56 pic photodump - Hell, yeah, we had fun.

Our internet is extremely slow tonight, or maybe Tom is taking all the bandwidth with his gaming.

Today Jon, Pete and I went to Hook Woods grounds to ride.

Do not ask me how, but I managed to get my "Troll" Tom, out of bed by 07.00 and into the car and away before 08.00.

This was after he said he wanted to come and watch us and also learn a bit more and ride the Scorpa on open ground.

I was well chuffed with him joining us, so we stopped to fill Nicola's car, get 2 jerry cans of fuel and some sweets (Important stuff for a growing teenager)

We then met Jon and Pete at Clackett Lane services as always and popped in for a McDonalds coffee before setting off for Hookwoods, getting there just before 10.00am.

We started slow and built it up, with the guys pushing me, I ended up doing a load of stuff I would not have considdered doing 4 weeks ago.

Tom was on hand all day, taking some great pics and a few videos.

Inbetween our ride sessions, he got the Scorpa going and rode by himself after the first tutoring session with Pete and Jon.

These guys both really make learning a pleasure and break all the actions down to simple bits. Thanks a lot.

Right, Pete, myself and Tom all managed to stack it and crash through the day, some more spectacularly than others.

Jon "Lebowski" did not once drop his bike or bin it, and he rode bloody well too.

A great day out, and I have Tom ready for the next outing..... RESULT !!!

Pics: We started slowly and built it up.





After my first fall, stupidly over a 12inch rock. I may have bruised some ribs. After this it just got better.





Pete and Jon both have the ability to see what you do and then break down the changes needed into bite sized chunks.





The guys kept on pushing me today.











First tea break after we had 2 hours of play, and the guys getting Tom up to speed.











My first ever "Splatt", not a huge obstacle, but bigger and more direct than anything before. Camera not showing it all.





Half a hay bale..... something Pete has been eyeing the last two visits.





























OK, that is how far the PC has uploaded, the rest will be posted as soon as it has uploaded.

In the mean time I am off to watch some TV with the family - Penn& Teller

Hope the picdump has not killed your PC.

Well, the download speeds here are still pants, but it seems I have been able to load the rest of the pics and one video clip Tom did, trying to get Pete and Jon to do their best impersonation of the "Faltering Eagles"


OK, just got called to get out to town..... got to buy Tom some clothes, he is growing out of stuff before it has a second wash at the moment.

a short clip of Pete doing what he does best.....




I will post the rest of the photos later when we get back.

OK, on with the show.

Back from shopping.
Amazing how joy and pleasure can turn into bitter powerless anger in a minute..... bloody teenagers, cant eat them, cant drown them, just got to deal with them. Shopping, thats all I will say, those who know the pleasure it can be when grown up sensibility meets teen impetiousness and lack of fiscal concern or understanding.


That off my chest, back to the pics from yesterday.







After another session on his own, the teenager mentioned above dismounting like John Travolta.



After the break we went to the next area with steps, loads of rocks and more challenges for me from Jon and Pete.







Pete has been wanting to do these steps from the bottom for some time, yesterday, he pretty much did them from all angles, and managed to only crash spectacularly once, but he made it look easy.



Tom and Jon up at the top of one of the rock piles spotting for Pete.





Pete making it look easy.

The rocks get bigger and more complex as you run up the pile.





Next up it was my turn to run the gauntlet of the rock pile, and I am happy to say that after a sudden stop about 2/3 up the way, and not quite having the prowess to restart, even though I tried a few times, I ended up like this:



The next bunch of runs were all clear, no dabbing or hesitating, and had Pete and Jon cheering like they had just scored a winning goal, which I guess they had.

I will admit that the rocks are not the easiest op rides at Hookwoods, but at least one can practice for the next trial.





After the rocks and steps, we moved elsewhere in the woods for more fun.

Tom loved this type of hooliganism.





Concentration ? Or just playing the arse?











Pete giving Tom just what he asked for. Roooost !!







We called it a day around 4pm.

Tom took the Scorpa and did a few more laps of the paddock, typically I wanted a couple of nice pics for him to post on his Facebook page, as none of his mates ride anything motorised.



Admittedly, he did say he was tired and wanted to pack up, so once I convinced him to go off again, he managed to stall the bike, and fall over in frustration with the bike on top of him, hid riding pants leg caught up in the gearlever...... I rushed over to him and took a few photographs before helping him up, and packing up.


PERFECT FINISH TO A PERFECT DAY !!!!



Well, it was not realy the end of the perfect day....

On the way home we stopped at Clackett Lane Services for a McDonalds McFlurry, but alas the machine was broken, leaving Tom with a Double Cheese burger, Jon and I with Vanilla milkshakes and Pete had something in a McFlurry cup, possibly a soft serve.

Now that was the way to end a great day out.

As always thanks go out to Jon and Pete for coaching services, and to Tom for making my day great, riding perfectly for a beginner and most importantly, for taking almost 200 photos of the day.

Do the front wheels ever touch the ground?

Great stuff.

Makes me think I should go and see if my Sherco 290 is still lurking in the back of the shed and join you next time

cecilthecat said:

Makes me think I should go and see if my Sherco 290 is still lurking in the back of the shed and join you next time

Click to expand...

Sounds like great idea.

Last weekend was almost Watford for the ride.