vF0pq64SGf4JfmudixQJN65-sOJ-mLrUiIUz0ikH7hJVqAeq_-2LzNII_HqBl/s640/doggerland2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So long way round of saying why much of the South coast and lower East coast is flat - the relatively low lying and flat landscape allowed the sea to cut us off from mainland europe. And the remaining coastline is not that much higher than sea level.</div>
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Anyway, more days of riding the flat coast took me into Kent and the White cliffs - an obvious exception to the flat coast comments above.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of off road up to Beachy Head</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice scene in Hastings! Somewhere I've never been before but enjoyed!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8w9Lth_FAcNtC6-ZfuXkZNe6Zbkh9GcMlHKcEamW1Nx5yfhe8asfewU1jGaqN-TZov1WJFL7FsIEnCqgPcPzw3zT4iQY5dJ-eDq-DpY_L7uP-UxlfqWhi2RLR_XPT4V8F5doAohzH-Wo/s1600/DSCF3699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr48ZJP37OAKLgY6TT189MZpVm7pEWIK03VYRK8ClNq7Bby4SwnIOAtAptVJXcO6J_e2NoTKvN-DqshYXV84EE0_evdBnqcJa2ULdDx9r2td-StsfU63rEPkGPa1gSnn2uz6j3_cnzgsO/s1600/DSCF3700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr48ZJP37OAKLgY6TT189MZpVm7pEWIK03VYRK8ClNq7Bby4SwnIOAtAptVJXcO6J_e2NoTKvN-DqshYXV84EE0_evdBnqcJa2ULdDx9r2td-StsfU63rEPkGPa1gSnn2uz6j3_cnzgsO/s320/DSCF3700.JPG" width="213" /></a><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8w9Lth_FAcNtC6-ZfuXkZNe6Zbkh9GcMlHKcEamW1Nx5yfhe8asfewU1jGaqN-TZov1WJFL7FsIEnCqgPcPzw3zT4iQY5dJ-eDq-DpY_L7uP-UxlfqWhi2RLR_XPT4V8F5doAohzH-Wo/s320/DSCF3699.JPG" width="320" /> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awwwwwwwwww</td></tr>
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This part of the trip was lovely. Ruins at Winchelsea (above) followed by Rye below. Absolutely lovely parts of England worth a visit if ever in the area. Superb!</div>
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They were both parts of the confederation of Cinque <i>( pro - 'sink')</i> ports. The main ports were Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich. There were also 7 limbs towns and 2 'antient towns', Winchelsea and Rye as mentioned. > <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">"<i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The five ports are supported by the two so-called "Antient Towns" of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye,_East_Sussex" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;" title="Rye, East Sussex">Rye</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchelsea" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;" title="Winchelsea">Winchelsea</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> whose councils traditionally maintained defence contingents for the realm of England."</span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rye gunnery level</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately the wonderful locations couldn't help the fact that it rained on me and then froze overnight. Worst night outdoors I have ever had! It was pretty unsafe actually! Oh well,<i> if you live</i>, you learn huh?</td></tr>
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Then I had a bit of a mishap. Certainly an eventful few days! Coming up to a roundabout my front brake went with the wheel as I breaked and pulled clean out of it's mount. Scared the monkeys out of me and I went careering across a roundabout. Not great! Having lost the allen key bolt, I had to go searching in the next town. They are not the most common thing in the bicycling world. I was lucky! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View over water from Ramsgate</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely Broadstairs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvO-v7ct5OfPFIpUQFfU-6IlhCj_riRdWG44a8u4Y4SkmbLSQObMFMuZ3ZSb_82fUtON1P2ihP64cAOMfMvKiX_n7v6s-fpzGEH4iS9QUAmviL_E9B3Xav94MVSNFfuhsHF70mNm334KL/s1600/DSCF3753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvO-v7ct5OfPFIpUQFfU-6IlhCj_riRdWG44a8u4Y4SkmbLSQObMFMuZ3ZSb_82fUtON1P2ihP64cAOMfMvKiX_n7v6s-fpzGEH4iS9QUAmviL_E9B3Xav94MVSNFfuhsHF70mNm334KL/s640/DSCF3753.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After terrible freezing night, I had to stay in a room overnight in Margate. Just what was needed, cheap and easy accommodation and a good sleep!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitstable Bakery - These ladies kept me company for half an hour whilst taking stock after a very wet morning. As long as it is warm enough, I don't half enjoy cycling in the wet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So when you decide to undertake something like this, where do you start? Small book is the pocket guide (to take with me), big one is the more comprehensive version of the same book, for reference purposes. 'THE MOST AMAZING PLACES ON BRITAIN'S COAST'. Straight to the point really! I went through the whole thing so as to order the pocket guide because annoyingly, it is in alphabetical order, not ordered geographically. It was worth doing to make sure I hadn't missed any places I might be interested in. Still, over 1000 places took quite some reading.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A_7ZdMki4l5j_c4R0B5orOyHXxWwu3OCzl1TaCYj_7mN1a1ynU98_ZB6cfhK6KRkiXC1LjQ5eo7b5QPnMahgkbyf5brn0b_bmjyiJEsQcb0i5Jv5O7pLRiPj8Yuw5dskUIIkAD_9Jwap/s1600/DSCF3926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A_7ZdMki4l5j_c4R0B5orOyHXxWwu3OCzl1TaCYj_7mN1a1ynU98_ZB6cfhK6KRkiXC1LjQ5eo7b5QPnMahgkbyf5brn0b_bmjyiJEsQcb0i5Jv5O7pLRiPj8Yuw5dskUIIkAD_9Jwap/s640/DSCF3926.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southend Pier - too bloody far out to take photos. Over a mile long, I mean honestly!</td></tr>
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I put the camera away and my knee had seized, so Southend station > back home for recovery. I can't wait to continue! These photos remind me just what you can experience in a trip like this. Pretty intensive!!!</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-65100913568423845652012-04-29T06:12:00.001-07:002012-04-29T06:13:53.660-07:00Major delay moanIt is quite possible, no, probable that I am going to have delay this trip a matter of weeks if not months. My recurring knee injury has reared its head again. And again a wonderful plan has been put on hold due to this problem.<br />
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I wonder to myself now, will I ever be able to properly take part in long distance tours or is my cycling future going to be solely based around short distances... Maybe I'll take up time trialling more seriously!<br />
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Either way, this is supremely frustrating. I am all ready to go. I am sitting here just waiting for a last item to charge fully, because with the weather forecast as it is, I am unlikely to get much in the way of solar charge in the next couple of days. Suppose it doesn't really matter as it is unlikely to be a matter of days, before I am forced to quit. I expect to get a few miles down the road before the pain kicks in and I am forced to turn round and submit to weeks/months of off bicycle recovery.<br />
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Not ideal when you've planned to take up your next few months on a cycle tour!<br />
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It took months to recover last time. I even had a professional bike fitting in the hope to solve the problem, but to no avail.
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Anyway, it is likely that those of you reading this are active, like minded people and as such have probably had experience of injury, so it is not necessary that I spend time explaining why it is so frustrating! IT JUST IS!<br />
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You never know, I might feel miraculously healed today and set off on the 4000 mile trip with no issues! Here's hoping!!!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-2367091607868197582012-04-03T15:15:00.000-07:002012-04-03T15:17:22.691-07:00UK Circumnavigation by bike - Not left yet!I made a sensible decision yesterday and decided I needed a few more days to recover and sort myself out. I was having a conversation with my mother and out of the conversation came a great idea, that my grandmother's house in South Devon, which we are visiting for Easter and is on the sea would be a great start and end point! So instead of riding down there - starting the route at Southampton - I am going to go in the car with mum and start at the end of our Easter family gathering. Much happier with this, because then I can actually say goodbye to my younger bro as well!<br />
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I am very glad I made this decision in the end, because on going for a test ride yesterday evening, my packing solution failed within 100 metres of leaving home! Not great! I realised that I needed a wider base for the top of the rack, for my <a href="http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16268&category_id=295">Alpkit Gourdon</a> to sit on.</div>
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So where do you find an appropriate base?<br />
Well in the shed of course! An old Skool 'seen better days' waterski.</div>
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Initially I just cut it to the size in the photo above, but it was half a kilo and it was a bit disappointing that after so much work and expense acquiring lightweight equipment, I'd be adding this lump to the bike. So I began 4 hours of what can only be described as ultralight bodging!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx95G-D_cigmeU9r7WylXeLGGYSJxEtofPBfh2xg36FZ1-AFt-AYKR45Bcl5WZ3gsC1DC55LfLlzWHS-BwEMmee9ch0-kqHFaQWaCCliGervBZRAm9d12uuEEyYonJvW8695Xyxf9-WEAr/s1600/DSCF3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx95G-D_cigmeU9r7WylXeLGGYSJxEtofPBfh2xg36FZ1-AFt-AYKR45Bcl5WZ3gsC1DC55LfLlzWHS-BwEMmee9ch0-kqHFaQWaCCliGervBZRAm9d12uuEEyYonJvW8695Xyxf9-WEAr/s640/DSCF3433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Great fun and great success! Sawing, drilling, sanding - All my hard work culminating in an under 250 gram base, satisfactorily secured and after testing, totally capable of supporting my pack.
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I decided that I'd better go for a dress rehearsal, so having worked out a better means of securing the Gourdon with bungees, I set off with all weight and equipment. </div>
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Three hours later, having covered some good miles, some steep ups, steep downs, tight turns, bumpy roads and four torrential downpours at 4 degrees above zero, I can safely say it was a pretty thorough test! </div>
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My touring set up passed with flying colours, so I can actually leave now! I feel far better prepared now!</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-37775996273855329382012-04-01T11:25:00.002-07:002012-04-01T11:26:08.000-07:00Circumnavigate the UK by bike<div>
Best man duties are out of the way!!! RELIEF AND FREEDOM. Wouldn't change it for anything! A superb day and a happy couple, just quite stressful and nerve racking!</div>
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What this does mean though is that I can fully concentrate on the upcoming cycle tour.</div>
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So I might or might not be leaving tomorrow to start a circumnavigation of the UK. The intention is not in doubt, it is just departure date. I don't really know what the departure is dependant on. I am on a complete comedown from yesterdays wedding and as such, can't really consider my situation fully! I am in need of some down time.<br />
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If I start tomorrow, there will be a short section down to South Devon, before I spend some time with family for Easter.<br />
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I then intend to head South West from there, continuing round the coast.<br />
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I expect my trip to be punctuated with detours because of various other wedding commitments. So I don't expect to do it in one sitting, but as good as. As soon as weddings are done, then I shall continue.<br />
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Of course the whole thing is dependant on whether my knee can take the repetitive nature of cycle touring, so to a degree, we are just going to have to wait and see. I am not in a rush though! Plus, I have managed to sort the gearing out on my bike, so it is much more appropriate for touring and my knee.<br />
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Having also toyed with multiple packing options, I have now made the choice to dispense with the panniers and the trailer, over the minimalist and lightweight drybag on rack solution. I purchased a Gourdon 30 drybag rucksack from Alpkit and the idea is to use this as the only main bag and bungee it on top of the rear rack. I stole this idea along with many others from a great read, <a href="http://ultralightcycling.blogspot.co.uk/">Ultralight bicycle touring</a>. Check it out!<br />
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This means that I will not have multiple unweildy pannier bags and will be able to lock the bike up, stick the rucksack on my back and go exploring when the mood takes me. If this plan works, it allows me much more freedom. Granted I won't be able to carry as much, but this isn't a bad thing. More stuff equals more weight and with several thousand miles on the agenda, the less load the better!<br />
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Anyway, if you don't see ant posts for a while, you know why!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-40112376690387428472012-03-20T14:34:00.001-07:002012-03-20T14:34:46.725-07:00Slacklining - Conditioning and fun?!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is a photo of the result of half an hour of set up in a wetsuit.<div>
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What fun! Swimming the rolled up slackline over before fastening both ends around barnicle covered rocks. (Not the best thing for slackline longevity - protection needed for next time!) </div>
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The shame was, that after the successful set up, I was unable to get best use out of it because the tide got too low! I'll definately be going back though!</div>
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"<i>Have you noticed how much better your balance is since starting to slackline?</i>", my brother queried, as saw me doing a quad stretch after a cycle ride. I hadn't thought about it, but it clearly has helped! This got me thinking.</div>
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Slacklining is an interesting activity. Aside from being absurdly addictive, you'd never expect it to be so tiring! I suppose it stands (or falls) to reason, that with some dramatic whole body movements, constant minute adjustments and mental concentration in keeping your balance, you are actually doing an exhausting amount. </div>
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In being such a work out, it is a fantastic way to condition your body, also utilising unusual muscles. Full body stabilisation is something we are often lacking in our sedentary lifestyles. Conditioning; posture, core work, balance etc (all intrinsically linked), is becoming a major area of significance for modern athletes and in recreation. Just look at the yoga boom!</div>
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I was watching the Milan - San Remo, the Strade Bianchi and the start of the 'classics' road racing, and professional road cycling season the other day and thinking to myself how the multi million pound teams should start introducing slacklining sessions in team training camps. If anything, it would be efficient - combining your conditioning workouts and team building exercises into one. It is superbly social and fun!</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-16483855457719250572012-03-16T12:15:00.000-07:002012-03-20T14:00:02.538-07:00Therm-a-rest prolite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a seemingly quality piece of gear! It looked great on opening the delivery box. What a difference good packaging can make! I suppose one would naturally think of an inflatable mattress as a fragile item, when you are a wild camping enthusiast. Certainly that is the feeling I had - and one consolidated by the endless mention of the risk of punctures in use. Though certainly, on first receiving the mattress it seemed like a great looking mat and felt a bit more robust than expected.<br />
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I decided on going with the prolite and it's lesser insulation rating over the prolite plus. I figured the 300gram weight saving and pack size would be beneficial come the warmer months and when the ground is cold and hard, my plan was to combine the prolite with a multimat adventure for extra warmth and protection for the inflatable.<br />
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First test was a cycle down to South Devon. A couple of wild camps on route allowed me a proper initial test. Still being early March I thought combining the thermarest with the multimat was sensible for warmth. Disappointingly, despite the extra protection I hoped it might provide, it seems that my mattress has punctured within two uses. Not a great start!<br />
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Luckily, it is a small leak and still allows for a few hours sleep before I am required to re-inflate it once again. Not terrible, but not great, particularly when considering the premium price tag of such a product.<br />
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I suppose next step is to do as cascade designs recommend and get the thing into the bath and work out whether or not it a warranty issue or whether an attempt at self repair is required. </div>
</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-74850392433902068382012-03-13T07:12:00.002-07:002012-03-13T16:07:12.186-07:00A trailer for my bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've just spent two weeks down in the West Country, cycling down, as part of my recent 'man of leisure' existence. On the advice of a friend I considered a trailer instead of doubling up on the panniers and getting a front pair as well. Being that I am hoping to give up my car at some point, I thought about a trailer's potential for carrying heavy and bulky items that panniers simply can't.<br />
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With this in mind I ended up going with the trailer option as one of my first intentions was to get my surfboard down to South Devon without a car. Step forward the Burley cargo flatbed.<br />
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It was a tough choice, as aside from it being expensive, I was originally thinking that for my upcoming travels, I'd want to travel lighter than a trailer may allow. However, past a point, no matter how many reviews and other's experiences you read, you are never going to know what will work best for you. I suppose the only way I will know is to - at some point - purchase the front panniers and find out for myself; then make a choice based on experience. It could be that they will be appropriate for different uses, lighter panniers for long distance touring, trailer for general use.</div>
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This decision all came quite late, even for me. I bought the trailer at 5pm on the day of leaving and started riding at 10pm. It was brilliant, an experience you can only really get if you have no time constraints/plans. My first use of it was pretty dramatic, carrying a heavy and long load for an intended 260 miles of hilly English countryside. A baptism of fire you could say!</div>
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So what is towing a trailer behind your bike like. Well I have to say, so far my experience has been superb and the trailer has performed admirably. Aside from the obvious and expected: weight increase; width increase; slow speed and off the bike manouverability issues, it has been a pleasure.</div>
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Often times, weight and slight rattling aside, you are unaware that you are towing it is that smooth. Stability is fantastic. Trailer manufacturers suggest top speeds for safety in respect of stability. I think mine is 25 kph (18 ish miles per hour), I suppose as disclaimer type recommendation. However, slowly building up speeds, the Burley cargo flatbed was very stable with speeds above 30 mph, even when accounting for corners and man hole covers, potholes and bumps etc. As long as you are sensible in your riding you should be fine! The other thing to note is that I was particularly careful with weight distribution and packing the trailer, so how it is packed and type of cargo is likely to have an affect. A brilliant purchase so far though!</div>
</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-25933063371933158492012-02-20T17:50:00.000-08:002012-02-20T17:58:11.992-08:00Less equipmentFrom this title, you may think that the subject would be lightweight or minimalism. Well, not quite, though in my rambling style it is quite possible this will come up.<br />
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It is actually a comment on my expectation, that I would talk about equipment on this blog far more. I think that was the plan originally, to spend time commenting on or reviewing equipment. However, so far, for the most part, posts have been more about experiences.<br />
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Interestingly, I think people like to see information about equipment on blogs. I think that is why I started reading blogs. Useful real world insight into what works and what doesn't.<br />
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I realise of course that equipment is intrinsically linked to experience with most activities and so I found recently in Dartmoor, where substandard equipment played a large part in that experience. There were a few negatives that lead to an interesting, (not so far as 'bad') time.<br />
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And so for want of being less cold and having better nights sleep, I have been looking at updating my 'sleeping system'. And with that, here come some posts on equipment.<br />
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<b>First up - Sleeping bag!</b><br />
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I have been surprised by how good my £40 basic synthetic sleeping bag has been, keeping me cosy in some very cold, messy, damp, even sodden circumstances. Particularly being that it is coming up 8 years old, has a comfort rating of 0 degrees is huge in pack size and is 2.3 kilos in weight. It has done me well, but recently it has had it greatest tests, (particularly with the bivi bag), often being wet, and being in minus temperatures many times and a couple of times both wet and minus. I can't begin to complain, seeing that I am still alive and was asking a lot of it. I think the biggest factor even now was that the sleeping mat was sub standard in these conditions. Given a better mat, I am sure that the bag wouldn't have been such a problem.<br />
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Still with intended cycle touring coming up, over 2 kilos of bag and a huge pack size, I have convinced myself that it should be retired, or at least put in the reserve team as back up for those occasions, when I might stay at a mates on the floor or something and don't want to take my posh bag, which I really hope to look after.<br />
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So, introducing - after way too many hours on the internet for an active outdoors lover - the Cumulus Quantum 350 > left hand zip.<br />
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I have to say this was one of the items I have spent most time mulling over in a long history of equipment buying. I think I can even go so far as to say that I don't even think I had this much cognitive dissonance (purchase guilt) after purchasing my £[almost two grand - ouch] road bike. However, when it comes to safety, health, amount of usage, I am likely to get out of it, then it is great value even at the best part of £250 quid.<br />
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Down vs synthetic?!! I read one site, where the guy said, don't even consider synthetic. I think this is a foolish comment! If you are expecting your bag to get wet, for much of it's usage, then you'd be foolish not to choose synthetic. Just watch Leo Houlding and Jason Pickles film, 'The Prophet' about their free ascent of a new line of El Cap if you want to see some truly 'how to make your sleeping bag wet' conditions. <br />
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In my case I was very much thinking major damp, bordering on wet would be the case, in that I am using a bivi a lot. However, I came to the conclusion, that I just need to make better choices in pitching and set up and that if the issue remained, I'd consider lightweight tent instead. Yes it would be a bit heavier, but then if you've carried a wet sleeping bag around you'll see how this will negate the issue on a wet trip and I know that piece of mind is worth I think -400 grams anyway! ;-) I am also sure that with the better warmth rating of a new bag, I will be able to vent the bivi better and so avoid the terrible condensation issues I have had before. It is just that foot box that I'd worry about.<br />
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Then I also made the choice to spend the extra to also get a water repellent outer, hopefully solving much of the damp/condensation issues. I think you can account for an extra (£60 minimum) to get Pertex (or equivalent) water repellent outer on a down bag, so explaining the price disparity below between something like the Rab and the Alpkit Pipedream.<br />
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My thoughts went as below ><br />
<i>- Require a lightweight, synthetic bag > Found PHD or 'PHDesigns Mountain Software' > Zeta synthetic bag. 1200grams (-5) and £210. There are very few other similar options I could find.</i><br />
<i>- Alternative was to consider mates' suggestion- Rab down bags he'd seen with a water resistant outer. </i><i>So best option seemed to be the Alpine 400 1010 grams (-5). £240</i><br />
<i>- Then saw PHDs ultralight down range and amazed how light they could get. E.g. Minim 400 - 670 grams (-5). £265 - Made the Rab, at the same price look obsolete.</i><br />
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<i>-Ahhhhhh too much money- why don't I just get a non water repellent down bag like the Alpkit Pipedream 400 which is almost equivalent in weight and warmth rating, just without repellent outer for £150? Well because it is still £150 and it will probably be getting damp a fair bit so ruined and useless. That's why!</i><br />
<i>- Last I came across Cumulus and the quantum range. The quantum 350 £240 (-6), with a very similar weight to the PHD Minim, same warmth rating but with the 'Diamond grade' polish goose down with the higher loft rating - widely renowned as the best shit out there! </i><br />
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It became a straight fight between the Cumulus and the PHD<br />
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Quantum 350 Minim 400<br />
(-6) vs (-5) > but a more reserved rating at PHD<br />
870 vs 800 fill power<br />
665-695 vs 670 grams<br />
Pertex Quantum vs Drishell (claimed best) outer<br />
239 vs £265 + (£24 for drishell)<br />
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The decider came when I read the comments on the Quantum pack size being super small and the fact that the already more expensive £265 PHD required a premium for the MX outer or £24 more pounds for the desired Drishell outer.<br />
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Decision made! Finally!<br />
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So adding to the above backwards and forwards, the unsure sense of whether synthetic would be better, the review finding, the general reading up with regards to loft rating etc and the further technical materials learning i.e Pertex and Drishell + opinions, bag issues, pros and cons, real world trial, even comment on how optimistic different manufacturers were with ratings, sourcing, recycling and delivery consideration and of course over all cost, this must have accounted for a good 15 hours on the web. Gosh, I am so happy that is done and likewise that reliving it in blog form is done also!<br />
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Is it worth it?!! HELL YES! Tomorrow morning, I am going to have a 700 ish gram -6 rated water repellent tiny super bag! Sweet! More outdoors and earth and world appreciation to come people!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-43440199887517133032012-02-08T05:35:00.000-08:002012-02-08T05:57:30.990-08:00Beans, Beans, lentils, beans and beans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"<i>About 10 minutes I recon...</i><br />
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<i>"...Though I always say 10 minutes even if it's more. People get really annoyed at me"</i>, says Frank with a sly smile as we sip tea at the bottom of the slope leading up to Sittaford Tor. </div>
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Earlier on, we'd trekked through some damp forest, we'd climbed Bellever Tor and then searched unsuccessfully for a Cairn and Cist, the latter of which we were not familiar with.</div>
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We'd hiked across to Postbridge, crossed the clapper bridge and then been drawn by the call of Dartmoor's best Jail Ale. </div>
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We couldn't really justify ale from a miles covered point of view, but if you've been fortunate enough to taste Jail Ale before then you'll understand that really you don't need an excuse! If you haven't tasted one yet, then I suggest you try to, even if it means a long journey to Dartmoor. A couple of pints [in the cosy Warren House Inn] later - having found out that a Cist is a burial ground - we made a tipsy exit onto the moor north of the B3212.</div>
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We head along the exposed moorland towards our destination atop Sittaford Tor, passing what we assume is a few groups of Duke of Edinburgh school kids. We find the thinnest section of bog to cross, though there are moments of unexpected foot dunking. All in good spirits though, you can't help but laugh, whether looking on or whether you are the unlucky one to have done it. I slip and stack it once following Anthony, both of us experiencing that desperate feeling when your balance goes past the tipping point, at which a heavy rucksack just takes over, assisting your unrelenting progress towards an unstable and wet floor.</div>
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Climbing away from the bog we spend what feels like an age on a false flat, heading up to Sittaford Tor. With the darkness coming in, we are eager to set up camp and get some beans, beans, lentils, beans and beans on the stove. Once the tent is set up, I do the classic and sit in the entrance putting our veggie concoction together and manage to get some lovely if slightly blurred shots of the moon through the mist. It was superbly bright!</div>
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Despite being at 538 metres, I have to say Sittaford is one of the least inspiring areas of high exposed rock on Dartmoor to be given the 'Tor' title - yet for the Tors' own lack of beauty, it remains a fantastic place to enjoy the surrounding views, particularly on a crisp February morning in the half light, when the stone walls and less exposed features of the baron moor are highlighted by a light dusting of snow.</div>
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'<i>I've seen the moor as normal and seen it fully snow covered,</i>" Frank says as he looks around, "<i>but never like this! It's a whole different place".</i></div>
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We are in that unfortunate position where we want to enjoy the views, but having just got out of the tents we are required to pack up quick sharp and get moving for the sakes of our own health and well being. The temperature is definitely in the minus' and having camped the previous night as well and having waded through the bogs yesterday, there are many clothing items on the wrong side of damp.</div>
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I decide to take an alternative route this morning, following the ridge slightly South West of the tor, before swinging East back towards the main trail, crossing the low ground/valley floor/bog and ending up east of the river, to then continue directly south, back into Postbridge and then on to Bellever. </div>
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Back to the car and back to London. Shame! An awesome weekend. Next time, we all intend to cover more miles, but there is plenty of time for that. I definately know that after two very cold nights, I am going to be sorting myself out with a new sleeping bag and mat for the next trip. Not very nice being cold is it?! </div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-16435844956751231512012-02-01T14:58:00.000-08:002012-02-01T15:00:38.330-08:00SlackliningAfter talking to my friend Cat about starting climbing, she sent me a video about something I had not seen before. Slacklining!<br />
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All it took was for my brother to tell me out of the blue that he had a random opportunity to try slack lining, to see 3 mins later, by chance that Cat and her boyfriend had just done their first session on a slack line in a london park and I have convinced myself that slacklining is for me.<br />
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Time for a new activity!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-52167439601297773712012-01-27T06:02:00.000-08:002012-01-30T06:33:08.682-08:00Dartmoor experiences<em>Update - So a weather warning has been put in place. Supposedly, this week, we are going to have a cold snap, centred on the South West and Wales - Dartmoor gets a direct mention. </em><span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/30/britain-freeze-snow"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/30/britain-freeze-snow</span></a></span><br />
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<em>It so happens that I have a tendency to organise hiking trips, only for it to materialise that dangerous weather is expected specifically for organised destination, on that particular date. It happened three times by coincidence last year in a total of 4 organised trips across the winter. We haven't called one off yet and generally I have had a pretty memorable one on each of these occasions, so we are gonna make sure we are prepared for the worst and go for it I recon.</em><br />
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We head to Dartmoor soon. The infamous <a href="http://anthonyanimal.blogspot.com/">animal</a> and I. We are meeting my mate Frank, or Will as people call him now - long story - and one of his good friends. As Frank said himself the other day, considering we live so close and have such similar interests, it a shame we don't meet up more. We have tried several thousand times to do a hiking trip, each time one or both of us is unable to do it for one reason or another. Fingers crossed this time we'll be able to follow the plans through and head down to the South West.<br />
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One of my favourite ever walks was when I headed down to Dartmoor to meet Frank/Will and his group of friends, but managed not to meet them. The plan was to contact him when I got down there, but being used to signal whereever in the flatlands around London, we overlooked the fact that once both of us were in the steep Dartmoor valleys, neither of us was likely to have phone signal. Needless to say we ended up within a mile of each other, but didn't come across each other in the 24 hours I was there. Classic!<br />
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I made the best of a bad situation and just went for an explore. 14 miles later, I arrived back at my car in twilight having had a truly awesome day! It was one of those days where I was in such good condition and spirit, that I was walking along beside a river and just decided I felt like running, so ran for a while. It was brilliant! I ended up crossing a rather treacherous stepping stone bridge over the swollen River Dart and spent some time just sitting and listening to its meanderings. Wonderful sound! I met some great people along the way and with significant gradient change, was happy that it was a hard fought 14 miles.<br />
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If a trip with my good friends can end up getting anywhere close to that day, then we are in for a treat. I look forward to it! And in the spirit of intrepid exploration, we are just going to walk for three days, bivvying down as we please and see where we end up. I'm gonna take my climbing shoes and hope that we come across some good craggy tors as well. Here's hoping!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-85252032781534285772012-01-20T14:29:00.000-08:002012-01-22T11:00:08.955-08:00Taking stock 2 - If you make a promise to yourself...Odd as it is, at the minute I feel tired, lethargic and run down. I am the least fit I have been in a long time because of a lack of strenuous activity, yet I feel as fatigued as though finishing a multi-month focused training program. I don't doubt two weeks of man flu have not helped in this, but it is an overiding feeling of tiredness.<br />
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I have not ridden my bike much at all recently, which is odd as in previous years, my focus, much to my own and everyone's surprise has been on winter training, braving the cold and wet to be fit for the spring, only not to benefit from all that hard work - either unable to ride through injury or just by choice for an unknown reason. Maybe my lack of riding this winter boads well for an enjoyable summer, though I feel particularly slow and unfit in my main sport.<br />
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Running, a sport that I vowed I would never subject my body to has now become a major activity for me, in recent times probably holding station as my main activity, so explaining my lack of cycling.</div>
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Starting up any new sport will bring with it enough fatigue and physical adjustment, not to allow you to overdo it, and so in getting used to running it seems I have been unable to fit riding in around it without overstepping the mark fatigue wise.</div>
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With cycling, I can push myself, because I have years of conditioning, but with running, not only am I taking it on more seriously than ever before, but I have started barefoot running technique, utilising muscles that I never have before and in the process, I have started from an even lower level.</div>
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Eitherway, trail running is something I am enjoying more than I ever thought I could. I feel it is a particularly healthy for my mental state to have an activity like running purely for enjoyment and cycling more for the competitive side. This may change, but as it is now, I am enjoying this balance. This is not to say I won't try and run fast sometimes. If it feels right and enjoyable to do so, then why not?! If it feels right and enjoyable to do so then I'll run off track or stop at a good view, whereas I might be a bit more disciplined with the cycling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqFiEItSaklcN_292_B2TZoZJvV4EktjVb6TQj8eznuFuodMHBtha7vi7hLzDkHrpQwmXTXevlzOGsWAhJBNArXl8mYXDBOUOr7kYDvIBqOKu1PrbHH1uy1OBZgJHgkzd_6x_uA3ho_w_/s1600/surf+invert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqFiEItSaklcN_292_B2TZoZJvV4EktjVb6TQj8eznuFuodMHBtha7vi7hLzDkHrpQwmXTXevlzOGsWAhJBNArXl8mYXDBOUOr7kYDvIBqOKu1PrbHH1uy1OBZgJHgkzd_6x_uA3ho_w_/s640/surf+invert.jpg" width="640" /></a>Weight - so having hit my target weight of 11 stone (even reaching 10, 13 at one point) during the summer I very quickly put it back on since then. Back up to my heaviest for a while at 11 stone 7. I am now back on the way down, being around 11,5/4. It is a good task in itself to stay disciplined enough to lose weight, but as mentioned probably harder since I've been doing less activity. The most important thing to realise is that generally we westerners over eat. Shifting your mindset to eat less and smaller portions is a challenge, but once adjusted, it is fine and in fact, for me, I feel more cormfortable.</div>
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Climbing, what a great fun sport. Hard though! The mental aspect, physical and fear factor all combine. After my 3rd session I had week long tendonitis. I think I've got over the worst of that now after another light session. Heading to Brighton to climb with my brother tomorrow. He has just started attempting 6b climbs, after one term at uni. I am having trouble on 5s and have no idea of how doing 6 grades is possible. Watching videos of people doing 8c's, I am looking on in wonder. It is very rare that I am amazed by human feats in sport after watching day after day of tour de france and more recently ultra marathons, but the extreme short term physicality of climbing, blows my mind. I am very excited to be introducing a friend to it tomorrow. I very much hope he likes it!<br />
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Climbing is also an interesting experience for me. In my life so far, I have generally got to a pretty good level in sports pretty quickly. I think I am lucky to be able to adapt fast. However, climbing is a different matter. Granted it is early days, even by my adaptation standards, but I might have found my sporting nemisis (after golf) which inspires me quite a lot. A further challenge, as if it wasn't hard enough already! The ultimate goal is to get onto the rockfaces outdoors. Outdoors, outdoors, outdoors.</div>
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There is also the change to not eating meat. Much has been written about this, so there is no point in going into it here. My diet has been going that way for a while now, so not as drastic a change as I'd first imagined. The only situations I have had to actively consider this change have been when there were meaty 'nibbles' at christmas, when we were out and free bacon sarnies were brought out and yesterday when my mum suggested sausage and mash. Now that really hurt! Otherwise, not to tough so far!</div>
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Simple enough to say that I see it as a step in the right direction. Eventually it may go further. I was gonna say "I don't know if I could do without eggs", but then I spent years as a Carnivore, saying I'd could never be a veggie and would never listen to dance music. Every time I listen to the Thirty seconds to Mars song where the geezer says,<em> "If you make a promise to yourself, you have to keep it"</em>, I think about how his words are absolute twoddle. I would love to talk to the guy and suggest that he might consider an alternative, <em>"If you make a promise to yourself, you should look at the circumstances in which you made that promise, work out whether you were just being a naive douchebag and decide from there whether you should keep that promise. It is important in hindsight to review that promise, considering whether change in you, has made you realise that you should very rarely make promises to yourself. Simply make the best decision in the moment with the information you have available to you."</em> I don't know if that would have fitted well in the song. I hope that wasn't too righteous a paragraph!</div>
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That probably was enough to justify my search for a seemingly 'profound' thought I always hope to eeeeek out of these posts. So there we are, a snapshot of Gandalf as he exists in activity and condition now. Man, back ache. Time for bed me thinks!<br />
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Oh and my biodegradable plastic shoes arrived today. More on that soon!</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-6915557971724105582012-01-14T08:12:00.000-08:002012-01-15T05:17:11.956-08:00Taking stock and leaving work 1<em>This is close to running thought process, so forgive the randomonium and lack of structure!</em><br />
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So this is a bit of a period of change for me. It seems I've stopped being lazy in my outlook and have decided to think about every aspect of my life more thoroughly, rather than living comfortably in ignorance. In my immature thinking as it is, I feel that change is required. There is just 'too much', to commit my years to a 'career'. <br />
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I keep on thinking that I have to say as a fall back, [almost a justification] that "I know this is a cliched thought and a romantic notion to think that I can just give up work and still live a good life" but why should I have to say that, to justify? Surely it is also a romantic notion to want to have a career, to be happy in your job, to get a nice house and have a nice family. (And how often is this romantic notion achieved these days?- not as often as you may hope)<br />
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Doesn't it come down to the fact that if your life is to work, are you really happy with that? Are you happier working or not? I know which one I'd say.<br />
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So I am seeing if it is possible that I just work a little, but live my life better. Living for the weekend is just not how it should be. I mean, come on. My friend and I have tried to be spontaneous in our adventures, but we have had to book that months in advance!so......<br />
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I suppose I'd prefer to actually learn that a career is a neccesity rather than just assume it. Is this the problem. We just assume! It is easier to assume than to spend time learning isn't it?<br />
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We assume it is easier and better for us to do as others do right?! -And work to provide ourselves with endless comfort.<br />
We assume that the more money we have, the better life will be.<br />
We assume that we are weird for thinking that 'this can't be right' (certainly those who read on might have)- and because of this...<br />
We assume no-one else feels this way<br />
We assume wrongly<br />
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We assume that humans are progressing! And this is the one that I am loving particularly at the mo. Now, these are very basic thoughts and lets just say, convenient for someone caught in a whirlwind of new found thought, so possibly not that well thought out or balanced, but as general views, perhaps you will just let it go.<br />
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So human's are progressing?! yes, no? In my book, the fact that our bodies can't deal with our lifestyles is funny. We can no longer run correcty. We have obesity issues. Our liver can process 3 teaspoons of sugar in a day, yet we ignorantly over reach on this point every single day. Smoking and alcohol. We neglect our bodies. Me myself as much as anyone> something I hope to rectify.<br />
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We are destroying our planet. Progress? To destroy what allows us this life. Hmmm?<br />
We are probably the only animal on earth where we are our own problem - separate to those animal on animal problems naturally designed to restore balance - as there is no balance with humans.<br />
Biggest progressions in human history - Guns, money and capitalism - all germs/infections really!<br />
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If progress is to make our population growth exponential, so that our own limited resources can't provide for us, then great.<br />
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Progress is what? In these terms to end up in a position better than before. That is really funny when we are speeding up our own demise. <br />
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Anyway, so instead of just thinking about how wrong I feel this all is, I've gone for active change. Change my life and hopefully be one more person seeing this all as madness and hopefully acting as much as possible not to add to the madness. And if in doing so I can influence some others on the way, then great!<br />
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Of course, to do this in a society set up as it is, is not a fair test, so I don't doubt to fail, but fuck it! It'll be experience, whether good or bad.<br />
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I am now officially leaving my job and just seeing what happens. Officially seeing what happens. I have some plans, but after reading a quote about 'plans breeding the mundane' and many discussions following this, I am going to try and be less rigid. Hopefully the expression "I don't exactly know" will follow the queries surrounding my plans. And if that can replace my current default of, "oh you know, same ol'". Then more the better!<br />
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This is all a learning experience and so it would not be realistic to go cold turkey on current aspects of my living. I am already changing a lot. Vegetarian, more considerate of the environment, more mindful/aware in general. I suppose 'one step at a time' right!<br />
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I started writing this post about taking stock of my active self, but it didn't seem enough, without looking at the general 'me' situation. As I started writing it, I kept on being drawn away in my thoughts to more overriding issues. As always, these posts are almost like diary posts, a tool for me to think about, investigate and record my thinkings and doings, so please if you are reading out of interest, forgive the ramble. I think I need the ramble as part of my thought processes. Anyway, I can do what I want, it's my bloody blog! haha<br />
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So this post is a basis for more to come! Taking stock part 1 I suppose.Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-91539717961970273182012-01-10T11:33:00.000-08:002012-01-10T11:39:54.548-08:00Visiting a chum - Taking timeA standard visit to a friend's place for me would involve arriving at some late hour on a Friday after work, fatigued from a 9-5 week or in the evening after a busy saturday, probably still buzzing from getting a quick hour in on the turbo trainer. I'd have some drinks in a 'wired' state, after the rush to get there as soon as poss and then we'd move to a drinking establishment to see away many hours. I'd finish the night in an alcoholic haze in the early hours and rush off in the morning of the next day as soon as waking up to 'make the most of the day' - half alive because of lack of sleep and hang over.<br />
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Possibility to spend quality time with good friends = zero.<br />
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This problem with trying to fit too much in has come up before and was in fact the subject of a philosophical discussion between my brother and I on a cycling trip to the Alps in the summer of 2011. (See posts if interested) It was almost the holiday 'theme' i.e. Do we appreciate things if we do not take time to actually experience and appreciate, are we just doing?<br />
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So this weekend, being in a very thoughtful place right now, I was happy to make the decision and actively try to spend some quality time with a good friend, one that is often referenced here as a writer of thought provoking posts. Actually appreciate the friendship rather than just doing the friendship. He happens to be an<a href="http://anthonyanimal.blogspot.com/"> animal</a> and a good one at that! I was actually able to spend some time talking to the guy about meaningful subjects which was superb and a much better use of time than the usual visits. Catch 22 because you realise that the more you talk the more there is to talk about.<br />
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Here is one of his more recent posts about <a href="http://anthonyanimal.blogspot.com/2012/01/throwing-stones-at-gandalf.html#disqus_thread">throwing stones at gandalf</a> (me) - Despite the seeming self interest here and despite my blog title's support of this, if I can give anyone an excuse to be introduced to this guys writing and thoughts, then I feel I have done them a service!<br />
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We threw some stones [not at me].It was fun! We also climbed trees and walked. This was also fun! We had fun!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-73107561439074941102012-01-05T13:53:00.000-08:002012-01-06T06:51:55.573-08:00The good ol' cow pat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Floating along a Hertfordshire footpath, skirting the grazing fields of a working and fully odourful farm. Running through truck churned slurry and striding through puddles, the mirror like surfaces screaming out to be disturbed from their perfectly serene, glass like state. What a brilliant way to start a lunch time trail run.<br />
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Left onto the bridleway and up into the trees, legs quietly complaining about the early introduction of incline.<br />
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Over the bridge, to realise how motorways unrelentingly scythe their way through some of the most pristine countryside.<br />
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Into the grassy field beyond...<br />
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...and I don't know if this is just me, but there is a part of me that really just appreciates a well formed cow pat!!! And what a fine example this is! <br />
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Mr Cow. Well played sir! Good form!<br />
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<br />Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-80048588112856318002011-12-30T12:31:00.000-08:002012-01-05T13:54:32.294-08:00DOMS<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness">Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness</a> - It seems to me, that the older you get the more each aspect of this errrr 'syndrome' is exacerbated: The onset is more delayed, more muscles are affected, and they are more sore.<br />
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27 is not old, but still, I notice that I am no child anymore - able to undertake any strenuous activity, without considering how my body is going to punish me later... This is why, you see, that I undertook a strenous activity without considering how my body was going to punish me.<br />
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First indoor climbing session, three days ago. Three whole days (Tuesday) and my body is destroyed (Friday). It fits the 'delayed onset' criteria, because on Wednesday I felt fine, Thursday mostly fine, but today, I am so stiff and sore it is incredible. <br />
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Forearms, shoulders, wrists, stomach, neck = sore<br />
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The plan is to go again tomorrow, but honestly, I don't know if I'll be capable. If I can't, I'll certainly be keeping my eye out for more climbing videos like the one below. Seriously impressive! Enough to inspire any newby climber.<br />
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<br />Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-5747361241715631892011-12-26T05:20:00.001-08:002011-12-28T09:17:29.122-08:00Alpine Experiences - Stage 4What better time to get an under par night's sleep than the night before your most athletic undertaking of a hectic holiday!<br />
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Again, this video is a far better representation of this climb than my words will ever be, so for an insight into our journey that day, watch from 3.20 ish, summit from 5.30 onwards, then descent.<br />
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I was angry on leaving the car. I believed that my bad state and annoyance was going to affect my enjoyment of the experience we had come for. Then we had to go back to the car, because my bro, had not tightened his pedal fully. I don't blame him, there was a lot to remember and sort out prior to departure: clothing, for any conditions, tools, nutrition, ah and suncream, but you don't think like that at the time - It pissed me off! Luckily I had noticed only a couple of hundred metres from the car, so things could have been worse, as a pedal spanner is not one of the things you tend to take with you.<br />
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Once underway I forgot about all my frustrations though. The Alps seem to be able to distract like this. I felt pretty good actually, better than I had ever imagined. We made good progress through the lower slopes and the vineyards and dwellings. Vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see - A terrific site in itself. The vineyard rush hour of the morning had dissolved into an incredibly quiet mountainside, which was a pleasure to cycle up. The contrast from the anxiety inducing rush of the earlier morning, probably made the peace all the better!<br />
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This peace, was nothing compared to the lonelyness of the higher reaches of the route though. The Col du Sanetsch, is not a pass, so there was no through traffic. Only some tiny dwellings on the mountain side and a power station just the other side of the summit account for the presence of about 13 miles of this stretch of tarmac. The experience is all the better for it!<br />
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I remember the various stages of the climb. The lower slopes, covered with vineyards and villages. The classic alpine tree line, before hitting the higher slopes, with spruce and fir giving way to a few hundred vertical metres of alpine grasses/meadow. Then finally hitting the baron, tundra like expanses above the meadows. The distinct sections, give an insight into your upward and downward progress.<br />
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I remember one of the most juxtaposed visual experiences of my life, seeing a superb alpine cabin adorned with hundreds of Swiss flags, in all shapes and sizes, standing next to a sign that told us that we had 15 kilometres to go to the summit, all after over an hour of climbing. Around 10 miles uphill still to go.<br />
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I remember realising after a depressive mood gave way to a few minutes of elation and then swiftly into angre, that I had by about 11 o clock that day experienced pretty much the entire spectrum of human emotion.<br />
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I remember the tunnels, one 800 metres long hewn into the rock, that allowed for the otherwise impossible traverse of the road.<br />
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I remember that after an entire mountain of going at my speed, my brother finally felt he needed to push on for his own good. Slowly his advantage of power to weight showing through as he extended a gap between us on the final couple of miles of baron lunar like landscape, leading up to the Col. And him waiting for me, so we could summit together, good chap!<br />
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The elation of reaching the top and then the thoughts of the absurdity of the way we create goals like these for ourselves. Boy, it was awesome though and the kind of thing everyone should experience. <br />
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Then it was my turn to be able to gain ground on the bro. I was always better at descending than ascending! Great fun. Another athletic experience in itself, descending an alp. You learn quickly that even if you want to, there is no way you can slow yourself down for the entirity of a descent, you need to just let go and give your forearms and brake blocks a rest, before slamming on the anchors just before each switch back.<br />
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We completed the majority of the descent. I left Andrew on one section, where one of 3 cars we had seen in four hours, found the gap between us and I really put caution to the wind. Part of it is caught in the video around 8.30 I think, though you cannot grasp this from footage. Great fun! A bit further on I waited for Andrew, but then he decided to spend time looking at a particularly spectacular view. <br />
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My descent of the last section, back into and through the villages and vineyards was truly awesome! Alone, I pushed very hard and loved really investigating how hard I could push myself and the bike. Transfering weight hard when taking a racing line through an S bend on the limit at over 40 miles an hour is a great experience. The close proximity to the road of some of the houses, really highlighted the speed and my bike showed its true colours on that descent. Something to be remembered.<br />
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It was not long before Andrew rolled towards the car at the bottom. Huge smiles!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-65898013858628695642011-12-22T06:17:00.000-08:002011-12-22T06:22:28.653-08:00Coast run funI am starting to love running coastal trails!<br />
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Steep, undulating trials. Changing, uneven, often awkwardly cambered or slippery surfaces all add a bit to your standard run. 8 miles, probably equivalent to a few more flat miles. A peaceful day with very few people around. Great! Few days calf recovery needed though. Those hills really grab at them! <br />
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Bolt Head and Tail, South Devon, a fantastic area to visit!<br />
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Last weekend was a Snowdon attempt on Mountain bike. Was under a little time constraint, so didn't end up sumitting. Stopping to film at various points also took a long time. </div>
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Felt fantastic so a shame not to summit, but absolutely blindin' experience nonetheless, with snow present from the llanberis path, half way house upwards.<br />
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Suffered slightly from having a very unaggressive, race orientated rear tyre, but not in the manner you'd imagine-when it comes to grip whilst climbing - but because it wasn't quite so resistant to the thrashing it had on the way down with all the high speed rock impacts.<br />
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I am definately going back!<br />
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Short video above.<br />
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<br /></div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-50781263466207741882011-12-07T10:04:00.001-08:002011-12-09T03:45:59.538-08:00Mountain Anxiety - The hoods of our jackets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mountains, even the small examples we have here in the British Isles, can be dangerous places. Until you actually experience how quickly the weather can change on a mountain, you probably can't quite grasp just how fast and dramatically it can go from clear sunny weather to chilling horizontal hale.<br />
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There are reasons why these mountains can make people anxious and I suppose this is, in part what brings visitors onto the mountains time and again. They are wild, they can be barren and even when we are properly prepared, they are dangerous places.<br />
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Obvious right?!.well you'd hope so!<br />
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I suppose the below is a discussion on flirtation with the understanding of the above and where anxiety fits in.<br />
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On my first visit to Snowdon in my adult life, I remember getting vertigo just above the railway bridge, at the top of the [almost] scree slope, the steepest section of the Llanberis path. <em>For the purposes of this post, vertigo is just anxiety focused around height</em>. I was keeping myself well to the left of the path on the way up, to keep as far from the drop as possible. I pushed on as luckily it wasn't a desperate fear. We summited the mountain and that is the first I remember of mountain anxiety.<br />
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Since then I have seldom felt uncomforable at height, as I have built up progressively, on slightly more difficult paths, with more and more precipitous drops, each time. I suppose it is simply down to conditioning - The more you experience something the more you become comfortable.<br />
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Two things have brought these thoughts about mountain anxiety forward - <br />
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1. My older brother started rock climbing at university. I am jealous. I would like to start doing the same and then transfer it from the wall onto the rock faces of real mountains. I have been considering taking this next step for a while, though it is just another activity to fit into the already crowded life. Then there is also the other aspect, the progression of hiking into the winter aspect of mountaineering, crampon and ice axe required. I have wondered, whether in taking these further steps, I am likely to experience anxiety. I expect so.<br />
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2. I have recently been part of a few friend's first forays into the mountains. It was the first time in a while I have experienced mountain anxiety (indirectly) and it seems to have all come at once. One friend, bit of an <a href="http://anthonyanimal.blogspot.com/2011/11/mountains-of-fear.html">animal, talks about his vertigo here</a> and it was awesome to be alongside him as he mastered himself to overcome. The other experience came from a friend who became uncomfortable in high winds. <br />
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Naturally, we feel exposed, we feel miles from anything we would regard as comfort. And in the mountain environment, everything seems to exacerbate these issues. Tiredness, warmth (or lack of), then the weather. Mist, rain, hail, snow and wind. Each acts independently, but conspire to increase anxiety. Then the most unlikely of culprits and one that you may only have considered an aid - the hoods of our jackets. I have thought about before but tested the other day. <br />
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Hoods are an interesting one, because they present us with a far reaching opposite to that which the mountains naturally bring. Confinement. Humans are rediculous huh?! You present them with an exposed, open space and they get scared of the exposure. You present them with confinement and the same happens. Humans feel very comfortable existing in finite conditions, finding a middle ground of comfort. A home, not confined, but not hugely expansive, protected from the extremes of the elements and conditions within our control. This it seems is what modern life is about, seeking the best ways to find those most comfortable conditions. A heated house, with water on tap, equipment for any eventuality. <br />
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How ironic that in pushing for these finite conditions, we are irreversibly pushing our planet towards a state of incomprehensible extremes. <br />
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So I found that having a hood up, on a mountain, for me actually increased the feelings of insecurity. This might become a huge post if we discuss these things at length, but in discussiont the other day, my mountain colleagues and I thought about a few points. <br />
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Peripheral vision - loss of peripheral vision, if even partly is not going to be a positive. Being an animal, this is one thing we rely upon for our protection is our sight, part of our survival awareness I suppose. To be unsighted is to be apprehensive, even if just by a small amount.<br />
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Feeling of being enclosed. Even if we are not, to feel that we are enclosed has an affect on our interpretations. Our head is where most of our awareness is centred, so to confine our head is paramount when it comes to experience. It is like when you put on a tight full face helmet for the first time, it is by no means a comfortable experience, or put yourself down a caving hole, where you can't move or lift your head. [I suppose this combines, both the confinement and unsighted points and you wonder why you'd be uncomfortable]<br />
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Created atmosphere - So, yes, it is windy, but with a hood up, your perception of wind is scewed. It seems weird, but this is how I felt. As soon as I took my hood off the other day, my grasp of my immediate environment became much clearer and the ominous atmosphere that I felt, faded away. I enjoyed it much more, despite being pounded by sideway rain/hail and getting a numb face. Up until a point this is quite fun!<br />
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Maybe these above points, are just my feelings, I don't know. I'd be interested to hear what others have to say.<br />
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This weekend I plan on heading to Snowdonia again. I am taking my rock climbing brother. He hasn't done 'real' rock climbing yet, and hasn't spent any time in the mountains so I will be interested to see him experience some proper heights and see whether mountain anxiety makes an apperance for him.<br />
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I just find it so interesting that people have such different relationships with mountains. It is fantastic to share these things with people. I look forward to again feeling mountain anxiety. If you're experiencing mountain anxiety - it normally means you'll be pushing yourself, your skills, your appreciation and invariably this leads to having a darn good time, and if not - then at least some good old life experience.<br />
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And next time you have your hood up, take a minute and put it down. See if you can understand what I mean!Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-38078068377816528712011-12-02T15:25:00.001-08:002011-12-03T03:37:53.400-08:00First mud<br />
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In regard to Mountain biking my chums and I have spent the last part of the summer and early autumn repeatedly riding the short, fun trails around our local spots, rather than mixing it up and getting out on longer cross country rides as well. We have very much neglected our riding fitness. This neglect shall be rectified soon.<br />
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Having agreed that we must get out and do some proper mileage, we chose to follow a route from a magazine, something I've never done before. Apart from having to stop to work out the different route sections, it was very enjoyable, partly because it was the first real mud of the season.<br />
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We did end up finishing a bit late, (well 4.30 is late this time of year) so a short cut and some twilight pedalling was the order of the errrrrr, evening. Not ideal, but then if you were never out at twilight, you'd never be able to appreciate sunsets like this.<br />
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You can see the beautiful sunset, but there were two other occurances I enjoyed very unexpectedly. <br />
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The first gave me another reason to appreciate the full suspension bike. On getting some air off a tree stump, I attempted to pull a small tabletop. The result of which was me loosing my footing on my pedals. If I were on a hardtail, I would have undoubtedly landed on my man jewels very hard, lost control and crashed dramatically down the chalk slope we were on. Luckily the compression of the rear suspension saved my jewels and the subsequent fall. Which was nice! One of those situations, where the positive comes from not experiencing something quite as negative as expected. <br />
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Another was riding at speed down a fairly wide bridal way, heading towards an open right hand corner in the trail. The camber and left and right tracks forced me to into the left hand gully and without even considering the changing surface, I found myself riding through what can only be described as slurry. All I could do was close my mouth and enjoy the smell for the next hour and a half.Sometimes you have to just laugh.Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-15888670765481847302011-11-29T11:30:00.001-08:002011-11-30T10:58:54.889-08:00Alpine experiences - Stage 3<em>My brother made a record of our experiences in the alps. I initially used this as reference for my own writing, but I found it a really engaging read. It was just thought by thought experience by experience. So I asked him if I could stick it up on a post, effectively making him a guest writer. Thankfully he was happy for me to do that! So read on below. </em><a href="http://www.gorpmanureandselfgratification.blogspot.com/2011/11/alpine-experiences-stage-2.html"><em>Alpine experiences - Stage 2</em></a><em>, finished with us having just climbed and descended the Col du Joux Planes. And so our trip continues. Thanks for this bro.</em><br />
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Tuesday. <br />
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This 20 hour period was the best of the holiday [beginning at the end of the ride yesterday]. Awoke and sighed with relief to find that I had slept well. Beautiful morning late-ish 0830. HOT. Was overjoyed to learn that Ollie too, had slept well. Ollie kept wanting milk. Spent a relaxed morning eating, packing and bathing in the stream this time we both went down. So great to have a fresh bracing wash, with your hands cupping the water. It is one of the things I have implemented back here. In the shelter of the bridge. Got out into the warm sunshine almost clean and re-invigourated. Stood watching a lizard bask in the sun on the high man made concrete/shingle bank. Made a plan to head off to Sion. Stopped in the place that we found by the main river. Had a walk along and down to the bank. There was a dark grey fine sand. The width and strength of the river, the rockiness and the surroundings made me think of Canada. I wish to go there someday.The whole freshwater/outdoor /sunny experience made me think of an environment much closer to home: Dartmoor. It is relatively easy to get to, and I love the atmosphere. I plan on returning soon again and again. In the palm of the valley on the small grass picnic area, next to the quiet valley road, in shade of the baking sun, I did some yoga. Then stood on a big boulder and tree posed. Felt alive. Looked at map and then finally set sail, retracing yesterday morning's route and stopping for petrol cheap in Cluncy sp? Then onto the cheap valley road alternative to the toll road and some stunning cliffs. Very hot and slowish for the first part, but the toll road ended and we joined the dual carriage way made some progress and then I pointed out Mont Blanc aire [aire is a rest area] wasn't sure whether to stop but luckily Ollie made the active decision. Breathtaking panoramas. Hot on the valley floor, Mont blanc summit covered by clouds. But 360 degrees of interest. <br />
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Could have stayed for longer and wallowed in the sublime, but had to move on. As was the story of the holiday. How long does it take for a scene to truly filter through. For you to absorb most of what it has to offer. Is it best to stay until you feel one with it, or best to leave, and leave wanting more. Drove up into chamonix, the road as impressive as I remembered, a few tunnels and scenic shots, tried to drive through Chamonix but Hot and crowded, as soon as we left, into the tree lined valley road, loads of places to camp, and cyclists jamming the road. Drove up through Argentiere, up an unexpectedly beautiful climb. The next hour of driving was relentlessly sublime.We stopped above Argentieres on the slope and went for a quick hike up into the alpine forest just off the road. I had the urge to continue the holiday walking, it was so peaceful and clean. Legs were still heavy from previous day though. Returned to the car. Over the hill and over the swiss border up one more stunning climb and then cresting it, a further spectacle that was too much to truly appreciate. The valley below was wide and perfectly level. There had never been such definition in the heights before. I cannot describe adequately at this time. <br />
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There was something about the perfect order of the manmade structures reflecting the geometic precision of the valley floor. The valley floor was uniformly level as the sea. There was no undulation so mountain and valley were clearly defined. Stopped for a view on a hairpin runoff with a bus. Rejoined the road behind a cyclist who was really motoring - he overtook a caravan. Ollie was tempted by the descent. Descended into vinyard- covering much of this valley floor- and onto the dual carriageway. So ended the best chunk of the holiday.We drove to Sion and then into Sion. Crowded and humid. Out of Sion. Found a petrol station and looked at a hiking map to find the name of the climb that was wanted. Set the Sat Nav to Conthey sp? and back through Sion and then drove to Colney and out, up into the vinyards and down to the main road, there was seemingly no space unused, no woodland/trees! [now that I think of it] everywhere exposed and open to traffic. Crowded and bustling. Drove back to Convey, having been on the move for the best part of 6 hours, tiredness and irritation was setting in. From now on in note form: Intention to climb Sanetsch and find somewhere up there to camp. Looked at the steep vinyard foothills but eventually opted for the main road up. We found most promising grass verge next to a river but drove round to quieter side with vinyard. However it was not quiet. Rush hour and Vinyard entrance and I had noticed a police patrol. Stopped to rest. And then off to get milk for Ollie. Went looking for supermarket but closed. Off to petrol station. I was now feeling less self conscious in this atmosphere. Looked at tarts but resisted. Ollie paid and the girl mutter something that we both didnot understand. Le ticket, le billet of course. Why does one always make out the most sinister ideas. Back to otherside of grass verge, by river with lots of cars parked. Ollie parks perpendicular to them and right off the road. We cook eat and wash a little in the river where you are told not to wash as power station flushes tides. To bed. Starts to rain in fits, but so hot in the valley and in the car. I give Ollie light sleeping bag and he has a poor night's sleep due to cold. I sleep 6hrs -ish but disturbed by the vibrations of a diesel police car which stops opposite us for a couple of mins. Checking us out? It is otherwise too much of a coincidence. After 2 minutes I rise slowly and look. As they drive off. I remained still for the whole period. <br />
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Wednesday. Awake to a comotion of voices. Get up and see two vinyard workers staring into my bedroom in the rain. It is 7pm and time for their collection. A bit of a start. Olly wants to get in but I mislay the key. Anyway, feel like a bit of target here, but they eventually get on with their lives and we are left to curse another sub standard nights sleep and the rain.Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207348281929756007.post-85459322175295391972011-11-21T13:57:00.001-08:002011-11-23T13:09:48.381-08:00Alpine experiences - Stage 2Taninges is a small town, with one main avenue heading up a shallow gradient to a junction where it converges with the valley road that runs perpendicular to it. This junction is at the heart of the town and has several minor roads leading off it. Nothing unusual there for a junction! However, off to one side, there is a triangular statue which forms a roundabout of sorts that can be used, or not, as the mood takes you. There are no traffic controls and road markings are as good as useless. This 'roundabout' is a cause of mayhem, even without english cyclists appearing. And it certainly wouldn't help matters if those cyclists had just had a tiring journey and were still getting used to riding on the opposite side of La rue.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imagine this but busier, with some queuing and then trying to approach on a bike, clipped in to your pedals</td></tr>
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So yes, stupid junction me and my brother (English cyclists) impending mayhem. Junction survived, we attempted one road out of the town centre. This quickly turned into a dead end. We then realised we forgot something and so had to confront this void of vehicular conformity thrice more that day!<br />
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Anyway, as you will see below, my light weight brother (gravity is more kind to him) decided that rather than go up the boring (easy) pass road [red], it would be better to go up through the old town road [blue]. Proper roads! What followed was some of the steepest gradient I have ever ridden. It certainly highlighted the fact that I was over geared, riding a 39 x 25 as my lowest gear. I was struggling within 1 mile of having set off. <br />
<em>[If you look at how the red main pass heads off to the West for quite some way before switching back to then head East for a time. If you compare this with the blue route to the same northerly point, you can maybe start to grasp how steep this road was. This East West East sweep is built in, to neutralise or minimise the extreme gradient of the lower part of the mountain.]</em><br />
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I don't know what I was thinking, taking such a high geared bike to the alps, but I suppose when you're mentally planning for your greatest riding undertaking, you don't want to do anything but take your best bike. I think over all it was the right decision. Gearing is not the only aspect to consider in the high mountains. Having a weildy bike below you, with good brakes, really is a blessing when you are likely to be descending at high speed for up to 40 mins and although it may have had high gearing, the lower weight and greater efficiency would be a benefit over the many hours of climbing - at least this is what I was telling myself whilst grinding up that first 25+ % gradient.<br />
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There is something satisfying about trying to go slow enough to keep your heart rate below your red zone, whilst still going fast enough not to keel over. This all within 15 mins of starting! If only I could say that it was the view that took my breath away! <br />
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The road gradually got easier as we gained altitude. I have to say I still had no idea what to expect when it came to duration of climb. My brother had always said to me that alpine gradients are around 8% average which doesn't seem that much until you work in that you are looking at hours of continuous 8% gradient. It is all very well knowing these facts, but until you experience it, it is very difficult to get an impression.<br />
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The example my brother used to use as the best example near where we lived was a climb along the North downs way up to a place called Ranmore Common just outside Dorking. It is undulating, similar in look to alpine roads and about the right average gradient. A fit rider can climb it in about 10 mins. We'd be doing the equivalent of close to 20 times that in one continuous climb at points in this 'holiday'...but I digress.<br />
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So we continued up the old town road, which went straight up and then swung toward the main pass, at the point at which the water course cut itself a sheer path between the two peaks. Crossing a bridge onto the main road, the gradient got shallower again and the road surface smoother. My brother was hugely unimpressed by how boring this route was and how busy the traffic was, but I found the merits in how mesmerising the flow of the river was as it waltzed its way below the asphalt on it's relentless gravity driven mission down the mountain side. - I have to say, that to be able to actually sit down in the saddle at this point was a bit of a treat for me.<br />
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Making better progress, we came out at the truly uninspiring and deserted ski resort of Les Gets. Getting the pronunciation correct, for my delirious and immature mind gave me a 20 sec distraction. I felt strangely fresh body wise and was surprised to see the pass start making its way down hill so soon. My brother is convinced we missed the summit road. No matter, we had bigger fish to fry that day!<br />
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Our first proper descent was a bit forgettable, but I suppose the area was not that inspiring. I almost cut it from my memory. We spent a bit of time rolling through Morzine. Pretty surreal to be there. I love the alpine cabin/chalet style and this was my first experience of a classic ski town rather than a commercially created resort. <br />
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I didn't feel as good after that first bit of descent and our first full on climb of the trip was only minutes away - It was hard to distract myself from this fact and there was almost a bit of tension, not in an interaction sense, but more in an expectation way. Hard thing to describe, but the type of feeling that lifts if you just deal with the impending doom of the task to come - man up - and get on. Working this out at the time though was not easy. This mental distinction, I found very hard to get a grasp of throughout the trip, firstly because I generally don't think that deeply about things, lolloping emotionally through life and secondly because there was a baseline fatigue that made any type of thought formation difficult.<br />
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The Col de Joux Plane. A climb of tour de France fame. At only 1700 vertical metres it is not one of the monsters of the alps, but is known for it's difficulty nonetheless. We were actually attempting it from the 'easy' side from Morzine. 10.9 kilometres (seven miles) at an average gradient of 6.5% with the steepest gradient being 11%. Again though, it started very steep out of Morzine and I for the first time started properly suffering. I was looking at my brother who was much better geared and really wishing I had the lean physique that he was no doubt enjoying (well...) in an environment that suited him down to the ground.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I am no heavy weight. At as good as 6 ft tall, and 75 kilos, I am probably a good example of average to skinny build, with a fair amount of muscle mass. My brother on the other hand being maybe an inch or two shorter hovers around the 60 kilo mark. In stone terms, that is around 11 and a half vs 8. Stacking four bikes on his shoulders would just about even us out in weight. A crazy thought and something I frequently reminded him of as he danced on his pedals in front of me.</div>
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With cycling, as with many sports there is no substitute for body type. There is a reason that 'climbers' tend to be the small wirey guys in cycling, because they don't require so much in the way of muscle mass to have a good power to weight ratio. In building muscle to gain an advantage, I'd also be strapping weight to my bones. It is so much about physique. I was jealous!</div>
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In the end though this wasn't a competition or at least not with each other. We were competing against the mountain. We were here to conquer and that we did. I was tempted to write on describing to you our experience further up the Joux Plane, but I spent time editing a video of our trip, so why duplicate effort when in this case, the video would probably do more justice to our experience. The first 2.18 of the video is the Col de Joux Planes. Check out the hairy descent! Enjoy!<br />
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</div>Gandalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00916248650217460230noreply@blogger.com2