In an effort not to bore you to death, I'll refrain from going into too much detail about Chew's and my IOM trip ... however, it was very, very good. We had a map and a piece of paper with road closure times but that was it ... no route, no plan, no nothing and I think it was all the better for it.

The excitement started early with me rolling into the ferry terminal at 10.10am when the latest check-in time was 10.05am It might have been my charm or more likely pity for the idiot hill billy but either way they let me on and the look of relief (I think it was relief) on Chews face when I tapped him on the shoulder was almost worth missing the ferry for



First night and the first plantation ... we were discovered by a dog and its bemused owner in the morning.



There's quite a relaxed attitude to shared access, this is part of the coastal path which no one seemed to mind us riding.



If we'd arrived later, this would have been our overnight accommodation - unlocked, clean and dry.



Most evenings saw us head for the hills. This is our return from the old mines below Snaefell to Laxy for breakfast.



Yes, we did see plenty of racing ... the Classic 500 class making its way up the mountain.



I'm happy to report that we found some very Welsh tracks and bridleways ... this one was far too slippery to consider riding and shortly afterwards transformed into a proper stream



We didn't spend every night in a plantation but this one was very good and meant another descent towards breakfast.

All in all a great trip, thanks to Chew for agreeing to come and for putting up with me

I'd be happy for more info and more pics to be honest!

What shelters are you using there?

What shelters are you using there?

Nearest the camera in the bottom pic is a BPWD Lair and t'other is a SMD Gatewood cape.

Hopefully Chew will be along with some more pics and maybe some tales.

Looks like it was a good 'un. Nice one fellas.

Greetz

S.

I'm jealous. I think I rode a '60 Greeves Scottish down that trail in your second last pic back in 2005 - A27 by Dalby mountain down to Glen Maye?

That looks ace

I had a great ride over from home linking together some trails I havent ridden for ages and then meeting up with John Climber at the pub before heading over to the bivi spot.



An early start the following morning to get to the ferry terminal with plenty of time to spare (unlike others.....)

s8tannorm wrote: the look of relief (I think it was relief) on Chews face when I tapped him on the shoulder was almost worth missing the ferry for

I think the phrase was "You Ba###rd!!!"

It was nice just to bimble around the island without any real plan. Never in a real hurry to be anywhere and stopping where ever we wanted. In essence what Bikepacking should be about. No real idea where we rode or stopped overnight, but that was part of the fun.

We had a Tramp Jumble Sale but uptake was slow due to the lack of passing traffic


A bit of watching the bikes over the mountain


Following the map


And watching some more bikes


A great way to see the Island and experience the classic TT

Looks ace that .

Very hard to imagine that the chap in Chews last picture has just started braking from 160mph and he's about 150 yards from a 90 degree bend

s8tannorm wrote:Very hard to imagine that the chap in Chews last picture has just started braking from 160mph and he's about 150 yards from a 90 degree bend

And that's not a massive section tyre either!

Good to see that no matter where you roam you always manage to find some Type 2 Stu

Good to see that no matter where you roam you always manage to find some Type 2 Stu

Those ferns were a right b'stard, pretty much head height (for hobbits) in some places and very thick. I ended up walking backwards and dragging my bike behind after a while. Once we'd cleared the ferns and made it into the forest, we were greated by a deep, slippery ravine with a stream / waterfall running through it ... however, once across that we were able to find semblance of the old road we'd been following from the start

Now that sounds like fun

Great stuff!