Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Makes some sense. I did a lot of ocean kayaking in and outside SF Bay. If the tide's against you and the wind turns against you, too, you're going where they're going.
2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos
- Thread starter Saratoga Dave
- Start date
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I and Marek live in a wooden country house in a Białowieża Forest village. Very close to Belarus. Just behind the border is the Home of Belarussian Uncle Frost (their Santa Claus). (We cannot travel to the enemy country though).
Everything feels magic here. Accompanied by lovely dogs and a young cat we had a little party with Marek.
Some would call it hooch. For me, it was the most delicious craft vodka! The fermented cucumber was the best I had in years!
We are in the Far East of Poland, a big province called Podlachia. Tomorrow, we are riding in Białowieża National Park, some 130 km of gravel
If we meet a Bison, I will take a photo although some say bisons are murderous beasts! (Marek will carry bear spray to feel more secure) 
Białowieżan Hut Under The Stork.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Bri and I visited Barrow on Furness, a rather windswept and desolate town just below the Lake district.
This is the Roa Island Lifeboat and ferry to Piel Island, they dont carry bikes, so we had to ride a ten mile loop to get to the Island and its amazing castle
This involved riding through Barrow itself, one of England's premier ship building towns.
HMS Agamemnon nuclear sub is having a revamp, its parked just above that RIB in the dock.
The town is dominated by huge ship building hangers and mountains in the distance
The sea off Walney Island is jampacked with wind turbines
This is the little Hamlet of Biggar, presumably the Vikings invaded every other week.
And now onto the main purpose, navigating the tidal causeway at low tide to Piel Island and its castle built in 1327
This was borderline terrifying, the track kept fading away and turning into six inch deep water, we had no real idea if we could cross or not, there were no signs, no other people crossing
for help, the sand varied from hard to worrisome soft.
Eventually we made it and the castle was a delight, magnified by the crossing and is desolate location.
The owner of the Island pub assured we had a good two hours before the tide turned and quickly filled in the bay
It is pretty well as is , with little modern repairs
Crappy supermarket frozen fries, but we weren't complaining on an Island with restricted access
Bri found this car that didn't make it
This is the bridge connecting Barrow to the main Island
Taking an offroad route back we found all these landrover spares out in the open in an abandoned railway storage depot.
On the way home we rode up to the john Barrow monument, designed as a lighthouse.
Its quite inland, but he view is utterly epic and a throwback to when these seaside resorts were the South of France of the British Empire, all grim and run down now,
but in their day they were the playgrounds of industrial titans.
This is the Roa Island Lifeboat and ferry to Piel Island, they dont carry bikes, so we had to ride a ten mile loop to get to the Island and its amazing castle
This involved riding through Barrow itself, one of England's premier ship building towns.
HMS Agamemnon nuclear sub is having a revamp, its parked just above that RIB in the dock.
The town is dominated by huge ship building hangers and mountains in the distance
The sea off Walney Island is jampacked with wind turbines
This is the little Hamlet of Biggar, presumably the Vikings invaded every other week.
And now onto the main purpose, navigating the tidal causeway at low tide to Piel Island and its castle built in 1327
This was borderline terrifying, the track kept fading away and turning into six inch deep water, we had no real idea if we could cross or not, there were no signs, no other people crossing
for help, the sand varied from hard to worrisome soft.
Eventually we made it and the castle was a delight, magnified by the crossing and is desolate location.
The owner of the Island pub assured we had a good two hours before the tide turned and quickly filled in the bay
It is pretty well as is , with little modern repairs
Crappy supermarket frozen fries, but we weren't complaining on an Island with restricted access
Bri found this car that didn't make it
This is the bridge connecting Barrow to the main Island
Taking an offroad route back we found all these landrover spares out in the open in an abandoned railway storage depot.
On the way home we rode up to the john Barrow monument, designed as a lighthouse.
Its quite inland, but he view is utterly epic and a throwback to when these seaside resorts were the South of France of the British Empire, all grim and run down now,
but in their day they were the playgrounds of industrial titans.
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Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
My first 50k ride since my slow return to cycling, (September 4th, my 70th birthday). Lots of gravel and climbing. Bright blue sky, a bit windy and the temperature in the 70’s.
Some of my favorite places along the way and a picture is of my wife’s new Gazelle Ultimate T10 Plus, stripped down and modified for our back/gravel/dirt road adventures.
Some of my favorite places along the way and a picture is of my wife’s new Gazelle Ultimate T10 Plus, stripped down and modified for our back/gravel/dirt road adventures.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I and Marek made a Gran Fondo (130 km) inside Białowieża National Park.
A beautiful Orthodox church in Werstok found on the trip. We're going there for a Holy Mass with our hosts tomorrow.
We had a wonderful bonfire party with our hosts and neighbours tonight. Too much "Podlachian Milk From Cows Fed With Rye", I'm afraid
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Lovely, has that rotten cucumber reached your colon yet?
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I was just through there last Thursday in the truck, on my way to Waitsfield. Beautiful town.
Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
I always loved riding into Woodstock on route 106. I generally begin in Brownsville and ride the dirt roads to 106.
Charles Bronson had his horse farm in Brownsville, (technically, West Windsor), and his gravesite has a great view of My. Ascutney. That day was hot and hazy, but still a nice view.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Just to tease you from the culinary side
Babka ziemniaczana (potato cake), one of Podlachian specialties. Potato baked with meat.
Kartacze (Lithuanian Zeppelins). Meat inside, potato outside.
Marek has turned out to be a VIP guest at a hotel and restaurant in Narewka (he is an avid angler visiting the place many times in a year). Therefore, the meal was prepared afresh by the cook especially for us!
Podlachia is a huge rural region with its own distinctive accent of Polish, own customs, and intertwined Orthodox, Muslim (Tartar) and Catholic population. I will make a special report with pictures later. I'm enchanted!
A very special place. B - Belarus, L - Lithuania, U - Ukraine, R - Russia (Kaliningrad), P - Podlachia.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
If Poland was England, we would have made that lot a kingdom and had them all off.
Checks to see if Poland did..
Checks to see if Poland did..
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
I'm not sure what you mean
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had them all only we lost it later 
Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
Nice looking Gazelles, Django!
RabH
Well-Known Member
Yet another early start due to weather, thankfully I stayed dry this time! The winds were back also, 30mph from the SSE but it was very mild and the roads were dry! I left at 7am and decided to head down to the Clyde Valley while it was quiet, its full of garden centres and can be very busy but today it was very quiet and very beautiful! I used a road I have avoided this year due to lengthy road works, its a huge descent and very twisty! Down through Law Village to Garrion Bridge in the Clyde Valley, I was doing 44.2mph freewheeling before the twisty bit at the bottom! It was amazing and the road is in excellent condition now!
A couple of photos at Garrion Bridge, the first one is looking west and the second looking east!
A couple of miles later and another bridge!
The next bridge is a private one and very beautiful!
The grounds are always pristine!
Another mile or so and another beautiful scene!
It looks like they are going to re-open this pedestrian bridge over the River Clyde, it has been closed for years due to safety concerns but they have been working on it for a while and clearing up the grounds surrounding it! It sure looks so much nicer decked in colourful flowers now!
I reached the end of the valley road at Kirkfieldbank and it was time to tackle the big climb up into Lanark, its not that long but has an average gradient of over 9% and sure gets the heart pumping!
I turned NE as soon as I arrived in Lanark, passing over the railway crossing at Cleghorn and then north towards Harelaw! It was good to have that strong tailwind at my back now, I stopped for a couple of photos just after the railway crossing!Tinto Hill in the background!
At Harelaw I had a nice view of the Pentland Hills!
A little further and I stopped again for more photos!
Its a long straight road here for miles until it turns twisty near Forth!
Twisty part just before Forth!
I passed through Forth and turned at Wilsontown to enjoy the back road to Auchengray, such a great little road with no traffic all the way to Auchengray! I did pass 2 cyclists, one on a hybrid and the other on a mountain bike and there was a big climb coming which was directly into the 30mph headwind!
This downhill was fun though!
I stopped part way up the climb for this photo looking back down and the guy on the mountain bike was making good progress into the wind, its hard to see him in the photo but he was just passing the trees in the foreground!
Then came the steep part!
I stopped at the top for a snack and a break and saw the cyclist half way up the climb now, I'm sure he was glad to reach the top!
I was now on the road to Woolfords which is mostly downhill!
After passing through the village it was time to climb again!
Half a mile later comes this awesome descent, over 40mph again here!
Another climb and then this cracking descent!
At the end of the road I turned NE towards West Calder where I turned west towards Addiewell and then north to Blackburn, the home town of Susan Boyle the singer who has sold over 25 million records after appearing on Britains Got Talent! I then turned west towards Whitburn and used the cycle path up to Armadale and turned west for Blackridge where a very dark sky had me worried about the final 12 miles or so to home! I did get some light rain at times but I was sure I was going to get drenched again!
One last photo on the awesome back road to Blackridge!
At Blackridge I turned west for home with 9 miles to go and luckily the rain was only light and I didn't even get wet! After the drenching I got on Thursday I was very happy to get home dry, another fantastic day on the bike!
Attachments
Djangodog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Claremont, NH
Thanks. Her bike is a Gazelle, mine is a Yamaha CrossCore RC. They really come alive when you make a few upgrades, (the tires and saddle are often the first thing).
The wheel and tire upgrade saved more than three pounds and greatly improved the ride quality. Stripping the bike down reduced the weight by another five pounds and the 44t FSA chain ring and spider made the gearing much more appropriate for her style of riding.
The 70mm traditional stem shaved off another pound, but the Redshift suspension seat post added a pit back. The Cafe lock alone weighs 2.2 pounds and can damage the spokes if someone forgets about it.
Long story over, she went from mixed feelings about the bike to loving it.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Thats is lovely, I have a soft spot for bridgesView attachment 199160
Yet another early start due to weather, thankfully I stayed dry this time! The winds were back also, 30mph from the SSE but it was very mild and the roads were dry! I left at 7am and decided to head down to the Clyde Valley while it was quiet, its full of garden centres and can be very busy but today it was very quiet and very beautiful! I used a road I have avoided this year due to lengthy road works, its a huge descent and very twisty! Down through Law Village to Garrion Bridge in the Clyde Valley, I was doing 44.2mph freewheeling before the twisty bit at the bottom! It was amazing and the road is in excellent condition now!
A couple of photos at Garrion Bridge, the first one is looking west and the second looking east!
View attachment 199161
View attachment 199162
A couple of miles later and another bridge!
View attachment 199163
View attachment 199164
The next bridge is a private one and very beautiful!
View attachment 199165
The grounds are always pristine!
View attachment 199166
Another mile or so and another beautiful scene!
View attachment 199167
View attachment 199168
It looks like they are going to re-open this pedestrian bridge over the River Clyde, it has been closed for years due to safety concerns but they have been working on it for a while and clearing up the grounds surrounding it! It sure looks so much nicer decked in colourful flowers now!
View attachment 199169
I reached the end of the valley road at Kirkfieldbank and it was time to tackle the big climb up into Lanark, its not that long but has an average gradient of over 9% and sure gets the heart pumping!
Tinto Hill in the background!
View attachment 199170
View attachment 199171
At Harelaw I had a nice view of the Pentland Hills!
View attachment 199172
View attachment 199173
A little further and I stopped again for more photos!
View attachment 199174
View attachment 199175
Its a long straight road here for miles until it turns twisty near Forth!
View attachment 199176
Twisty part just before Forth!
View attachment 199177
I passed through Forth and turned at Wilsontown to enjoy the back road to Auchengray, such a great little road with no traffic all the way to Auchengray! I did pass 2 cyclists, one on a hybrid and the other on a mountain bike and there was a big climb coming which was directly into the 30mph headwind!
This downhill was fun though!
View attachment 199178
I stopped part way up the climb for this photo looking back down and the guy on the mountain bike was making good progress into the wind, its hard to see him in the photo but he was just passing the trees in the foreground!
View attachment 199179
Then came the steep part!
View attachment 199180
I stopped at the top for a snack and a break and saw the cyclist half way up the climb now, I'm sure he was glad to reach the top!
View attachment 199181
I was now on the road to Woolfords which is mostly downhill!
View attachment 199182
After passing through the village it was time to climb again!
View attachment 199183
Half a mile later comes this awesome descent, over 40mph again here!
View attachment 199184
Another climb and then this cracking descent!
View attachment 199185
At the end of the road I turned NE towards West Calder where I turned west towards Addiewell and then north to Blackburn, the home town of Susan Boyle the singer who has sold over 25 million records after appearing on Britains Got Talent! I then turned west towards Whitburn and used the cycle path up to Armadale and turned west for Blackridge where a very dark sky had me worried about the final 12 miles or so to home! I did get some light rain at times but I was sure I was going to get drenched again!
One last photo on the awesome back road to Blackridge!
View attachment 199186
At Blackridge I turned west for home with 9 miles to go and luckily the rain was only light and I didn't even get wet! After the drenching I got on Thursday I was very happy to get home dry, another fantastic day on the bike!
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
The nephew just got married there, bunch of posers if you ask me
He married his long term girlfriend Hannah, she was always very prim and proper and sensibly dressed, hair in a bun.
Then she turned up as the bride like this and I may have have said some inappropriate things on the champagne.
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