Morecambe Bay Crossing

[PaulXC]

just about to set off across Morecambe bay with the Lancs TRF

Posting this from my Iphone.

Pics to follow but if you are on twitter.com my user name there is PaulXC and I can post some pics live from the middle of the sands.

P

 

[Andy_E]

Have fun, don't stop to pick any winkles

 

[Slowdown]

Shout 'Ni hao' to anyone you meet......

See you one one of the corrosion threads in a week or two

 

[PaulXC]

Just got back and washed layers of salt and sand of the XC.

What a lark - well worth joining the TRF just for that day out I reckon.

I went playing with the Lancs TRF for about three hours and did 20 odd miles over the sandbanks of Morecambe Bay.

Started out at Hest Bank at 10.30 with four guides on quads - the aim was to get to Grange Over Sands over the sandbanks and then through a channel ( the River Kent I think ) which got to about 2 foot deep as the tide went out.

We didn't quite make it as by the time we got to the channel three of the quads were already towing assorted broken down bikes so we figured we didn't have enough backup in for any causalities in the water. So we looped back towards Hest Bank.

Sadly we passed by the wreck of the van used by the perished cockle pickers - its long way out and not somewhere you'd want to be in the dark with a tide coming fast. A couple of the guys were never found.

Only one other BM there , another XC, the rest of the lads sensibly came on light machinery.

Excellent day out and a pile of cash raised for WaterAid through a bit of sponsorship / donating.

Big thanks to the Lance TRF for putting it on.

 

[PaulXC]

A couple more pics.

 

[Wanderer]

Looks like brilliant fun

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Looks crazy Paul

 

[oblertone]

I've done that trip ...

... albeit on foot (a long time ago), would love to try it on a bike, well done

 

[PaulXC]

... albeit on foot (a long time ago), would love to try it on a bike, well done

There was a walking trip out on the mudbanks complete with backup tractor - they put us to shame a bit coz they actually waded through the channel to get to Grange over Sands.

Some more pics on here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38485417@N07/show/with/3538746706/

Paul

 

[ONYERBIKE]

Nice one Paul, looks like a good day day out, are you planning on many more outings with the local TRF?

 

[Pumpy]

Thank you for the report, Paul, great pics!

I would have done it myself if I hadn't promised to lead a trail ride-out at Llangollen (which didn't happen either but that's a different story...).

Morecambe Bay is on the list for next year.

 

[Pipster]

Fair play looks like you had fun make sure you wash all that salt off

 

[lordie]

make sure you wash all that salt off

+1

Morecambe Bay was my old playground , Been out there many times on quadbikes and tractors picking cockles and on waterski's when the tides in

It is an awesome place but can be very scary out there when the fog comes down and the tide is coming in!!

Have never took the dak on the sands though, that sand and salt just melts metal!