An unexpected day out

[Drift]

I had a free day today so thought I would PM me old mate Trugga to revive an old tradition, last minute laning I knew he was off work this week so thought I would see if he fancied a trip out.
Well he said yes and away we went.

I met him somewhere near Bala, as usual I was at least 30 minutes late bloody Runcorn Bridge

I got to the meeting point in a very snowy forestry commission car park and Lawrence had the bacon on the cooker
So some grub and tyre kicking we decided to hit some gentle lanes...what a laugh, on a fantastic crisp blue cold day we got to the first lane which was a sharp right hand turn...guess who took it too fast and found a snow filled ditch....Me
I know a person with a better picture, my waffle boards where needed



After I extracted myself from the "Hell hole" L got up the hill but I lost traction and as gas was on the car was going backwards, it was like glass, so L reversed back, then realised he was going backwards with his brakes on it was that slippy.
So we abandoned that lane.





We went to a more simple lane, still very icey and good fun, lots of gabbing and great scenery.

We went to Corwen, the car wash was a tad icy, 4" thick to be precise, it was frozen both sides except for a thin section in the middle that had ice flowing through it, we messed about trying and failing to break the ice, it would have ripped your bumper off and shredded CV boots it was so thick.
So we then watched some Bison and a pheasant shoot








This one had a poo







It was really good to catch up and great to see you again fella happy lanes

[Rifleman]

That animal must be mad, releasing all that heat in weather like that.

[westo123]

Excellent shots, well jealous!

[Trugga]

Excellent pics Ste - twas a good day out.

Yes, I had a week booked off, with lots of things on my schedule to do: take stuff down the tip, Christmas shopping, visit sister, have a day out... however, last Saturday my Father was admitted to hospital, so the first few days of my holiday were taken over with fretting, communicating amongst family and taking Mother to the Hospital. It now transpires he has a hiatus Hearnia, and now it is diagnosed, treatment can begin - he should be released at the weekend.

Anyhow, both Mother and Father insisted I take take my planned trip out... only thing was, the PM was found in my inbox last night on my return from the Black Country Meet. Plans were hastilly amended...

I arrived a little earlier than planned, but put the extra time to good use by means of drinking coffee from a flask and practicing the art of camp stove (smoked) bacon butties.



An hour later, the unmistakable sound of a 2.8 was heard over-shooting the entrance to the carpark.

Much chinwagging and tyre kicking then took place over more bacon butties and coffee.

I hadn't planned to tackle any lanes (I was going to be on my own - I just like the peace up in the mountains), although I knew of a couple in the area. I conjoured up a circular route that would return us to this picnic area...

Two miles down the road, we turn a hard LEFT (not right Ste ), well, I turned a hard left, Ste just turned left:



Having commented on the thinness of Ste's waffle boards earlier, they did a fine job of giving a little of that precious traction required to extricate the Estate.

Once we're safely on unfrozen tarmac, we make our way to a second, more level lane... and then northwards towards Corwen and the infamous "carwash"



...stopping to have a look at these amazing beasts along the way:



oops, sorry, I meant these amazing beasts:





As mentioned by Ste, the ford was well and truly frozen, and even a bit of banter with a shooting group in the field opposite, would not persuade us into the drink:





Not quited the quiet day out I had planned, but sometimes it's even better to share them with someone else.

Cheers Ste, a good day out.

(I wont mention the two hour delay on the way home though due to traffic)

Lawrence

[bigdazz]

love the mud flaps trugga what u make them out of sir

[gregster]

Looks like conveyor belt Dazz...

Cracking pics guys...and a good day out!

[Drift]

[bigdazz]

both the trucks look cracking

[andysd1]

great pics

[Trugga]

[Drift]

I wish I stayed at home

[bigdazz]

[Trugga]

[Rich]

well done lads looks like a cracking day was had

[bigdazz]

[diders]

cracking pics guys

[James Bass]

Ya lucky so-and-so's. Must be nice to have (or at least know of) some nice lanes near you, and to have some F.O.G. friends close by (none really up my way ). Great pics Ste and Lawrence. Looks like you had a good time.

[Drift]

Hour and a half drive for me and the same for Trugga from the opposite direction but then I do have Andysd1 around the corner to get a cuddle from

[James Bass]

[andysd1]

after seeing the shape of that thing, last time, you aint get near me