Flintstones, meet the Flintstones, they’re the modern stone aged family !!!

Many years ago, I was biking in the Coxley Valley in West Yorkshire and looked up to see what I initially thought was a Heron, but then realised Heron’s fly with their neck curled back. Stopped and looked up to confirm it was a Stork. Turns out a pair had nested not far away for the first time in 600 years !

Just googled it – it was 2004 !!!

I got one of the Polaris jerseys with the snag proof sleeves.

I’ve been out with that, orienteering long socks from Decathlon, knee pads and gloves. I can just ride along without worrying about nettles. Haven’t hit any long brambles yet but I’m sure I’ll be fine.

Currently £18 if they have your size.

I’m fed up with cleaning the bike this year too and have a paddle board ….

But … due to this bl**dy rain the river I launch on has only been normal levels a couple of times this year for me to get out. It’s not safe when in flood.

We have canals locally but they are relatively short as they are only to bypass weirs as the river is the main navigable waterway.

It’s also very wind dependant, it’s hard work when it’s windy !

Wild, wet and windy up at Wessenden today !!

Yes it’s the bottom of the Deer Park, the first is climbing out of Mirfield woods

Out both days and it’s drying but slowly.

Thanks Pocpoc, loaded Go Paddling and those links were helpful. I’ll start planning. 😀

They do on Derwent Water in the Lake District as the link says but I was after information on the River Derwent in Yorkshire. :)

It’s on the UK Rivers website but I can’t find much information about the river entry & exit points or the flow.

Looking at a paddle board trip over a couple of days with a wild camp overnight but can’t find much information.

I’ve asked on ‘Song of the Paddle’ but got no responses yet.

Slight boycott of the thread but has anyone canoed or paddle boarded on the River Derwent in Yorkshire please ?

With the odd exception of a couple of trips a year I always ride from the door.

I’m based in West Yorkshire, the lower Calder Valley. So have a range of riding from woodland, urban, canals and moorland.

Obviously you need to use some roads to link the trails up but we certainly have enough to keep me interested.

It’s mostly XC but there are more technical routes in the woods if you want.

@achaney – I did wonder but I’ve got an iSUP !

I’m looking at the space that’s taken up with windsurfing gear … as I’m looking at touring kayaks !

@Tracey – I turned to MTB when I got fed up of waiting for the wind !

@StuF

Alpha 215 RS board – long board – 215l, 350cm I think

Mistral Screamer Race – 105l – 278cm

Sails – Tushingham 6.6 – 7 battens, no cams, 5.5 battened ( more recent but can’t give a date ), 4.3 and 5.6 Alpha beginner sail.

It was good kit back in the day, the screamer especially as that was the lighter version.

3 masts for the above, 2 booms and associated bits, sit in harness etc, sail bag.

I’ve had a Two Bare Feet board for a few years now and have used it only a few times in recent years until this year.

I’ve started going much more regularly on the local river and canals and also started to play on the faster water below the weirs which is great fun. I find rivers more interesting than canals, we aren’t close to the coast so I haven’t been on the sea. At the moment I have to bypass the weirs but it is possible to do some sort of round trips using rivers & canals.

I’ve just been on a weekend’s trip from Ripon to York with an overnight wild camp which adds to the interest, although perhaps the distance was a bit ambitious at 25 plus miles over two days not on touring boards. We did it – 7 hours on the first day, 4 hours on the second.

Ride onto Norland Moor, just short of 30 miles after riding home from the pub.

Cracking evening, saw several other bikers and unusually no e-bikes !

We went to a friends for a few holidays some years back, based in Parragil ( inland NE of Albufeira ).

I hired a bike and bought a military map which is as good a map as you can get over there and went exploring. I used Strava Global Heat map too but didn’t manage to find much apart from jeep tracks. There was one downhill course nearby but even that was really on tracks.

I tagged onto a local group ride a couple of times, the routes were at least 30 miles, once 50 plus miles. There was some single track by a river somewhere but not much apart from jeep tracks. It was interesting though as only one of the group spoke English so I had no idea what they were saying most of the time, apart from taking the mickey for carrying a Camelbak pack. They all just had bottles and not much more ! But I was the only one who had a first aid kit when someone went down and ripped their hand open, patched him up and carried on. They were all friendly though !

The only other thing is the bl**dy dogs, everywhere has guard dogs on dodgy chains !!

Just bought a PFD …. have been managing without but as I start thinking about doing more river / sea paddling rather than just on canals, I thought it might be a good idea !

Thanks Kayak23 but I don’t use Facebook.

I’m after information on passing weirs on rivers and launching off Flamborough head on the East coast.

Just watched Cat Stevens who was brilliant, 74 and still sounds like he did in his early years.
I most be getting old 😂

I’ve just got some 360Dry on recommendation, haven’t tried them yet but worth a look.

They fit better than the last pair of sealskin socks I bought, which was some time ago !

£27.99 so within the OP’s budget

Never knew him to speak to but he lived just down the road from us, I used to see him ride around Mirfield on his e-bike not that long since. RIP

As per BoardinBob, Alpkit Bloc pants, live in them for work, then shrug off the climbing chalk after the sessions at the climbing wall after work. I will buy some more when these wear out ( not showing any sign of doing that after a year ).

While the dole office is a grim place the staff I dealt with were fine so it’s not always bad. I worked for a high street retailer which after 2 administrations ( I survived ) went into liquidation and we were the last out of the door as IT staff.
When I went to the dole office, I explained the situation, showed them the list of jobs I’d applied for on a laptop and all was well. Didn’t have to fill in any forms.
It was 7 years ago though.

Well the weather has had an impact, it’s blowing a hoolie in West Yorkshire and Bird Feeders are almost untouched, I’ve seen one blue tit this morning when the feeders would normally be busy. First year I’ve taken part.😒

Parrot showerproof pull-on, always in my pack and used regularly. I must have bought it close on 25 years ago.

I actually have 2, but the more ‘modern’ one is purple ( as was the favoured colour at the time ), that one never really makes it back out of the drawer due to the colour !

Parrot did get taken over by Daleswear in Ingleton but I believe they have closed a while ago as well.

I can’t be shredding a tyre …. it’s about 9 miles home from there and even worse I’d miss the pub stop !

Thanks Jason & Chew :)

That’s the one :)

There might be a few folk on here old enough to remember the times below ….
Many years ago when we were Road Rallying ( anyone remember those ! ) a Chevette HS, we had some problems setting up the carbs on the day of the ‘Coleman Tyres’ MN round and it ended up back firing unintentionally ! ( Road Rallies used to run overnight for those not old enough to remember ).
We passed the noise check and set off, during the rally we were back firing on all the heavy braking until it suddenly got louder and the hedgerows were lit up …. sadly we had blown a hole in the exhaust and flames were being emitted underneath … we continued in a spectacular fashion until the midway petrol halt when we couldn’t repair it and failed the noise check ! So we had a slow noisy drive home !

I never had a two wheeled bike as a kid, could wobble around on others bikes but wouldn’t class it as riding.
When I was in my mid 30’s my wife bought me a cheap mountain bike so I had to learn. For a while I used to take it to a playing field and ride round till I got the balance. Then slowly progressed from there.
Given the expenditure over the years ( 25+ ) I often wonder if my wife regrets buying me it !
I don’t profess to be a good rider now having never learnt young but it doesn’t stop me enjoying riding and I fully understand I will never be a STW trail god !

We normally do the Red from Peel to Buzzards, then black up to the mast and follow until the end of the Boundary trail, then head to the Red Spooky Wood climb and follow the Red/Blue back to Peel.
That’s just over 20 miles and 3000 ft of ascent and nothing really technical in it.

43 miles from home onto the Pennines and back, glorious out there !

Thought it sounded like that :) – You don’t get any problems with Golfer’s on Yellowbrick Road ( Whitley Woods ) ….. why not go up there next time ;)

I normally use it as an excuse for a rest, we have what sounds like a very similar track on Dewsbury Golf Course …. often they will signal for you to go through anyway.

About 10 years ago I had a Nissan X-Trail on PCH ( Company car allowance ), after about 6 months I had a play off road …. bent a trackrod, dent in the sump, numerous other dents underneath and front end damage beneath the bumper. Had the trackrod replaced privately and before it was returned had a few dings sorted by ‘Chips Away’ but they wouldn’t do anything with the front damage. So with some fiberglass and filler I patched it up. Took it for a drive to get a fine layer of dirt over the repairs and left for the Hire company to pick up.
Had a nervous day when it was picked up, but they can’t have looked too hard and certainly not underneath – never heard anything else. That was the only PCH car I was offered a good deal on to buy it ….. but I knew what it was like .. so no chance.

Been out today as I won’t get chance tomorrow, 27 miles from home onto the edge of the Pennines, it was glorious out there really felt like Spring was here !

Polaris AM Enduro – based on Scotroutes recommendation I bought one, only used it on one night ride around 0-3 degrees with a thickish base layer but am very impressed with it. Kept me warm enough for the 3 hours or so. No idea on longevity but previous Polaris items have lasted well. For that price I don’t think there is anything similar.

We always joke it was an arranged marriage …. her father navigated for me when we were rallying …. then we started going out after a while – now some 35 years later .. married 30 years next year.

Always say I spent the night with my Father-In-Law before I spent it with my wife :)

Thanks to all as well … about to try the options for a longer period …. walk to the butty shop at lunch and keep it running for the commute home this evening … that should test it fully … about 6 hours worth !

Chakaping – I have done that and it seemed to work while testing this morning – but I’m just trying to find out if that cures the issue 100% – thanks