Today I have been mostly exploring byways

[Clive]

The second half of the route.

If time there is then the opportunity of exploring some additional byways, either North of Chieveley, or South of Hungerford.

BTW - I had to abandon BW014-BW013 last time I was there - hopefully it'll be drier this time.

Apart from the last bit of BW013, the remainder are Tourance friendly and a good intro for any green-lane virgins who fancy a bit of off-tarmac

 

[Patch]

I am on "duty" with SERV Friday 8th night so Sat the 9th would not be good for me but could get out this Sunday afternoon what time are you thinkin?

 

[Clive]

I am on "duty" with SERV Friday 8th night so Sat the 9th would not be good for me but could get out this Sunday afternoon what time are you thinkin?

I should be able to make the "start" (the entrance to Hilton St. Annes Manor Hotel) around 2pm ?

 

[Patch]

OK that sounds like a plan then

 

[Clive]

Friday 1st April 2005

New tyres this afternoon, so I was forced to go and see what the recent rain had done to the route

Took 1.5 hours to go from the start to as far as I dared along the old roman road (BW014-BW013) - most of the byways were muddy with lots of puddles

The first ford wasn't much higher than normal, the second one seemed quite a bit higher but I managed to get across in the "shallow end"

 

[Clive]

I hope it stays dry until Sunday - I'm not sure I would have managed to stay upright today on Tourances.

Ah well, time for a hose down.

 

[Patch]

Great day out Clive, I've no idea where we went but some brilliant by-ways, fords and even the connecting bits were good fun.

Sorry for the dodgy start but at least we got it unstuck in the end

Will sort out a time to do the ones aroun Basingstoke soon and we really must remember to take some pictures

 

[Clive]

A great day for it.

17 byways and 4 fords.
1 stuck GSA, 1 nearly went over 1200.
2 huge grins.
3 hours of great entertainment.

 

[Clive]

3rd April 2005

The tracking...

 

[Clive]

A watering stop at the back of the services on the A33

 

[Clive]

I didn't think we would make it the whole length of the roman road and we didn't

The muddy holes in the background go on for a couple of hundred yards. Here is Patch turning around - just before it toppled over.

A couple walking the byway said the track got worse further down - we think it can be done but probably would need at least 4 people and a tow rope

 

[Clive]

The recent rain must have weakened this tree - luckily it was so old and knackered - the branches broke off fairly easily so we could continue onward.

Must remember to take more action photos next time

 

[Clive]

Great day out Clive, I've no idea where we went but some brilliant by-ways, fords and even the connecting bits were good fun.

Sorry for the dodgy start but at least we got it unstuck in the end

Will sort out a time to do the ones aroun Basingstoke soon and we really must remember to take some pictures

Good to meet you - heaving that GSA around is good exercise isn't it - I look forward to exploring your neck of the woods somewhen soon.

 

[Snooky]

Clive, The roman road bit, is that Park Lane behind mortimer?
And also the track that follows the A33, is it hard pack all the way and where do you pick it up from, OS grid would be nice as no GPS

 

[Clive]

Clive, The roman road bit, is that Park Lane behind mortimer?
And also the track that follows the A33, is it hard pack all the way and where do you pick it up from, OS grid would be nice as no GPS

Just checked the paper map - it is labelled The Devil's Highway - Park Lane - and is South of Stratfield Mortimer.

The A33 track is hard packed dirt most of the way - a few damp patches today - probably a bit muddy after rain. It starts (via a gated entrance just off the A33/Three Mile Cross roundabout) at 714 682 and runs for approx 2 miles to 705 661 - it is shown on my map as unbroken, but there is a recent housing estate around 1/3 of the way - if you start the Three Mile Cross end - turn right when you reach the houses and pick up the second stretch approx 200 yards up the road. You can get onto the second bit through a narrow entrance hidden behind the services.

 

[richie]

I didn't think we would make it the whole length of the roman road and we didn't

The muddy holes in the background go on for a couple of hundred yards. Here is Patch turning around - just before it toppled over.

A couple walking the byway said the track got worse further down - we think it can be done but probably would need at least 4 people and a tow rope

mad

 

[RolandAdv]

Excellent!

thanks for sharing!

- Roland
R1150GS Adv
Reading, UK

 

[Clive]

Tuesday 5th April 2005

Explored the top left of Explorer 159 (near Upper Basildon/Ashampstead) for a couple of hours.

Forgot the camera though, so no photos

I can recommend
BW105 (N51 30.211 W1 10.928)
to
BW106 (N51 30.788 W1 11.481)

and also
RUPP002 (N51 29.140 W1 11.256)
to
RUPP003 (N51 29.024 W1 10.597)

this track also has the option of going to RUPP001 (N51 28.012 W1 11.047) - one for another day I think - in fact there are a couple more RUPPs to be looked into next time - RUPPs in this area seem more accessible that others I have seen around Reading.

 

[Titch]

just been reading your byways trips and it is true what people say...................























You are mad!!!!!

Very interesting route only to be made by good tyres, excellent ride and fantastic bike..........counts me out then!

 

[RolandAdv]

Hey Clive - could you share the WP list and the track logs with us? May be in a text format that can be read by other Nav programs (in my case TTQV)? What are you using anyway?

Thanks!
Roland