Recon Warickshire

[alex]

I have last months TOR around Warickshire, have OS maps 151 and 152 (landranger) on route from amazon. I am thinking of running a recon run around with a possible begginers run after christmas.

I'm on Cannock chase on the 25th and hope to put my LSD in after so its either this weekend or next.

Anyone up for a run, I wouldnt want more than 4 cars in all, so can I have a show of hands and preferance for dates? sat or sun.

[FUDDY MUCKER]

Put the Fudster down as chief Gate opener.

Don't mind which date, preferably a Sunday, but I'm not free until November.

[Sir-Doris]

If this weekend I can make it. Il give you a shout morrow eve. Saturday is my preferred day as I have Bala P&P on the sunday with jonnyramrod and a couple of others.

[Postfinder]

If next wekend 18th or 19th I'd be up for it.
G.

[alex]

no winner yet then. Sorry Jase, the beast is in dry dock after Cannock chase so its before really. So either this sat or next (11th or 18th)

[Sir-Doris]

This Sat might be better, but next sat may give me time to swap the starters out. this sat methinks.

[alex]

Looking like the two of us so far, keeps footprint down I spose. Will sort meet point out and get back. Will make sure Graham can make the run if we do one later.

[Sir-Doris]

I think I can suffer your company for one day Any idea of what the terrain will be like?

[alex]

All pretty easy, bit boggy in places. Mostly pretty. hat sort of time do you want to start Phil?

[Sir-Doris]

Oooh.... Er.... 9.30am somewhere? whereabouts are you based Alex? As Il probably be passing by shrewsbury and birmingham way.

[alex]

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=helmdo ... 6|helmdon|

helmdon just of the M40 is a start place, can meet there or closer to the M42/M40 asuming your going to skirt Brum to the South. I ill most likely get on the M6 at Cannock and follow it around the M42 to the M40.

As you got a lot further than me to go, let me know the time that suits you and route, I can then try and time meeting up.

[alex]

Should be very pretty, not too hard on the cars, none modded Fronties should be fine. I might even be without my copilot if anyone wants to ride shotgun.

[Sir-Doris]

Likewise I have a space for shotgun. Ruth wont be with me as she has stuff to do on Saturday. So can bring a passenger if anyone wants picking up en-route.

Its 160 miles for me to helmdon, approx 3hr journey time. I would say meet in Helmdon and Il aim to be there for 9.30am/10.00am, given distance and so forth Il be leaving at approx 6.30am. So will allow a bit for traffic and any unforeseen circumstances. Although since its a Saturday I should make pretty good time on the motorway once I hit Shrewsbury.

Good for you?

[alex]

Sure, I reckon to give myself a good 1 1/2 hours to get. Will have a quicky on google earth later and spot a good meet spot.

[Postfinder]

Dont forget Photo's and a write up
G.

[alex]

No probs bud.

Brain gone jelly, just put route onto the os maps. They have ahabbit of turning you at trees and gates, not marked on os. Got it now though.

[alex]

Whhee, what a day.
Really odd mix of lanes, some so beautiful, untouched. Lovelly grasy routes a car cant have passed over in weeks, mixed with some real bomb holes that must be regular idiot fodder.

Long and short, we reckon a begginer day could have plenty of pretty miles down in Warickshire without needing to try the abused lanes. Takes in a couple of stately homes, a few dips in water, all in all a great day.

Hats of to our Phil, bloomin long way for a day out, hope you get back ok mate, look after the starter motor.

We did have a few close calls in the mud, both of us had a test with ground clearance and grip, mine has shot a uj at the rear diff but got me home safe and sound.

Pics to follow.

[2old0_0]

Hi Alex if you do run the beginner's day out in Warwickshire I would definitely like to come along and see what's available to us here in the Midlands I'm going on the beginner's green lane trip with Trugga on October 25 but I will still consider myself a beginner so would very much appreciate some advice and guidance cheers Nigel.

[Sir-Doris]

Cor Blimey! Just got home and the time is: 1.30am.

Il let you all into a little secret. I almost always have difficulty sleeping the night before an event. So, with only a few hours of kip under my belt I left the house at 6.30am praying that it wouldnt rain all day as the forecast predicted. Sure enough after a few miles I settled into the journey and by the time I hit Shrewsbury I was well into my stride and smiling with the sun in my eyes.

I met Alex and Spence about 10 miles before Helmdon at a motorway services and after a quick coffee, a pink pig and a bad joke we set off.

We swapped leadership roles continually throughout the day which gave all of us a chance to close gates and it was during one of my stints in the lead that we came to some ruts which were deceptively deep and I bottomed out and got stuck due to lack of momentum, a swift tug from Alex and I was pulled backwards for another attempt. Still not enough momentum and Alex went around me to pull me through the ruts. Only a 10 minute delay and to be fair we did do about 95% of the lanes in 2wd.

As Alex said some of the lanes havent been touched in weeks, one or two possibly months since anything passed by. Lots of rolling hills and horseriders. Actually, lots of horses everywhere, and cows and a smattering of sheep. Smiles from everyone apart from one grumpy elderly gent who sweared at us a little bit as he walked past us while muttering something about padlocking gates.

Our next close call with the sticky stuff was towards the end of the day as the sun went down and with about half a mile to the nearest road on the second to last lane when I bottomed out again in some more deceptively deep ruts and yet again required a tug from Alex. This was the worrying point of the day for us though as Alex was spinning his wheels a bit pulling me out. Together we just about made it through this section and it was at that point that we decided to skip the last lane and not tempt fate any further with our worn tyres and dicky starter motors and a rather vocal propshaft UJ.

I followed Alex until I had to turn off and started feeling really drowsy so I stopped at Telford services (I should have dropped in on A friend and invaded his couch ) and had a couple of hours kip in the car. Woke up fresh as a daisy and covered the rest of the journey at a very leisurely 55mph and still seemed to make better time home then I usually do.

Absolutely shatter now so will load pics tomorrow. Not a huge number of them and of course they never really do the real thing justice but it will give you some idea.

Definately a good one for beginners with nothing to scratch anything and both rutted sections are easily bypassed or left out altogether.

[john (smifffy)]

sounds like youhad a good time

im off out now fishing get a bit of peace on the bank