Salisbury Plain #2 - Jan '10

[Evel Knievel]

The old man had recently bought a KTM 950 Adventure and had spent last weekend removing every panel and polishing every inch of it, so I thought it only fair that I give him the opportunity to trash it! A pair of TKC80s were fitted on Saturday and arrangements were made for Sunday morning.

I left Bristol with a few pals to meet at The Swan in Enford for 10am.

Frosty start:

Whitebeak (Paul) (aka GrinningGSer) and his R1200GSA:

Matt and his Harley MT 350:

Oh dear, there'll be some embarrassing footage from this later:

The site of the first off of the day (which was me on my F800GS) - hadn't quite bargained for the ice being so thick that you couldn't ride through it and lost the front end. This is Simon on his Armstrong 500 negotiating the same section after the rest of the group had helpfully stomped their way through so that I could get out.

Bill had brough his Husaberg over in the van from London. It was the first time he'd ever been off-road and only the second time he'd ridden the bike!

Slightly frosty view over the plain:

What looks like muddy rutts are actually frozen solid and quite tricky to negotiate:

The old man on his (almost gleaming if he hadn't scuffed both side panels and smashed his OS mirror) KTM 950 Adventure - first time (intentionally) off-road. Notice he's still smiling though!

Dad and Bill having a well earned rest after a tricky section and a few offs between them. First half an hour was the trickiest due to everything still being frozen.

This looks worse than it is. Bill's Huaberg didn't have a stand, so when the radiator pipe came loose he'd laid it over. A quick fiddle with the spanners and all sorted. We didn't have any fresh water with us, so I topped his radiator back up with orange squash.

By the time we got to Sidbury Hill things had started to thaw out a little:

Plenty of time for photos:

The Stump makes an appearance:

...and spends some time giving the old man a few tips:

Time to start heading back for some grub at the pub - Neil on the KTM, Bill on the Husaberg, Paul on his 1200GSA and Simon on his Armstrong 500:

But not before some plonker gets himself stuck in this icy puddle (Matt surveying the aftermath):

The bike is fine (actually a bit cleaner than it was):

We had the offer of help from this guy, but thanks to Matt, Simon and Stump we didn't need it:

Almost made it all the way back without a drop:

Now that's a roast dinner!:

That's what I call a proper day out!!

 

[LiquidLAN]

lol... looks like you guys had fun, I could hear a few big trailies zipping about yesterday shame I wasnt able to get out there, but yep it was cold... you've got to watch some of those icey puddles a few of them are really very deep

Looks like you mostly stuck around the Tidworth/Bulford/Everleigh area there's load of great tracks out there, but yep at the moment most of the mud and ruts are forzen and not the easiest to ride.

Word of caution of Sidbury Hill though, that whole area is out of bounds and clearly marked, the MOD and Landwardens will get pretty pissy if they find you in there.

Edit: hope your mate remembers to flush his radiator out, can't imagine orange squash will be good in the long term???

 

[Evel Knievel]

Word of caution of Sidbury Hill though, that whole area is out of bounds and clearly marked, the MOD and Landwardens will get pretty pissy if they find you in there.

Yeah, thanks fella. Been over there a few times now and not had any problems. There's usually a few landies and/or bikes in the area. Last time I spoke to Defence Estates on the phone they said just to use common sense. As it's not a live firing range, they seem relatively happy as long as you don't take the mickey.

 

[MG57]

Hi.
Thanks for your post, you all had a blast, well done. )

Memorys for me as I was stationed at Tidworth in the 80's and used to have to "tab" it all over the plain and where you were. Happy days, I can say that now but at the time F*********!!! it was hard work.

Mark

 

[Clive]

Yeah, thanks fella. Been over there a few times now and not had any problems. There's usually a few landies and/or bikes in the area. Last time I spoke to Defence Estates on the phone they said just to use common sense. As it's not a live firing range, they seem relatively happy as long as you don't take the mickey.

I hope no GSs were in sight - they are still trying to recover from Steptoe's "Mad Sunday" experience

 

[GrinningGSer]

Fantastic day out Evel
I feel really sorry for your dad, he must have finished the day with every panel damaged

When you meet really thick ice, you either go around (me) or over the top at breakneck speed (The Stump) or it breaks and you go in (Evel)!
Watch the end of the vid:
<object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9113526&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9113526&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/9113526">Minus 3.5 Degrees on The Plains Jan 2010</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2389979">Grinning GSer</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

 

[BAKERMAN]

geeeeeeeeeeeeeee guys wonder you did`nt die out there in that water

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Last time I spoke to Defence Estates on the phone they said just to use common sense. As it's not a live firing range, they seem relatively happy as long as you don't take the mickey.

The MOD contacted me yesterday regarding this issue. The definitive answer on this one is as follows:-

"Defence Estates owns and manages the Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA). Our attention was recently drawn to the ride report Salisbury Plain #2 - Jan 10 as details posted within the thread were untrue and the photographs clearly show riders utilising areas that are not open to use by the public. SPTA byelaws and advice given are quite clear. Members of the public can access the eastern part of the Plain on motorbikes or vehicles on byways or on made up stone tracks. This does not include the actual top of Sidbury Hill - nor indeed the driver training area."

"It is possible for vehicles to use surfaced Military tracks on a permissive basis unless there are signs which exclude public use. There is no public vehicular access to unsurfaced tracks unless they are a designated right of way. You must stay on the rights of way or Military tracks (where allowed to do so). The maximum speed limit on SPTA is 30mph. It is important to also bear in mind that members of the public must obey instructions given by soldiers, Land Wardens or Range Wardens."

"They are able to use vehicular rights of way (unrestricted Byways) across Salisbury Plain Training Area. However it is the responsibility of the individual to check the status of the right of way against the Definitive Map held by Wiltshire County Council; Defence Estates does not hold this information. There are many byways which lie within the Range Danger Area which are closed to the public when the area is being used for military training purposes. This is indicated by the flying of Red Flags (or illuminated Red Lamps) and warning notices. These areas are covered by Military Byelaws and those ignoring the warnings may be liable to prosecution."

"We hope by giving the correct advice members of this forum and other motorcyclists are able to enjoy the area safely."

 

[david a hall]

Att was right then, we are being watched!

 

[BAKERMAN]

THERES FECKING GREAT BIG SIGNS SAYING

"OUT OF BOUNDS"

Guys when I saw those pictures I was amased you never had a RANGE WARDEN with you.

You all look like responsible adults

 

[LiquidLAN]

Att was right then, we are being watched!

Its those damn helicopters that keep flying outside my window! I'm going to have to start closing the blinds

THERES FECKING GREAT BIG SIGNS SAYING

"OUT OF BOUNDS"

Guys when I saw those pictures I was amased you never had a RANGE WARDEN with you.

You all look like responsible adults

lol... me too

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I think it is absolutely wrong, completely inexcusable and has no excuse.... I cant believe that no-one has mentioned this yet. . .
A real roast dinner MUST have gravy.