Tanks! - Don't mention it.

[Iain Hogg]

Big thanks to Steptoe for getting us all to the tank training ground on Salisbury Plain today.

9 bikes left Fleet Services and met another 3 (I think) at Amesbury and off to find some gravel and dust.

Traveling second from the rear of the group I followed into the dust storm and quickly decided that I should perhaps have stayed in bed :eek: as the bike squirmed beneath me and my arms tensed up. Last time I had this feeling was seconds before having an intimate encounter with a blackberry bush returning from Princetown 2 years ago with Howard! :rolleyes: I then spent a week repairing screens, panniers, indicators etc.:mad:

I managed to stop (upright) and waved the back marker through before delicately returning to tarmac. After about 10 minutes, a drink and something to eat I thought I'd try again - with no-one watching me ;)

After a few stops to recompose I decided I was getting the hang of this off-road stuff after all

http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145807-M.jpg

and the other direction
http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145801-M.jpg

I carried on a bit more, trying out some more "adventurous" tracks

http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145802-M.jpg

and

http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145803-M.jpg

before venturing into the trees for some shade
http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145804-M.jpg

http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145805-M.jpg

and finally back out over some bumpier tracks to find the way off the plain

http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145806-M.jpg

and avoiding most of the puddles
http://thehoggs.smugmug.com/photos/8145800-M.jpg

I then returned to Bakerman's to leave a message that I was OK before returning home, however I was delayed by Beckie's charms (she had just got out of the shower - sorry, no photos :D ) and the offer of a cup of tea.

Some time later, the others arrived back as Steve lit the BBQ and I had to return home for one (without having to worry about how much beer and wine I consumed :beerjug: )

Strangely enough, although all the other bikes were dusty, mine was the only one with genuine mud :confused:

Must do it again soon (he said cockilly :cool: )

Iain

[Fanum]

Damn I really wish i could have been there...and after the day I've had, doubly so....looks like fun.

(Iain..you kept very quiet about having had an intimate encounter with Howard under a blackberry bush!!!)

I did get that rifght didn't I? ;)

:D

[Mick_rw]

I should have stayed with you Iain, I think I could have coped with those tracks, after doing some weight lifting decided to do a Ratcliffe and went my own way back to a more substantal type of road and wended my way home.

Cheers Steptoe for the country scenery and meeting some new faces.

Mick

[BAKERMAN]

ian i know that set of puddles, its OUT OF BOUNDS, thats the lane to CHAKLE PIT HILLS, you must have met a Ranger and a Heleicopter.

[Clive]

Originally posted by Mick_rw
I should have stayed with you Iain, I think I could have coped with those tracks

Nice to meet the both of you.
You were probably right doing your own thing, however you did miss "The Hill of Doom"
:yikes

[Commuter]

Great Day, thanks to Steptoe (with his new nobblies!) for organising and Mr and Mrs Bakerman for organising a great BBQ.

Good to meet some new faces and catch up with the usual tossers.

Tickle, your complete lack of fear is SCARY to watch.

Bob, great effort, a BIG welcome once again.

Clive if you think the hill of dome was bad, you should of seen the M3 lottery Steptoe, Tickle and I went through:eek:

See you all there again soon.

Nick

[Clive]

Originally posted by Commuter
Great Day, thanks to Steptoe (with his new nobblies!) for organising and Mr and Mrs Bakerman for organising a great BBQ.


Seconded.

Nice to meet all the rest, of course, even that geezer who took us down "The Hill of Doom" ;)

Yep, I look forward to the next one.

[Steptoe]

The Hill of Doom .

[Steptoe]

--

[BAKERMAN]

W.P Suspension went through it

[BAKERMAN]

gREAT To feed you, and thanks Neil for the invite as my first GS OFFROAD EVENT.

gREAT DAY of what its all about, bikes, dust, strangers, holes, dead ends, trees, dogs, wardens helecopters, beer and Barbie Q

cHEERS

[Steptoe]

Thats better, just showered all the dust off.

Thanks everyone for making it such a good day, the laughs, grimaces and pisstakes ( Bob on his 1st gser day, leaping in with both feet).

And to bakes and missus soft baps ( bit stale today though : ) for doing the grub without any prompting .

Sorry no fords for you Chris .

[Grizz]

.

[Grizz]

Look sharp....!!

[Steptoe]

---

[Grizz]

.

[Grizz]

Look what you missed mate....

Food glorious food.....

[Grizz]

Not a description of the food, or the chef.
Thanks Bakerman, and Missus Bakes.... you guys ROCK

As does all the attendees, including BOB, who bobbed up a few times, and kept comming back for more..... Welcome to the mad house Bob, see you out there.

[Steptoe]

---

[Steptoe]

----

[Steptoe]

-----

[Grizz]

.

[colin Lane]

Big thanks to Steptoe and the other members of the Panzer Patrol group for making it a great day out, especially Mr & Mrs Bakes for feeding us all.

nearly didn't make it.....but damn glad I did.......334 miles door to door well worth it for the fun today......thanks again guys.:beerjug:

[Fanum]

Sounds like a prime candidate for a revisit.......wait 'til the wet season comes and it should be interesting!!!

I'll be there :D :D

[Grizz]

Yep .
You are o right, a revisit would be great.... the heat is a killer, but then so is MUD... but immense fun, none the less.
Anyone who wondered and dithered, like I usualy do... it may well become a must do in future, just sorry there is a 200plus mile commute there and back from Kent,ESSEX, and surrounds, anyone know any other MOD grounds closer by.
PS: Thanks for a stupendous day out Steptoe.

[pod]

Originally posted by Grizz
Yep .
You are o right, a revisit would be great.... the heat is a killer, but then so is MUD... but immense fun, none the less.
Anyone who wondered and dithered, like I usualy do... it may well become a must do in future, just sorry there is a 200plus mile commute there and back from Kent,ESSEX, and surrounds, anyone know any other MOD grounds closer by.
PS: Thanks for a stupendous day out Steptoe.

Hi Grizz looks like you all had a bloody good day out. Steptoe took a couple of guys out on the plain at the Hogroast this year perhaps he could make a bit more of it next year - tie the Hogroast & Offroad Salisbury Plain ride together?..... just a thought.

Paul

[maverick]

Well I think it all boils down to whether you made of ........<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_1.jpg"></img><br><p>

This was an unbelievable day out and can only thank everyone who joined in and off course who made it happen!
There was plenty of tracks and gravel to play on and I reckon you can get sooo lost there in a day that you would not bother going elsewhere again.<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_2.jpg"></img><br><p>

Steptoe in front the man who got the whole trip together with Grizz following closely in 2nd and Mr Tickel sizing up the terrain.<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_3.jpg"></img><br><p>

Endless roads of fun is all I can add.<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_4.jpg"></img><br><p>

Waiting for some of the group behind (Normal)<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_5.jpg"></img><br><p>

Waiting for some of the group behind (With half the bike artistic style :rolleyes: )<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_6.jpg"></img><br><p>

Waiting for some of the group behind (With half the bike mirror enhanced artistic style :rolleyes: :rolleyes: )<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_7.jpg"></img><br><p>

Naughty Mr Tickle going into the rough where the helicopter boys picked us up and the ranger asked Bakerman to keep the group under control becuase he looked like the sensible one out front :D<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_8.jpg"></img><br><p>

My spotless 1100 in the shade and can't believe how dirty it got after I spend hours and hours not cleaning it :)<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_9.jpg"></img><br><p>

Again, note the shiny rims and tidy RHS indicator tape.<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_10.jpg"></img><br><p>

Squadron Leader blasting towards me, ok he was still far away but really scary man.<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_11.jpg"></img><br><p>

The dustbusters....<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_12.jpg"></img><br><p>

Top Dustbuster.<br><p>

<img src="http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/2004/salisbury_offroad/salisbury_plain_13.jpg"></img><br><p>


Thanks to Bakerman and Mrs Softbabs for the lovely food and hospitality after the session. Neil, Rian, Steve, Geoff, Phil, Mike, Ian, Bob (Still can't believe no one else took that name), Clive, Nick and whoever I missed out thanks.

Hope to see all you guys at Princetown!

[Steptoe]

Originally posted by BAKERMAN
W.P Suspension went through it


heres my compression, but with ohlins, a better class of suspension.

[Steptoe]

the bloody road dust

[theclowncrusty]

Bakes you TOSER, you got HID lights on your bike? What and where fitted? Clown :0)

[BAKERMAN]

Originally posted by theclowncrusty
Bakes you TOSER, you got HID lights on your bike? What and where fitted? Clown :0)

I bought them off a bloke off the board, they didn`t work so I have withheld payment.:mad: