Various climbs up and down Box hill, with optional descents of either the road, or a steepish diagonal trending bridleway a mile or so east of the road. Which will be grim in the wet!

To the west, the steep southern flanks of Leith/Holmbury/Pitch Hills are better in the wet than the North Downs – greensand (sandstone) rather than chalk. Some very steep carries if you look for them, then descend easily to the nearest road crossing N-S for a non-techy option, or follow some of the easier MTB trails which you’ll come across. This would be my pick, and the gentler northern slopes give lots of bridleway or forest road climbs. You can easily clock up a few thousand feet of climbing in a nice 20k route.

I had an 851 Massey Ferguson tractor, and then a fantastic old style Unimog thing, 8848, which happened also to be the then accepted height of Everest, which I was also somewhat obsessed with. Both had things like working drive shafts for accessories, steering, tipping etc. All very clever.

I think I still have all the bits from both, in a plastic box, and the instructions for the Unimog. I will be having a look in the loft!

I see they do a new all singing and dancing Unimog for a few hundred quid…

Swinley is a great place for just blasting around on a bike having fun, especially with mates. It ain’t the most technical, but it flows well, its a damned good work out if you push your pace a little, and if folk can’t enjoy themselves there I’m not really sure we “get” biking in the same way. No, it doesn’t have much techy stuff, though “apparently” there is some nice off piste stuff if you nose about. Of course I wouldn’t know about that, or how to get to it after turning right somewhere near Red 6 and past a green metal bench into Crowthorne Woods, as obviously nobody would ride off piste, when its apparently frowned upon.

Happy to agree that Surrey Hills offers far more variety and techy stuff if that’s your bag, and I do prefer it, but it does annoy me when folk diss Swinley as if its boring. How can riding a bike near your limit both physically and technically, with a bunch of mates for several hours and the associated banter that comes with friends, be boring?

Worth the 2 hour drive from most of Southern England, especially once the mud arrives everywhere else.

The cafe is rubbish, and the parking a pain in the arse on a busy weekend though.

I like the overall feel of the site, and I think the photography generally does a good job of showing off what are clearly some lovely pieces of work. I’m not sure the scrolling gallery starts with some of your best work, if I’m honest, I might tweak the order so that some of the most beautiful pieces come up early on, rather than the more rustic ones.

I’m also not a fan of the font, and on your “About me” page I found it hard to read and therefore off putting. It may partly be that I am never a fan of “white on dark” text, it is more likely to make my eyes hurt, but I do like the overall colours and tones so I’d just change the font to something slightly less “thin”.

Navigation is clear and simple.

Have you got any happy customers who’d be willing to offer quotes or reviews?

Overall, good job!

The Bugatti.

Is the “Ferrari” even actually a Ferrari, they didn’t start building Ferrari badged cars until 1947, and by then they were much more modern looking?

An Indonesian friend of mine considers bat wings a delicacy.

Due to be 3-4 weeks from 30th April.

They’re trying to make sure the riding is at least as good once the forestry work is finished. Just thinning trees, not clearing the lot, so trails should be unharmed.

If you do the FB thing, look here: https://www.facebook.com/swinleybikehub/posts/797025433821771

First car I owned myself was a poverty spec Austin Maestro 1.3, when I was 24 ish. Max space for price. Which pretty much describes my thought process for every car since…

Test drove it around the supermarket car park. Only on picking it up once the paperwork/cash was through did I get in it and try to adjust the tilt on the seats, to find that was an optional extra. I never knew you could get fixed seats! Thing only let me down once when taking a lass on a first date, too many puddles that day. Had to wait for it to dry out after spraying WD40 everywhere. Or maybe it was jealous…

Gearbox was a shocking 4 speed with gears vaguely in each corner but no feeling of “slots” getting to them. Carpets didn’t reach the sides, so wiring was visible inside. No intermittent wipe.

Before that, having passed the test at 17, I had use of the family second cars, which had been bought to help smooth over the fact we’d moved way out of town and away from me and my bro’s mates.

First was a Datsun 100A, which never missed a beat but rusted steadily.

Second was a slightly bonkers Citroen Visa Super X with weird low profile solid magnesium alloys (145/50s or something!) and a rev happy little 1.2 engine, on top of which sat the spare wheel, presumably to stop it escaping through the bonnet. It was great fun, gripped well (in my head at least), but leant over in turns massively like a Citroen should do, so passengers were always petrified. I drove it on the limit at all times, as it had a rare-in-those-days rev counter in its weird dashboard, and I felt it my duty to use the red line regularly. A couple of weeks after handing it back (possibly smoking slightly) to mum, it died of a cracked block. That’s the one I miss, a weird little thing, full of character.

Was about right on MetOffice for here in Surrey.

Anyway, surely everybody checks every single weather forecast they can find (BBC, MetO, xc, yr.no, MetCheck, Accu, ECMWF, etc, etc) until you find one that’s good enough to give you hope and just go out and do what you planned anyway? Or is it just me….?

I also can’t help but chuckle slightly about Yellow Snow warnings.

All the above are good hills. Decide where you’re wanting to stay, then ask again, its more than 2 hours from Glencoe to Torridon.

Personally, I love the NW Highlands more than any other area, and would highly recommend the Strathcarron/Coulin/Torridon/Fisherfield areas as being some of the wildest and most beautiful in Scotland/Britain/Europe/TheWorld.

The Torridon area, and the Coulin Forest hills just to the south, have the advantage of some excellent stalkers’ tracks into them, so the approach is still easy, but you have less crowds than in accessible Glencoe. They are also stupendous on the bike, I’m told, one of the UK’s top challenging mountain biking areas. I’ve never yet been up with the bike, and some bits look like I’d be walking for long periods but if you’re a good rider, they’d be some of the best rides you’ll ever have.

For a flavour of the area, I’ve just added a couple of trips on the lower hills of the area to my own blog site; Beinn Damh (https://www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk/beinn-damh)   and Fuar Tholl (https://www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk/fuar-tholl), neither of which are quite Munros, both of which are superb hills with views to die for.

In late spring, there will only be the odd snow patch left, shouldn’t cause you any trouble, and that is one of the best times of year to visit as its before the midges get truly vicious, and the weather can be good. Or not, of course, its Scotland!

@ op- do you find that the windows where it meets the rubber seal into door ever has a build up of green algae like mossy stuff?

Mine has this. Parked in the same place as my previous cars were for 14 years before I had the Skoda, but now I have green algae on the seals of the Octavia, which I’ve never experienced before even on beat up old cars. Running my finger along the seal, it is no longer smooth, and I suspect the rubber is perishing slightly, giving the algae somewhere to live.

Goteborg is a good city for a stopover, loads to do and see, if you want a change from the trees, lakes and rocks of Sweden.

I spend 2 nights there, staying in a “boat” hotel, which used to be an Ibis, was called a Good Morning, but can’t find detail of. It was just a Travelodge, but I liked the fact it was a boat.

The city museum has loads of Viking type history. Walking through town will be interesting for the adults, maybe less so for the kids.

I hired a kayak and went around the harbour and canals, which was excellent fun. http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/49989-G%C3%B6teborg

The boat trips to the fort sounded good.

The Maritime museum was superb, basically about 20 old boats moored in the harbour which you could just wander through.

Another vote for the Bahco Laplander. Great bit of kit, use it loads for tree falls when canoeing, and when volunteering with Wildlife Trusts. Amazing how thick a bough/tree I can take out with it, and the blades are cheaply replaceable.

I’ve met a fair few, most only briefly. Some were vaguely through work, so don’t count for a thread like this. 20% were lovely, 10% arseholes, the rest somewhere between but polite enough. Like people, I guess!

The more obscure ones then;

I was at a bar after a panto in Mansfield where Simon Groom was telling Brian Cant and Don Estelle that the Blue Peter badge would get you into Stringfellows.

Ali Bastian told me my folding canoe was “awesome” as I lugged it from the belt at Gatwick and she asked what was in the (huge) bag. I didn’t know who she was other than that she was vaguely familiar, and rather attractive, and it was nice for an old boy like me to be unexpectedly engaged in a conversation with her. Research later identified her as an actress, who I just had to look up again to remember her surname. Nice lass.

I got drunk with a weatherman (Phil Avery) at a mate’s wedding. This led to me singing Mustang Sally with the band, only knowing the chorus, while he got the heck out whilst he still could…

Thanks folks.

Off to Scotland for the hills tomorrow, but leaving the bikes behind and taking the ice axes and crampons instead.

Well, its a while ago now, but having finally built myself a little website for my articles and photos, I’ve written up the trip there. Hope its of interest!

https://www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk/bikepacking-the-south-downs-way

My 80 year old uncle has a Jazz (3 or 4 years old version). My dad, his twin brother, has the Note, similar age model. The Jazz is in my opinion a better vehicle in most ways – space, road noise, comfort. Nissan probably has a slightly nicer dash, and is better equipped. I don’t like being a rear passenger in the Note, lots of road noise, and the ride is a bit harsh, with lots of creaking trim in the boot behind me. Not driven either though, so can’t comment.

Worked for a while at as buyer in the back office of a fly fishing store near Reading. Took a phone call from a customer looking for directions. Fairly standard stuff, except he was flying himself in by helicopter. I opened up Google Maps, switched to satellite view, and told him to follow the M4, hang a left at the railway just before before j12, and land on the grass by the first lake he came to after the station. Old school air navigation?! Our customers were quite wealthy…

Once spent a memorable cold evening on the side of a snow-clad Snowdon, after witnessing an accident and helping out, being blown around by the spindrift from a Sea King. They’re rather large when hovering above your head, aren’t they!

Regularly see Chinooks, as with the others in the north Hants, west Surrey area. They are even bigger, and the noise always makes me look, just like the noise of Concorde always made me want to see it.

This looks OK at a quick glance:

The Ultimate Guide to Learning how to use Your first DSLR

” is seconds, not inches.

Bulb means “open while you hold the shutter” effectively. You would only use that for things like night photography.

Typically, your shutter speed, unless using a tripod, is perhaps going to be between 1/60th and maybe 1/500th for a lot of shooting. As above, a middling light situation might see you on ISO200 or 400, 1/125th-1/250th, F no in the middle of the range.

Set the ISO on 200 say for now, unless the day is particularly dark, in which case bump it up to 400. You can leave the camera fully manual, or you can choose to prioritise either the shutter speed, or the aperture. These are labelled on my Canon as Tv or Av. In these modes, you choose one and the camera will work out the other for you.

Slow shutter speeds lead to less sharp images. Wide apertures (small number) can lead to a narrow depth of field, meaning that the image is not sharp all the way from foreground to distance. You can use this for effect.

Any more for now is getting complicated, and believe me, there’s lots and lots BUT none of it is rocket science, and if you do just a little research you’ll soon get the hang of the basics.

Which camera did you get?

Pin disappeared from my front disc caliper the other day. Luckily I noticed it when putting the wheel on. Suspect it got pushed out when loading/unloading bike into car, despite being bent back. Had an old set still in car so used pin from that, fortunately.

At least you can say its has happened to others. Still might be better to be out when she gets back ;)

Definitely a trip rather than bike/bits. Somewhere that would normally be off the list for financial or time reasons.

US/Canada might be high up the list, though I’m partial to also seeing new cultures so one of the other big mountain ranges and some sort of bike exploration would appeal to me.

Or 1000 days parking at Swinley, of course.

You won’t go too far wrong with Glenmore Lodge, Dave Rossiter who runs the paddlings side has a great reputation.

Kushi Adventures, based near Inverness, may have something to suit, or can tailor something.

Loch Insh outdoor centre is another one.

Matt will no doubt be along soon, as you say!

I also find Merino simply doesn’t last, it ends up with holes in it, is it just me and a moth infested flat or something (never seen moths and they don’t eat my other wool stuff!). My synthetics last for many years. They don’t stink if you buy the stuff with some sort of pong inhibitor in it (silver, bamboo etc).

Indeed. Chips in metal baskets, veg in separate pots, just serve it straight up on my plate for goodness sake!

Pies in pots. Noooooooooooo. They’re not pies, if they’re just a lid on a pot.

Roast chicken is a favourite of mine, but no reason it should be everybody’s.

I’m the same with Merino, only use it for nice snuggliness in cold camps/bothies, just don’t find it good enough for highly active work.

My favourite baselayers are old Patagonia Capilene tops and bottoms which I was lucky enough to buy as ex-samples at bugger all price. Ten years later and they’re still wicking well, keeping the heat when needed, and non-smelly. Sadly they don’t use the same fabric now, but I would imagine they’re still really really good. But expensive!

My next favourites are Alpkit Laika. Nice and warm, and very hardwearing, though they don’t wick quite as quickly as the Patagucci, and take a bit longer to dry. Cut and fit is excellent, especially the arms.

I have numerous Decathlon wicking T’s, all excellent value, and one long sleeve one which is good for really active stuff but not as warm as the others.

I had an Odlo top, don’t know where its gone, but it was good.

B.A.Nana, possibles on your photos.

2. Devil’s Ridge, Sgurr a’ Mhaim?
3. Forcan Ridge
4. Ciste Dhubh (though could be many other places!)

Loving all the images.

OMG, Astrowars! I hadn’t though of that in years, and now have the beeping and pinging sounds going through my head.

Lego and Action Man were my main things, but I have fond memories of Escape from Colditz, Mousetrap (which never worked), and my brother’s Steve Austin figure.

I had a Grandstand TV game thing, with the tennis and “football” games supplemented with a gun that you shot at a moving dot on the telly. The latter was brilliant, loved it. For about 2 hours, and then it was easy and boring forever.

It was a long time ago (15 yrs), but the only time I’ve had to claim statutory, it was weeks rather than months. They were actually pretty helpful. Value is pretty low, week’s worth for each year of service capped at whatever the current lowest rate is!

Never got anything as a creditor later once all wrapped up though.

Good luck with getting something new sorted.

Simply replace the word “you” with “poo” in any song. For example;

I will wait for Poo (Mumford and sons)
The Wonder of Poo

Hours of endless fun. With a little time spent with a guitar, you can ensure your friends will receive comments from the teachers of their children about how they have got the whole school singing them in the playground. I call that a result.

This one’s more amusing for (mostly male) adults than kids, if I’m honest, but my other theory is that any, and I mean ANY, song will be improved by the replacement of the word “heart” with arse.

Arse of Glass
Total Eclipse of the Arse

Try it. I may have changed your life.

A few more

Camasunary

.

Into the heart of the Cuillin

.

Sgurr nan Gillean

.

I had one, 04 plate Sport estate, probably my favourite estate car I’ve owned overall for how comfortable and smooth it was. It died a Viking death when torched by some yobbos whilst parked up overnight in a remote spot whilst I was canoe camping.

All above cover the main things; clutch, manifold (should have been replaced with part contribution by Honda), suspension, tailgate. Mine had a major warranty engine rebuild due to chain running the oil pump failing, a known fault on early models but should have been replaced during its life. I know a few friends who also have/had them, most have a few niggles at that age but nothing major other than mentioned. Not as cheap to run/fix as a Ford, say. Apart from the warranty issue and the manifold, mine was still going strong and driving smoothly at 167k when it was killed. (still sad about it 7 years later!)

Engine smooth and powerful compared with others of its era. Economy not brilliant, managed low 40s generally. Used some oil, but not excessive. Massive boot on the estate. Much nicer to be in than the Mondeo I had to replace it with.

Of the two, I’d say Arnold is the better area, but the commute will probably be worse. Hucknall slightly nearer to the motorway and escape to the Peak District etc. At least being on the north side puts you closer to that and the better riding. Sherwood Pines very quick to get to from Arnold.

Neither will be bad, things have improved lots since I lived in the area (early 90s), when Arnold would have been WAY ahead of Hucknall.

Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair

.

Beinn Dearg (Ullapool)

.

An Teallach

“Could anyone recommend a water mark system for my website photos? I really haven’t got a clue as to what is good and what isn’t. Cheers.”

Interested in the answer to this myself.

One thing you can do (that won’t stop people taking screenshots etc, but will stop them quickly lifting the image), is disable right click on image so it just says “Copyright iolo” or whatever. You need to add the Right Click Protext app, which you can find via the help centre.

I’m currently building a Wix site for myself. I’m finding it all very intuitive and am liking the results, though do have a good think about how you want to structure it etc before you get started, as its time consuming to change lots of things later on.

Decathlon.

I was fortunate to get a Helinox, the original they’re copied from, fairly cheap a few years ago. Lots of friends have the cheaper copies. Mostly they’re just fine, the most likely issue is that the little rubber feet fall off. However, if you are using it a lot (as I do), the extra may be worth spending, especially if you could get a discount. Mine has proven to be extremely tough and durable, and has been dragged all over Britain and bits of Scandinavia. For more occasional use, the rest all seem suspiciously similar!

One thing to note. All of them suffer from sinking in soft ground. There are various solutions to this, from tennis balls stuck on the feet, via struts of wood fastened to them, and jam jar lids. I don’t bother with any of them, so allow my friends the entertainment of watching me sink, normally back feet first…

Alnwick, Berwick etc. Lovely unspoilt area, lots of history, wonderful beaches and rocky coasts all within a short distance.

Eh? Its only January, my birthday’s not till summer!

More than one a day seems a lot to me, excluding after exercise. I’m a one a day, in the morning, type. If I’m not at work, and planning exercise, I leave it until after that.

If I’m away paddling/walking/biking I’m quite happy to go days without if in the proper wilds, with the occasional use of a stream and a very cold damp cloth!