Some crazy cat (namely me) said to the other grubby chicks "why don't we do a girly weekend in the Isle of Man?":huh
Blimey charley, they only went and said yes
1
So, here is the start of the ride report of a long weekend of Blood, Sweat (lots of that) a few tears (mostly mine) and so much laughter I nearly wet myself on several occassions.
The trip was a long time in the coming, having booked the ferry tickets months ago, but the two weeks leading up to the weekend there was a flurry of pms, texts and calls about what eye shadow colour to take and what shoes we should pack, oh yeh and all that rubbish about tyres to be putting on the bike, and that we should take inner tubes in case of punctures (in a manly fashion) bla, bla, bla.
We sorted out between us who was going to carry what tools so we didnt all take the same to limit the weight on the bike.
So, I stole Bertie C's ortleib panniers (which we can get at discount price if anyone is interested £125 per pair), bought myself the most impractical Kreiger tail pack (5ltr doesn't hold much more than a slime pump and two inner tubes), for my first solo long distance ride to meet Tina at Dobbies on the Shrewsbury roundabout (she was worried about me on the dual carriageway on my dinky bike).
My ickle bike on the lawn waiting raring to go!
Then it was a night with Tina and Forry drinkin' wine and talkin' shite, up nice and early on the 7th to work our way up to Timpo's to pick up Sarah Teach and Pumpy for our escorted ride (thanks Timpo) to the ferry.
Tina's & my bike outside Tina's place
After Timpo had safely guided us to the ferry port, we gathered ready and admired the architecture around the port as we sailed out.
Once on the ferry I thought it was time to get into the swing of things and give the girlies their presents I had bought for them. Some top T Shirts embroidered for the occassion - individually named to prevent one forgetting who one was!
Sarah Teach couldn't hide her sheer excitement about the T shirts
Eventually she settled down enough so I could get a good photo of Ela and her donning their said T shirts
Even Tina looked impressed!
Apparently I wasnt allowed to get away without a picture of me too!
The ferry journey was smooth sailing with 4 very excited dirty girls nattering and laughing (much to the annoyance and entertainment of other passengers).
Finally, we got to the Isle of Man and disembarked to take our 20 min journey to my Aunts place in Malew for our first evening together, to get settled in and do the shopping - which was a trip in itself - with the maddest till operator a very busty blonde Scotish lady with a personality to match our excitement!
Day two on its way!
EDIT
art two of the tale
mmmm yes after our day on the high seas, someone had to watch Eastenders, then finally got down to dealing with routes and maps - I wonder who?
whilst some of us did what came naturally
We got up nice and early for a good brekky of organic musli (thanks Ela) and toast and made our butties for the days riding.
our first track of the day - took us up the hill and to our first break (wont tell you for what), but toilet scenery was good!
Sarah looking like its all in a days work
Tina the same
Looking way too good ladies
We found a new hobby during the weekend called "gorse diving" very entertaining!!!!:huh
as invented by Ms Teach
We thought we had reached the "playground" but were slightly off base, but enjoyed our lunch here anyway
Tina Chillin' out
Ela flashing a bit of pink
Then we finally found the playground (not far from where we were having our lunch)
lots of fun - for about 10 minutes
then the weather started closing in so it was time for the next installment of the day
So after our play date in the playground on the 8th, it was time for some ruts, rocky decents and the boardwalk.
Those danged ruts get us every time
But the views were worth it all
Then it was time to show them there boys how to do the boardwalk without throwing your bike over the other side! This was tough, cos what you lovely folks cant see is that the ground is rutted all the way up both sides of the boards making it decidedly difficult to get ones bike up.
but with all hands on deck and lots of hard staring at the problem and girly brain power we all made it up without any problems
At the end of each day Sarah was under strict instructions to lube herself up, whoops no that was her bike chain, so she did all the bikes every evening, however things did get a little silly on occassion.
Until it just got too much for poor old Teach the dying fly turned stunt monkey!
The bikes had their own paddock to frolic in of an evening (before they got dirty again).
And the evenings spent in the alcove window we could have been on a tropical island.
And onto the 9th Aug - not a good day for me physically or psychologically. Im not going to make too many excuses but was running a temperature, was very tired and my back was playing up and especially after the first rut section it popped (for the good eventually, but not so great at the time).
Anyway, we started the day with a gentled tarmaced track up to a dead end (always a good place for a toilet break!).
It was then onto the Millenium way, which was grass, rocks and deep ruts, at this point the back went and I flipped, but after much billing and cooing from the girls I decided to carry on - much to my joy and sense of achievement (thanks girls couldnt have done it without ya).
It was about 2 and a bit miles of rocky ruts really hard work for a novice like me.
At the end of it we had a well deserved rest and giggle fest at the end of the lane - the first time I heard Ela swear! Its very funny and was much of my childish amusement for the rest of the weekend!!
Tina just before she was attacked by the red ants at the end of the millenium way
Teach wanted to find out if an old friend of hers and their family still lived in the same house, so we made our way to Peel and down to a cliff over looking the sea, while she went and knocked on the house nearby.
More to come!
So we are just enjoying the views...
When Sarah comes down and says we have to go up to the house, her friend no longer lives there but this very nice man (didnt get his name) wanted to show us his motorbike collection (and no it wasnt anything like his puppies or his etchings)
The whole back row of this triple garage were trail bikes
We finally got to eat our sarnies overlooking the sea on this wee cliff we had found, and a solitary duck decided to take a look at us.
Then we re fueled bikes and ourselves on petrol and red bull
Onto another rocky climb where I unfortunately stalled it but managed to get going again by sheer luck. Teach made her way up I only got a photo of her at the top (Im sure the others have great photos of her coming up)
We then did the lanes leading to the boardwalk but peeled off and did the grassy rutty lane and the steep rocky decent into the wood - although I had successfully managed it the day before - today wasnt so lucky, back brake locked wheel, tried to feather front break - barbed wire fence hanging in track and big boulder - now where else to go but to aim for the wall - which did the trick, but pee'd me off as I managed to burn my leg on the exhaust and frustrated me cos I'd done it the day before!!!
We ended up in the Ginger Hall Hotel and asked for coffees and and ice pack for my little leg, we had a slightly odd reception but they were great getting burn spray and the like - and when it came to pay for our drinks they wouldnt let us pay - How bloomin' lovely were they!
Finally, it was a scenic ride back to my aunts as I'd had it for the day, way too much excitement for me!
My final pic of an old water mill
Day three was probably the best day we've ever had - laughter was the order of most of the day, I had to put together a video for this one, hope it works
the start of the day lead to a watery deadend - but what team work
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO RUN VIDEO
JUST CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TO SEE WHY SARAH IS DANCING AROUND!
Just realised there is a typo in the credits at the end of the video bought/brought?? You just can't get the staff these days!
OK my final photos from end of day 3 and homeward bound on day 4
Having waited for Sarah to stop dancing, we admired the scenery and then moved onto the boggy bit
Sarah had quite a tumble but was OK
This peat bog was really sticky and as soon as you hit a rut you stopped
Sarah went over but help was at hand
Some running repairs needed for Sarahs bike as the brake hoze had come lose
Can I just say Im gutted no one got a photo of me doing the bomb hole - I was crapping myself but thought hey whats the worst thing that could happen going up a really steep bank - I will either make it or fall off - luckily to my astonishment I made it to the top with almost a little bit of style. Everyone did it fine and then Ela decided to take a rest after the sheer excitement
A little top up at the garage of the old brake fluid for Sarah
Then the ferry home - spirits were still high for a while
And then the sandman came to visit all.
Then my final leg of the tour my bike onto Tinas trailer to Dobbies and then my damp ride home
Blimey charley, they only went and said yes
1 So, here is the start of the ride report of a long weekend of Blood, Sweat (lots of that) a few tears (mostly mine) and so much laughter I nearly wet myself on several occassions.
The trip was a long time in the coming, having booked the ferry tickets months ago, but the two weeks leading up to the weekend there was a flurry of pms, texts and calls about what eye shadow colour to take and what shoes we should pack, oh yeh and all that rubbish about tyres to be putting on the bike, and that we should take inner tubes in case of punctures (in a manly fashion) bla, bla, bla.
We sorted out between us who was going to carry what tools so we didnt all take the same to limit the weight on the bike.
So, I stole Bertie C's ortleib panniers (which we can get at discount price if anyone is interested £125 per pair), bought myself the most impractical Kreiger tail pack (5ltr doesn't hold much more than a slime pump and two inner tubes), for my first solo long distance ride to meet Tina at Dobbies on the Shrewsbury roundabout (she was worried about me on the dual carriageway on my dinky bike).
My ickle bike on the lawn waiting raring to go!
Then it was a night with Tina and Forry drinkin' wine and talkin' shite, up nice and early on the 7th to work our way up to Timpo's to pick up Sarah Teach and Pumpy for our escorted ride (thanks Timpo) to the ferry.
Tina's & my bike outside Tina's place
After Timpo had safely guided us to the ferry port, we gathered ready and admired the architecture around the port as we sailed out.
Once on the ferry I thought it was time to get into the swing of things and give the girlies their presents I had bought for them. Some top T Shirts embroidered for the occassion - individually named to prevent one forgetting who one was!
Sarah Teach couldn't hide her sheer excitement about the T shirts
Eventually she settled down enough so I could get a good photo of Ela and her donning their said T shirts
Even Tina looked impressed!
Apparently I wasnt allowed to get away without a picture of me too!
The ferry journey was smooth sailing with 4 very excited dirty girls nattering and laughing (much to the annoyance and entertainment of other passengers).
Finally, we got to the Isle of Man and disembarked to take our 20 min journey to my Aunts place in Malew for our first evening together, to get settled in and do the shopping - which was a trip in itself - with the maddest till operator a very busty blonde Scotish lady with a personality to match our excitement!
Day two on its way!
EDIT
art two of the tale mmmm yes after our day on the high seas, someone had to watch Eastenders, then finally got down to dealing with routes and maps - I wonder who?
whilst some of us did what came naturally
We got up nice and early for a good brekky of organic musli (thanks Ela) and toast and made our butties for the days riding.
our first track of the day - took us up the hill and to our first break (wont tell you for what), but toilet scenery was good!
Sarah looking like its all in a days work
Tina the same
Looking way too good ladies
We found a new hobby during the weekend called "gorse diving" very entertaining!!!!:huh
as invented by Ms Teach
We thought we had reached the "playground" but were slightly off base, but enjoyed our lunch here anyway
Tina Chillin' out
Ela flashing a bit of pink
Then we finally found the playground (not far from where we were having our lunch)
lots of fun - for about 10 minutes
then the weather started closing in so it was time for the next installment of the day
So after our play date in the playground on the 8th, it was time for some ruts, rocky decents and the boardwalk.
Those danged ruts get us every time
But the views were worth it all
Then it was time to show them there boys how to do the boardwalk without throwing your bike over the other side! This was tough, cos what you lovely folks cant see is that the ground is rutted all the way up both sides of the boards making it decidedly difficult to get ones bike up.
but with all hands on deck and lots of hard staring at the problem and girly brain power we all made it up without any problems
At the end of each day Sarah was under strict instructions to lube herself up, whoops no that was her bike chain, so she did all the bikes every evening, however things did get a little silly on occassion.
Until it just got too much for poor old Teach the dying fly turned stunt monkey!
The bikes had their own paddock to frolic in of an evening (before they got dirty again).
And the evenings spent in the alcove window we could have been on a tropical island.
And onto the 9th Aug - not a good day for me physically or psychologically. Im not going to make too many excuses but was running a temperature, was very tired and my back was playing up and especially after the first rut section it popped (for the good eventually, but not so great at the time).
Anyway, we started the day with a gentled tarmaced track up to a dead end (always a good place for a toilet break!).
It was then onto the Millenium way, which was grass, rocks and deep ruts, at this point the back went and I flipped, but after much billing and cooing from the girls I decided to carry on - much to my joy and sense of achievement (thanks girls couldnt have done it without ya).
It was about 2 and a bit miles of rocky ruts really hard work for a novice like me.
At the end of it we had a well deserved rest and giggle fest at the end of the lane - the first time I heard Ela swear! Its very funny and was much of my childish amusement for the rest of the weekend!!
Tina just before she was attacked by the red ants at the end of the millenium way
Teach wanted to find out if an old friend of hers and their family still lived in the same house, so we made our way to Peel and down to a cliff over looking the sea, while she went and knocked on the house nearby.
More to come!
So we are just enjoying the views...
When Sarah comes down and says we have to go up to the house, her friend no longer lives there but this very nice man (didnt get his name) wanted to show us his motorbike collection (and no it wasnt anything like his puppies or his etchings)
The whole back row of this triple garage were trail bikes
We finally got to eat our sarnies overlooking the sea on this wee cliff we had found, and a solitary duck decided to take a look at us.
Then we re fueled bikes and ourselves on petrol and red bull
Onto another rocky climb where I unfortunately stalled it but managed to get going again by sheer luck. Teach made her way up I only got a photo of her at the top (Im sure the others have great photos of her coming up)
We then did the lanes leading to the boardwalk but peeled off and did the grassy rutty lane and the steep rocky decent into the wood - although I had successfully managed it the day before - today wasnt so lucky, back brake locked wheel, tried to feather front break - barbed wire fence hanging in track and big boulder - now where else to go but to aim for the wall - which did the trick, but pee'd me off as I managed to burn my leg on the exhaust and frustrated me cos I'd done it the day before!!!
We ended up in the Ginger Hall Hotel and asked for coffees and and ice pack for my little leg, we had a slightly odd reception but they were great getting burn spray and the like - and when it came to pay for our drinks they wouldnt let us pay - How bloomin' lovely were they!
Finally, it was a scenic ride back to my aunts as I'd had it for the day, way too much excitement for me!
My final pic of an old water mill
Day three was probably the best day we've ever had - laughter was the order of most of the day, I had to put together a video for this one, hope it works
the start of the day lead to a watery deadend - but what team work
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO RUN VIDEO
JUST CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TO SEE WHY SARAH IS DANCING AROUND!
Just realised there is a typo in the credits at the end of the video bought/brought?? You just can't get the staff these days!
OK my final photos from end of day 3 and homeward bound on day 4
Having waited for Sarah to stop dancing, we admired the scenery and then moved onto the boggy bit
Sarah had quite a tumble but was OK
This peat bog was really sticky and as soon as you hit a rut you stopped
Sarah went over but help was at hand
Some running repairs needed for Sarahs bike as the brake hoze had come lose
Can I just say Im gutted no one got a photo of me doing the bomb hole - I was crapping myself but thought hey whats the worst thing that could happen going up a really steep bank - I will either make it or fall off - luckily to my astonishment I made it to the top with almost a little bit of style. Everyone did it fine and then Ela decided to take a rest after the sheer excitement
A little top up at the garage of the old brake fluid for Sarah
Then the ferry home - spirits were still high for a while
And then the sandman came to visit all.
Then my final leg of the tour my bike onto Tinas trailer to Dobbies and then my damp ride home
