Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

[Art Deco]

My sources claim differently

Lime Electric Bike - Bike Rentals Near Me

FAQ How can I ride a Lime vehicle? The first step is to download the Lime app on your phone. To download the Lime app, simply click here and you'll automatically be redirected to the appropriate download page for your mobile device. To find a vehicle near you, simply open the Lime app on your…

www.li.me

Are Limes available in London now? They weren't 6 years ago on my last visit, AFAIK. They are pretty well known here in the states now, but were not known back then over here, either.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Are Limes available in London now? They weren't 6 years ago on my last visit, AFAIK. They are pretty well known here in the states now, but were not known back then over here, either.

On my last stay, Lime offered e-scooters but not e-bikes in London. Lime is in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and other big Polish cities too. So far, I rode Lime e-scooters there. Haven't heard of e-bikes though.

I first spotted e-scooters in Warsaw on June 28th, 2019. Soon I tried one of them to find out those were not for me. Then I started researching e-bikes, to buy my first one in the last days of August that year.

December 2019. At that time, I already owned two e-bikes. Here, an e-scooter ride in Cracow.

@Art Deco: The secret revealed! Former JUMP (I think that was Uber) is now Lime:

 

[Catalyzt]

OK, back to ebiking.
nipped up to the Lakes, the Lake district as its called, about 1 hour 40 mins door to car park, most of it quiet motorway with actual amazing views, so pretty relaxing.
The plan was the Walna Scar bridleway loop, as usual it didnt go to plan, in hindsight I rode it the wrong way and spent a lot of time navigating through pleasant but not exciting forest paths.

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Bumped into a couple of southerners, cockneys, Landan types, with the full 'awight mhate' accent, they had got lost in their bmw on tiny tracks that really reqd 4x4, they were very pleased to see me and I navigated them out using my viewranger app.
Not before they grilled me about brexit, asked if I 'd taken the vaccine, the started lecturing me with a full spread of conspiracy theories about covid, some with possible legitimacy, most were full on lizard people stuff.
Anyway it was all very jovial, just I would have bet my pension on not meeting two cockney anti vaxxers around the next corner, tbh they strayed into revolution against the state and I'll have to say this is becoming a thing, certainly there is a very strong anti BBC rhetoric everywhere you go in the UK now, who are seen by many as simply the propaganda arm of the government...I'm straying again.

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Ended up back on the roads, very twisty and steep with 6ft high stone walls lining the entire route, but broken up constantly with all kinds of style of old bridges in various states of disrepair.
Eventually led to a bridleway that took me towards the high ground, simply incredible that people would put so much effort into building these stone walls, and I have no clue why this double walled path extends so far up the hill.
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This is where it all went wrong, I recognised the area from a previous ride and convinced my self of a short cut to the top, a few false starts and I headed up a farmers quad path that just led me to boggy ground, lungs screaming for air and sucked a good 25% out of the battery.
Then I was lost and having the route on an app wasnt helping because every way to it was boggy land, so I soldiered on and ended up descending towards a rather concerning sheer drop, no chance of going back up so I picked my way down zig zagging to safety.

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Thats probably the first time I've ever been genuinely concerned and actually considered leaving the bike and climbing down, all was forgotten once I found myself safely back in the valley and a super cute little stone bridge over a stream helped my frazzled nerves, the weather was simply perfect, cloud and sun, around 15 degrees, warm on the face but not enough to overheat you.
I'd replaced all the brake pads before this trip and kept thanking yesterday me for that one.

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The otherside of the bridge led to a magical trail through the woods and past an abandoned slate village, that has mostly collapsed and been taken back by nature, what an incredible place to have lived, its probably not that old, maybe less than a hundred years, but crossing the tiny slate bridge and walking around the ruins in complete solitude is probably a cure for half of the mental health issues a person can have.

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I returned to the van and drove to the other end of the trail in little village called Torver, that trail gives a much clearer path to the summit and I should have started that way, will return and hope to each the Old man of coniston, which is a diversion of this bridle path, no doubt a footpath, but I'm going to nip up there anyway, because it looks pretty wide and non confrontational.

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Sorry if Ive overloaded the forum with large pics, it was still a great day out, was on the bike for three hours and only met that London couple all day, which is OK in my book, when I want it to be a ride that is basically escapism.

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Coniston is famous for its lake that was used by Donald Campbell to break many water speed records, until is his death in 1967 after a crash at the lake during a series of runs that peaked at 310mph.

Donald Campbell - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Another epic ride and report, Charger, beautiful pics, and I haven't been anywhere near there since '75, but...

Ack! You sent me down the David Campbell rabbit hole for half an hour when I should have been writing my notes! Of course, being of 1957 vintage myself, the Bluebirds were well known to me as a child-- and I now remember the excitement-- and fear-- they evoked.

But it was, after thinking about it, a half hour well spent, as there's a lesson to be learned from Campbell's accident, I think... even if that lesson is based on superstition, which apparently Campbell had no shortage of. (I didn't know that about him until today.)

After we've finished our own personal bests -- whether it's body boarding a particularly big day, skiing that double black a hair faster than we ever have before, or hitting 39 MPH on a hill where we'd only managed 37.5 before, there is that little voice that says, "I'm a little tired, conditions aren't quite right, let's go back and see if we can beat that record, do one more run."

And for most of us? That's the voice to ignore. Turn around, go home to your family, and live to complain to your buddies about the one that got away.

 

[Dallant]

A hiker was gored to death by a mountain goat in Olympic National Park a few years ago. Goat managed to hit a large vessel in his thigh. I've been close a few times and that horn looked like a very sharp shinny stiletto. And they can sometimes hold their ground and you have better be prepared to circle around CAREFULLY. The pass I want to visit with the Larch trees is a goat haven!

The goats I saw were a bit chippy with each other but made no moves at any of the folks watching them. I was within 50 feet of the group and out of my truck. Paid no attention to me at all.
I spent a few years in Idaho in an area where Prong-Horned antelope are and while I never heard of them attacking anyone the are so fast that they’d probably kill you if the hit you.

 

[Prairie Dog]

We closed out our summer alpine ride series on a high note with two outings in Jasper National Park. The first ride would take us out along the scenic stretch of Hwy 93A to the spectacular Athabasca Falls. We made this trip last fall and enjoyed it so much that a repeat performance was in order almost to the exact week. On the second day, we decided to add to the list the narrow, winding road up to Mt. Edith Cavell as it’s far less stressful on the nerves when ridden later in the season. We’re talking no shoulders, tight hairpins and barely enough lane width for two vehicles. It’s highly recommended that vehicles towing trailers decouple them at the parking area below before proceeding up the Cavell Road.

The temperatures were cooler in the morning which began with overcast skies and a bit of drizzle on the start of the second day. Snow was clearly visible at Edith Cavell.

Jasper Townsite to Athabasca Falls

One of the first stops was this view of Portal Creek at the top of the first climb.

The pristine waters of the Athabasca River.

Curious looking roadside fungi.


A subtle hint of fall colors lies in waiting for whomever travels this tranquil road.

The mighty Athabasca Falls and the lower canyon. The waters of the river are fed by the Columbia Icefields.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Day 2 - Mt Edith Cavell Road

The narrow, winding nature of this road precludes motor coaches, trailers and large motorhomes. Trailers can be left at the parking lot at the start of the Cavell Road. The switchbacks begin almost immediately and rapidly climb out of the valley bottom.

During the winter months when this road is closed to traffic, it becomes a popular cross-country ski trail. Skiers often stay overnight at the Mount Edith Cavell Hostel before venturing out into the backcountry of the Tonquin Valley. The Astoria River takes its name from American fur trader John Jacob Aster.

A bit of history behind this iconic massive. Edith Louise Cavell (1865-1915) was a British nurse during World War I. In 1907, she went to Brussels as a nurse, but by 1914 was put in charge of a unit whose main purpose was to help soldiers trapped behind enemy lines rejoin their units. To the German army, this was treason, and she was executed by firing squad. Today she is remembered as a heroine, and to some, a martyr. In 1916, the snow-capped face of this 3,363 m. (11,033 ft.) peak was renamed in her honor.

The north cliff face flanking Edith Cavell



Shot of the stairwell leading up to the Cavell Trailhead. Definitely worth checking out next time as I hear the views of the Angel Glacier I hear are stunning.



Beam me up Scotty. We stopped briefly along this roadside creek just long enough for a quick snack and then continued our descent.

Images of Sunwapta Falls and the Columbia IceFields to close out our alpine rides for 2021.

 

[kahn]

Day 2 - Mt Edith Cavell Road

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The narrow, winding nature of this road precludes motor coaches, trailers and large motorhomes. Trailers can be left at the parking lot at the start of the Cavell Road. The switchbacks begin almost immediately and rapidly climb out of the valley bottom.

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During the winter months when this road is closed to traffic, it becomes a popular cross-country ski trail. Skiers often stay overnight at the Mount Edith Cavell Hostel before venturing out into the backcountry of the Tonquin Valley. The Astoria River takes its name from American fur trader John Jacob Aster.

A bit of history behind this iconic massive. Edith Louise Cavell (1865-1915) was a British nurse during World War I. In 1907, she went to Brussels as a nurse, but by 1914 was put in charge of a unit whose main purpose was to help soldiers trapped behind enemy lines rejoin their units. To the German army, this was treason, and she was executed by firing squad. Today she is remembered as a heroine, and to some, a martyr. In 1916, the snow-capped face of this 3,363 m. (11,033 ft.) peak was renamed in her honor.

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The north cliff face flanking Edith Cavell

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Shot of the stairwell leading up to the Cavell Trailhead. Definitely worth checking out next time as I hear the views of the Angel Glacier I hear are stunning.

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Beam me up Scotty. We stopped briefly along this roadside creek just long enough for a quick snack and then continued our descent.

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Images of Sunwapta Falls and the Columbia IceFields to close out our alpine rides for 2021.

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Nice, very nice close out to your sensational season.

My first digital camera. Taken on 9/11/2001. Yes, the day the Twin Towers were hit by the airplanes.

You can "see" the Angel. Wings spreading left and right with the body down the center.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Nice, very nice close out to your sensational season.

My first digital camera. Taken on 9/11/2001. Yes, the day the Twin Towers were hit by the airplanes.

You can "see" the Angel. Wings spreading left and right with the body down the center.

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Now I know what to expect. Thanks for sharing!

 

[kahn]

Now I know what to expect. Thanks for sharing!

Well, that was twenty years ago and the Devil has probably melted half the Angel!

 

[steve mercier]

Return to Tranquility Base

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Poor Internet yesterday at Lake Quinalt. So this is a double report...

Generally soggy and lightly raining to misty riding, but it did clear up. The last two days riding were dominated by shoulderless roads and log trucks. Lots of log trucks. The scenery was interesting and the riding often quite good, which made up for the log trucks.

Along the mighty Hoh River:

Along the very brief stretch of US 101 in Washington where you are actually close to the ocean:

Kalaloch (pronounced "klay-lock"):

Forest road near Lake Quinalt:

The fascinatingly named village of Humptulips:

On muddy banks of the Wishkah (River):

 

[steve mercier]

Poor Internet yesterday at Lake Quinalt. So this is a double report...

Generally soggy and lightly raining to misty riding, but it did clear up. The last two days riding were dominated by shoulderless roads and log trucks. Lots of log trucks. The scenery was interesting and the riding often quite good, which made up for the log trucks.

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Along the mighty Hoh River:

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Along the very brief stretch of US 101 in Washington where you are actually close to the ocean:

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Kalaloch (pronounced "klay-lock"):

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Forest road near Lake Quinalt:

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The fascinatingly named village of Humptulips:

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On muddy banks of the Wishkah (River):

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You are doing the trip I wanted to! Maybe by next year the border will open.

 

[kahn]

Just a shot along my 15 mile regular loop but showing @Prairie Dog that I, too, can now defy gravity.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Well, that was twenty years ago and the Devil has probably melted half the Angel!

Yes, if it’s anything like the Athabasca Glacier, there won’t be much left of it if any in our lifetime.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Flying to London UK soon. I have been admitted to the flight. Travelling with my national ID (it's doable by Sep 30th, 2021).
Update: I was stopped by the Polish Border Guard. Following the fire of my home, I changed my address, and my ID was invalidated. Nobody told me. Not flying.

 

[kahn]

Flying to London UK soon. I have been admitted to the flight. Travelling with my national ID (it's doable by Sep 30th, 2021).
Update: I was stopped by the Polish Border Guard. Following the fire of my home, I changed my address, and my ID was invalidated. Nobody told me. Not flying.

Damn. At least, so far, they have not imprisoned you

Can you walk?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I could take a coach to England instead of the airplane. I don't think the British Border Control has data of all EU national IDs. However, I'll try to convince my gf to take a flight to Poland instead.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Just a shot along my 15 mile regular loop but showing @Prairie Dog that I, too, can now defy gravity.

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Curious to know what the coiled wire is for that’s seen routed into the non-drive side port along the top tube? Are those cables for the road remotes? Sharp looking Creo, BTW.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Flying to London UK soon. I have been admitted to the flight. Travelling with my national ID (it's doable by Sep 30th, 2021).
Update: I was stopped by the Polish Border Guard. Following the fire of my home, I changed my address, and my ID was invalidated. Nobody told me. Not flying.

I'm addicted to reading Kindle books, even more so if they have an Audible narration. The current ebook is The Voyage of the Southern Sun, an account of a solo circumnavigation in a tiny amphibious flying boat.

The author, travelling on a UK passport and flying a US-registered aircraft, encountered kindness in the most unlikely places; but there were exceptions, notably UK and US immigration and customs! Of course, once admitted to those countries, the everyday people were generous and welcoming.

And to get us back to ebike adventuring, minus the hassle of border controllers, here is another take on the 'southern sun' as my Trek Powerfly is readied for take-off this morning.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Showing @Prairie Dog that I, too, can now defy gravity.

A kookaburra 'defying gravity'. It had been perched on edge of one of the blue-green urns beside the entrance path. Show-off!