Ooh err, icy roads....
Anyway out in the last of the snow today but somewhat less scenic than Paul or Jeffs rides. I did do a nice skinny ski tour up in the hills yesterday evening though, my way lit by a 3/4 moon and Jupiter.



Snow was dampening so incredibly hard going away from the trampled line. Lots of nice wet death ice too which has re-built my confidence after last weeks crash....

[img][/https://photos.app.goo.gl/wU4RyG6pLigbaK1dA]
Yesterday going to Ait Baha.

Why is it a pain loading pics, Google phone .

You linked to the image rather than embed it. When composing/editing a post if you click on the icon to the left of the chain icon (which is for links to other websites) you get a pair of [ img ] [ /img ] tags, put your image address inbetween those. (I've put spaces in the tags so that the forum software doesn't see them as proper tags)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CxTCEALjrGJW8jXG8

That never worked.
Easy day. In Tiznit now ,down west of the N1 from Massa and dirt from El Mer Oulad Aamer into edge of town.

[ img ] https://photos.app.goo.gl/CxTCEALjrGJW8jXG8 [ /img ]

Its a description from now on, can't be bothered. Pics are on Strava Bearbones if anyone can be bothered to visit.

Have a read of this thread https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpB ... php?t=5584, from memory I think there's a problem with embedding Google photos anywhere but Google apps/products.

Edit: found it! https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpB ... le#p245949

Thanks but I give in, next phone will not be Google if its a pain to upload images . Some forums are drag and drop so why not here?

Sajama wrote: ↑Sun Jan 19, 2025 10:18 pm Some forums are drag and drop so why not here?

Could be one of a couple of technical reasons:

• The underlying forum software doesn't support it.
• There's an extension that does support DnD but it's not been installed. (the forum software used here has a validation process for extensions so it may be that the extension hasn't passed that validation)

Also hosting images takes space and having to do so may push the site beyond the usage allowance that's been paid for. The final thing is legal: who's responsible if someone uploads an image that doesn't belong to them?

Well as hoped, quite a lot of snow came down on the back of yon breeze yesterday. I suspect a lot of of the snow got blown into oblivion, a phenomena of very high winds, but my local hills looked pretty white so it was off out to play.



I do like a bit of blue sky overhead and white below.



Snow conditions were somewhat variable, as expected given how much it had gotten blown about. The climb was hard work as I was on the leaward slope into what was still a stiff breeze. Fortunately I didn't end up in some horrendous windslab induced death march although it was a bit steep and deep in places. Descending off this bump was a hoot though as I surfed across some big patches of snow. Lower down there was actually more about, being sheltered. And being zub zero it was all fluffy

A few trees down but nothing like the carnage post storm arwen a few years back. Hopefully more snow coming in overnight and yet more next week so looks like we might get a winter this year
Anyway off out again tomorrow but probably on the planks rather than the wheels.

That looks superb ^^^ blue skies above and snow on the ground, perfect.

Well I've blown the BaM plan, but it was a lovely afternoon on the bike around Belfast Lough

A fun day out climbing in and out the clouds around the Howgills while getting some hike-a-bike practice in.

lovely picture of the Howgills! On my list to ride one day...

...was a brief 6 miles round trip at lunchtime to check the spot I camped at the weekend to see if my glasses, lost since then, were there. Of course they were! I remember picking them up, probably only for them to fall straight back out my pocket. What a div.

Rapideye wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 4:54 pm ...was a brief 6 miles round trip at lunchtime to check the spot I camped at the weekend to see if my glasses, lost since then, were there. Of course they were! I remember picking them up, probably only for them to fall straight back out my pocket. What a div.

As a regular loser of stuff, I salute you! I've mislaid and then found a few odds and end at my regular spot in the woods, but my all time record is leaving the fatbikes front wheel behind at a parking spot - actually post aborted SWB in 2022 and fortunately late evening in the depths of winter - only discovered when I got home. a somewhat frantic drive followed and there it was....

I'm just glad I saved the spot on Google maps otherwise I'd no chance of finding exactly where I was. I was resigned to having to get a new pair. Feels like I've saved money.

We should have a competition . Frog would win by a mile, and I'm not far behind.

Last weekend I mislaid my credit card, some pills and a rail ticket. The card and ticket eventually reappeared. Frog mislaid a key and his meds and maybe spmething else. And sat on his glasses because he'd forgotten where they were. Remember that on one of our trips Lu lost his whole car. That must be the winner surely. Found it three hours later.

In my 20s I lost a yearly train season ticket to London - lot of money. They gave me a free replacement. Lost that. Just about to pay for a third one when someone handed the first one in to my friend in the ticket office. Never saw the second one again.

To add to all those, both myself and Lu have lost our, er, marbles.

I think our brains must be on a higher plane of consciousness, where 'stuff' just doesn't feature.

My lad bought me a 'Tile' tracker gizmo for my birthday, to attach to my phone. I've also got the 'Life360' app on my phone so my missis can track me from her phone.

Problem is, when I lose my phone how do I call my missus to ask her to look on Life360 to tell me where my phone is? And/or how do I use the lost phone to use the Tile tracker app to tell me where the phone is? Catch 22.

So I attached the Tile to my credit card card instead, the one I mislaid last weekend. The phone app showed my card as being at Llanbrynmair. It was actually in my seatpack behind me all the time with my sleeping bag so no signal escaped.... Found it next night of course.

Sigh.

Yeah, the car probably gets it. Mind you I have driven to work at a time when I used to take the train, only to realise I'd forgotten to go and pick up the car as the train I was on left the station. Actually, I might have done that twice.

Entirely forgot to take any photos today, but managed a decent sized ride with a fell run in the middle. Mostly to see how well it works, and try out kit as I'd like to mix running and riding more this year and use the car less. Shame about the lack of photos, as kinder and the edale valley were stunning today.

Rode from Bamford, up and around the north of Win hill, dropped down a fun (probably not very official...) singletrack descent and then climbed back up win hill, descended the massive bridleway to edale cross then rode as far up towards Kinder scout as I could. Locked the bike to a handy fence post, ditched the helmet and jacket, then ran up to just below the kinder plateau (had to get home for when the kids leave school). Traversed across the heather & bog, then dropped down the old edale skyline descent to my bike. Rode back down, via another shady singletrack, this time a ridiculously steep rutted fear fest! Probably the joint steepest trail I've ridden with Mynndd Du DH track from 20 years ago.

Then a fire road spin alongside ladybower back to Bamford. About 16km riding, 4+km running so nothing massive, but the concept works nicely for me.

All kit worked well, and I think I've finally found the use for Ron Hill bikesters! They were ideal for running/riding combo, despite being not quite right for either activity...

Short ride to just go and have a brew somewhere nice/different, and get away from the laptop for a while. Just a pootle along the canal for a couple of miles, to pause for a brew next to a weir and one of the many bunkers on the blue section of the GHQ line (this end of the K&A canal). As befitting these structures, they generally have some tinnies lying in or around them! Sit mat coming in handy to keep my bum warm and dry

Decided to head out today to check out a couple of spots that might be options for BAMs. Not very warm but is was supposed to be dry til mid-afternoon. I'd be back by then.
Cycled along a bike trail for a few miles and then turned off to pick up a road. Met this little guy. He didn't seem that fussed on moving off. I bid him well and carried on.



Picked up some Norfolk back roads, a few I hadn't cycled before. Cycled about 10 miles to a wooded area I'd noticed on google maps. It seemed well away from roads and houses and had a farm track leading into it from two sides. A nice little 'Private. No entry' sign as I left the road, so no getting away from being in a place I shouldn't be if I was busted. The wood itself has some farm equipment stored but also looked like there was a makeshift pen for animals. Not sure what would be there? Pig?...maybe goats? As it was, I didn't go in the wooded area but did walk round the edge. I could camp pretty easily on one side that would be fairly well hidden unless any farmers turned up.



Started riding again and headed back along a different route. Stopped on a bridge over a river that has trails heading along it that I think will have camp spot potential. I'd have to check it another time.



Found a great bivvy spot soon after. A little near a road but I'd leave my own mattress at home for the night. Seriously, though, what sh*thead left it there. Also, I have a real case of deja vu. Like I've said this same thing before in another post. Maybe people dump a lot of mattresses all over Norfolk.



So, I've long spotted this small wood on top of a small hill. I can see it from another bike trail and have wondered if I could get away with sneaking up there. Sign says I shouldn't. Would you?



Came across these guys soon after. I'd start riding as they would run away. They would then stop and look, as if they're saying 'hey, look at the way he glides'.



I was only about 3-4 miles from home at this point, so joined the same road I took earlier and then onto the trail back home. I cycled up to the place where I'd seen the squirrel. I wondered if he'd be around again. Unfortunately, he was but lying at the same spot, having passed away. Poor guy obviously wasn't in a good way first time I saw him. Rest easy, little guy.

Couldn't work out what the first picture was. Poor wee squirrel. Of course it was a grey so we should.....errr...accept it's non native so it shouldn't be here.... to be frank I'm fed up of all the bloody reds up here!

Bonus BAM points for sleeping on a dumped mattress!

Anyway, back into the big white room today. It's been a pish winter skiing-wise but ace for the fatty.



Guess the wind direction!