Being the tight git that I am, I didn’t buy the mag!! Might pop back later to get it. I’ll post the photo if I do.

I’ve got a Countryman Cooper SD All4. There’s a lot about the car that I really like – room for a family of four, great in the snow, not bad on fuel. However – I bloody hate the ride quality!!!! Run flats are crap, so I’ve have them swapped out for ‘normal’ tyres which has helped to a degree. Main problem seems to be the 18″ alloys – wish I’d stuck with 17’s with slightly less low profile tyres.

Whilst we’re focusing on tiling here’s a question for you – recently bought a new house and have noticed that some of the wall tiles in the shower are a little loose – if you push them you can see some movement. Also, some of the grout has cracked and I’m concerned about water getting behind the tiles. Is it possible to remove and re-affix/regrout tiles? I have found a couple of spares in the garage.

did the same a couple of months ago and stayed at Mabie House Hotel. Couldn’t fault it – great service and great food and right at the start of the loop around Mabie.

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Sculpture 2[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

One from a walk along a sculpture trail yesterday at Rydal Mount, Ambleside.

i’d suggest heading down to Lake Windermere and heading across on the ferry. Once on the other side then head north along the lake road leading on to a made path that can be followed all the way to the Wray Castle. From there paths and quiet roads can be followed all the way to Ambleside where you can load the bikes on to one of the passenger cruise boats and head back to Bowness.

Get your self a Honka Hoota. Great sound! The Frenchie lift attendants a last years PDS could t get enough of them when lifting our bikes off the lifts.

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Tallboy LT at Skelwith Bridge_edited-1[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img][/url]
PICT0045[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img][/url]
Tallboy LTc on Gatesgarth[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img][/url]
James – Kirroughtree[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. Great to see that people are happy to give advice to others in the search for a good weekend.

So, looks as if first off to Kirry on Friday. Saturday could well be Drumlanrig followed by Dalbeattie and ending with Mabie on Sunday morning.

Hopefully will get some good photos that’ll be posted up here next week.

Thanks again.

Thanks for all the posts. I think I’ll suggest driving staight to Kirroughtree on Friday and then on to the accommodation. Up to Glentress/Inners for the day on Saturday and then a quick pootle around Mabie on Sunday.

Now, what about the weather??

Made the move just over three years ago. Moved from West Midlands to the Lake District. Best move ever!!

There is always risk attached to such a move. We know the area, having been coming to the Lakes for almost 25 years, but it was a new job for me, no job (at the that time) for Mrs Me and new scholl for both kids.

Our reason for moving? We wanted to live and bring the kids up in a clean, tidy and low crime environment. I think i heard that Cumbria has just been ranked as being the forth lowest country in terms of crime.

Family were a little concerned over the impact of the move, but to be honest you can move anywhere on the emerald isle of our and still not be more than 1/2 days travel from family.

Go for it as you don’t choose be brought up in an area!

Going to be setting up a mono-blocked system comprising two Air Tight power valve amps to a single Air Tight pre-amp. Then just got to have a think about what medium to play music through/via. Any ideas?

Both Mrs Me and me work full time, me Monday to Friday, her Monday to Saturday with Friday off. We relocated oop north three years ago, away from family. Got two kids, both at school.

In term time we have to use a child minder to drop kids off and collect from school five days a week. Now, during the school holswe’re both still at work so still have to rely on child minder. However, since its holiday times we have to pay for all day cover. For August this is going to come in at c.£1k for the month. Now, we’re away for 10 days of that on a family holiday, but still have to pay the full child care costs. That winds me up. Obviously when the child minder takes holiday we dont have to pay her, but at all other times fees are charged.

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Sophie and Alice on path[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Just a bit of sun is all it takes to make your photos pop. Lovely!

Andy – any chance you can try to email again. I’ve checked my inbox and spam file and can’t see anything.
Paul

Hi Polarisandy. I’ve not seen any email come through. could you try again? I see you’re only in Eden Valley – not a million miles away!!I’d be happy to meet you somewhere so you can have a look through the gear.
Paul

it will be a grand ride. Troutbeck to top of Garburn is easy enough now that they’re graded the trail – it is easily ridable now, bottom to top!

Decent down Garburn to Kentmere is great. I did it the other day and it always makes me smile. My preference would be to then cross over to Longsledale, climb up Gatesgarth and then either drop down to Haweswater and back up and down Nan Bield or, at the top of Gatesgarth head east along Harter Fell as suggested above. This leads you to the top of Gatesgarth and all the fun back down to Kentmere.

Personally, I’d then give Garburn a miss, instead head over Mickle Moss to High Borrans and from there back to Troutbeck. The rop down Garburn to Troutbeck is no longer worth the slog/carry/push up from Kentmere, in my opinion.

How about Bell End or Licky End in Worcestershire?

Polarisandy – I’d like to PM you but not sure how to go about it. I’m happy to sell the F4 together with its Nikkor 28-85mm F3.5 lens. Where abouts are you based? I’m in Cumbria. I was digging about in the bag of gear from my fathers and have come across an immaculate Hasselblad 500cm with 80mm and 105mm lenses!! Think I’ll be keeping that one, having been inspired by some of your ‘blad shots posed here.

Be good to hear from if you’re interested in the F4.

Thanks for the posts.

Think I might pop along to local camera shop tomorrow and buy a few rolls of film and by the sounds of it a light meter!!

A quick question if I may to the knowledgable folk on this thread.

I’ve recently inherited my late father’s Nikon collection and am thinking of disposing of it. It has been suggested to me that I contact Grays of Westminster, which i shall be doing shortly. However, I’d gratefully welcome any comments that some of you may have on the various items as it is very important to me that I honour my father’s wishes for the equipment.

All items are pretty much as they were when they came of our their boxes for the first time.However, I do not have any of the original packaging!

Nikon FS2 body, no. 7382560
24mm F2.8 auto Nikkor lens no. 407630
55mm F3.5 micro auto Nikkor lens no. 776596
105mm F2.5 auto Nikkor lens no.549606
200mm F4 auto Nikkor lens no. 608300
300mm F4.5 auto Nikkor lens no. 313447
Nikon FB5 gadget bag

Nikon F4 (AAx4) body – quite literally unused!!
28-85mm F3.5-4.5AF lens – unused!

All lenses are as original – none have had their mounts altered from new.

This isn’t a sneaky post to try to sell, but I really would welcome any advice.

Thanks

This is mine. The one on the left is the new one (a GW 4000D). The one on the right is what it has replaced.
My Omega and Rolex hardly get a lookin these days
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New and Old[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

What would Vlad III do to him as punishment in those days …

Make him read MBR?

I’m certain he’s going to have time to read Singletrack

Happened a long time ago, but fell off back of my sisters bike one sunny Sunday afternoon. Family were in house getting ready for Sunday lunch (funny, I can still smell the meat cooking some 36 years later). Hit head (no helmet) and woke up five weeks later.

During intervening period mom and dad were told I had 1/2 hour left to live and were asked what parts of me they might consider letting go of to save others!! Heart stopped for 2 minutes and I had words spoken over me by a passing priest.

Oh well, all turned out ok in the end.

Have you thought about a Boardman? I’ve got a Boardman Team Carbon that I’m going to be selling in the next or two. As new really, SRAM Rival, Mavic Ayskiums. Size large.

Did you demo the bikes up heere in the Lakes (Biketreks demo day?).

I’ve gone from a Tallboy C to a Tallboy LTc for the riding i do up here. The TB was fitted with 120mm fork and coped very well with a lads long weekend in the Alps last year. I can only expect though that the LTc would cope enven better and be more fun.

Interestingly, when i bought the TBc i also had a Nomad C. Neadless to say, the Nomad was sold shortly after as it wasn’t getting any use.

Anywhoo, if you ride rocks and roots i’d go for the TB LT. If you trails are smoother i’d look more towards the TB.

Nice, but the butterfly isn’t quite symmetrical!

Wear a condom!!!

Oh, sorry – mis-read title:-)

Can’t recommend the Tree Top Trek at Brockhole enough. We did it the other week and I tell you what, it makes you focus!! Located on the Lake Road between Windermere and Ambleside.

What about a Segway trek from either Grizedale or just south of Hawkshead

Inside leg is 33″. I’ll have a quick look at the Defy.

Thanks

I recently inherited a day date in gold. I’ve had to have it valued for insurance and lets just say that its worth about half of what my first house cost me back in ’98!!!

Cost to insure is astronomical and that’s why i’m looking to PX it against a much less blingy GMT Master II in stainless. Still stoopidly expensive but i should have enough left over to get a Specialized Roubaix that i’ve had my eye on!

To get the best of the Stanes which of the trail centers would people suggest riding? We’re
going to have most of Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday and most of Monday. I suppose we do t want to spend too much of our time in the car!

Really fancy Kirroughtree and Mabie – what else do STWers recommend?

I bought a Lowepro Photosport 200 for my Nikon D300S. Excellent piece of kit. Hold the camera very securely, loads of space for other stuff. Most recently used mine to carry camera, tripod, pump, 2 x spare tubes, stainless flask for coffee, water bladder, waterproof, keys, phone and sandwiches. Weighed a ton, but still steady and stable when on my back and managed to ride 32 miles on Lakes trails!!

Highly recommended.

Can anyone give me a little advice?

I’m thinking about getting either a SLX or XT clutch type mech, but am unsure as to what length cage i need. Presently running 2×10 with 36 on the rear block and 22/32(?) chainrings up front. I’m hoping to ditch the BS Stinger off my Tallboy LT.

Norbertfordan

When you coming up to Bowness? I live in the town and would be happy to show you round a route or two. Would have to be evening based or Sunday. There’s some great riding on the doorstep.

Loving mine. Nice and wide, good bend to them and great finish. For many, many years now i’ve alsways had carbon bars, but i have no regrets over these at all.

Don’t mean to ovey concern you, but symptoms are similar to when I contracted meningitis when I was 7 or 8 years old. I was vomiting and lost my sense of balance.

Please get the little un checked out ASAP.

Got myself a Tallboy LTc. I sure hope its burly since its replaced a Nomad C that i sold to raise the funds to buy it!!

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2013 01 20_1125_edited-1[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

We bought a couple of Sevylor’s – a Yukon and new model Colorado. Not used too much ove the past year but when we have they’ve been great!!

Go for it, you can always sell if it doesn’t work out!

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Sevylor Yukon[/url] by N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]