Iain Hogg
Guest
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
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! 
I then spent a week repairing screens, panniers, indicators etc.
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
and the other direction
I carried on a bit more, trying out some more "adventurous" tracks
and
before venturing into the trees for some shade
and finally back out over some bumpier tracks to find the way off the plain
and avoiding most of the puddles
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
) 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
)
Strangely enough, although all the other bikes were dusty, mine was the only one with genuine mud
Must do it again soon (he said cockilly
)
Iain
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
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! I then spent a week repairing screens, panniers, indicators etc. 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
and the other direction
I carried on a bit more, trying out some more "adventurous" tracks
and
before venturing into the trees for some shade
and finally back out over some bumpier tracks to find the way off the plain
and avoiding most of the puddles
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
) 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
)Strangely enough, although all the other bikes were dusty, mine was the only one with genuine mud
Must do it again soon (he said cockilly
)Iain
