Salisbury Plains November 13th

[Maverick]

Well what can I say it must be worthwhile draggin my ass out of bed at 6:30 t0 head out to the plains in bloody freezin weather this morning

I could say this story starts with "it was a cold darkish morning..."

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00107_std.jpg

Organised with my essex mate Chad to meet at the Dartford gates at 7:30, I was a bit early so enjoyed the fresh smell of diesel and car fumes :?

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00108_std.jpg

Chad arrived shortly after and think secretely he would of also rather been snuggling up in the safe warm comfort of his bed and missus but duty calls :D

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00109_std.jpg

I would of taken photo's of our first coffe stop at Fleet services but could not get my hands to work for a while :shock: So the camera only came out at the Countess services after a nice hot coffee. What a great turnout and thanks to everyone who managed to make it.

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00110_std.jpg

A variety of old and new Africa Twins and Transalps, and of course the odd beemer and suzi too :wink:

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00111_std.jpg

The clean bikes was soon to be transformed..... :twisted:

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00112_std.jpg

One nice shiny Transalp coming up....

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00113_std.jpg

Poor Chad had no idea what he let himself into yet :P

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00114_std.jpg

This GS has been stripped to do more offroading than touring - ewin eat ur heart out mate :D

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00115_std.jpg

Right enough introductions.....dirty pics to follow :mrgreen:

[Slimie]

More, now!
Wish I could have made it, family SNAFU's got in the way on Saturday morning, gonna have to live it vicariously thru' your pictures and words!!

NEXT!

Cheers
-Simon

[Maverick]

Our first water crossing was just a taster and to get everyone ready for the water

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00117_std.jpg

We all had a go and the idea of falling off into the water on a chilly sub 10 degree morning did not appeal to me at all!

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00116_std.jpg

Why does it always look so easy on a pogo stick :lol:

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00118_std.jpg

The next puddle was serious business and as we approached it thought I will let someone else test the water depth but then decided I might as well do it myself and take pics if I make it through :?

It was deep and everyone took a second or two before taking the plunge..

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00119_std.jpg

This one went so fast I could not even capture the moment..

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00120_std.jpg

Should of brought a submarine

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00121_std.jpg

Luckilly everyone made it through with no swimming lessons needed :wink:

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00122_std.jpg

Pretty sure this puddle get's deeper every time we go through it

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00123_std.jpg

I am sure this Suzuki can ride on top of water :shock:

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00124_std.jpg

A very relieved Chad at the other side of the pond

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00125_std.jpg

Damn just washed it two weeks ago :(

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00126_std.jpg

We took a nice ride around the woods which turned out very very slippery and muddy, think two bikes went down

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00127_std.jpg

Well deserved coffee break

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00128_std.jpg

What a pretty sight

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00129_std.jpg

Go concour my son, all yours!

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00130_std.jpg

A few last mud crossings to wrap up a good day

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00131_std.jpg

Still have to learn my timing with the phone camera..

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00132_std.jpg

Enough mud for everyone to enjoy 8)

http://www.maverick-evolution.150m.com/sony%20ericsson/nov_offroad/dsc00133_std.jpg

Thanks for a great day out guys and let's get planning on that Wales offroad trip!

[boboneleg]

Many thanks to Maverick, Dave and all the other riders. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves even with the puncture.

Cheers from Bob, Paul and Steve AKA the Transalpers.

Some pics

http://www.smartgroups.com/picvault/32736106.jpg/RD07_and_Paul_uphill.jpg

http://www.smartgroups.com/picvault/32736122.jpg/RD03_uphill.jpg

http://www.smartgroups.com/picvault/32736154.jpg/Blue_RD07_puddle.jpg

[Maverick]

Thanks for joining us Bob (and ur mates), was a good day out and hopefully we can do more of this as a group next year. Somehow I don't see anyone going close to the plains in the winter :roll:

[DaveS]

Only took a few shots.....no action ones I'm afraid......

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1192
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1191
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1190
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1189
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1188
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1187
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1186
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1185
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1184

[Whealie]

Didn't take many pics on the route (it's difficult when you're lying underneath an @) but here's a few I did manage to snap:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1193
All very clean and shiny to start with.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1194
Then we stopped for a flat tyre (the Transalp in the front of the picture)
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1195
And this is the state of me and my @ when I got home:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1196

I'd never been off road before and had the wrong tyres. I had two spills, one of which was the result of the GS sending so much mud into my eye I could hardly see (in fact the mud shifted in my eye on the way home and I had to stop to finally extract it).
I peeled off early (was that wimped out?) to get home for a dinner engagement but had an exhilarating time and learned a lot.
I felt I had much better control of the bike afterwards - staying on and upright and still going forwards when every signal my brain was receiving insisted I was about to fall off.
A great day out - thanks to all who organised it and came up with encouraging words along the way. A set of big knobblies will have to be on the Christmas list.
Cheers
Whealie

[lootch67]

Wow! I'm sh!tting myself just looking at all that mud! Sorry I missed out. Will definitely join you again next year. At least I don't have to clean all that mud off my bike - last time it took me two hours...

[Phr3ak]

Nice pictures! :D

Now i have to plan a new trip to the UK i gues! :shock: :lol:

[Maverick]

Nice pictures! :D

Now i have to plan a new trip to the UK i gues! :shock: :lol:

I guess you right mate, we can show the views around the plains and get your bike down and dirty :mrgreen:

[Splash]

Just thought I would add my comments. A great day playing on the Plain. No reason it should be the last ride of the year!! Just wear more :D .

This was my first ride out with this crowd and it was great fun. The AT is a great off road bike and should be treated this way!! Dont want to see to much shiny metal!!

Anyone that wants a hard off road trip, get yourselves to the Strata Florida in Mid Wales, or the Gap Road and Sarn Helen in Brecon. Very tough, very rocky, but the three 650AT's that were there on Sunday made it with no problems, and fully loaded with camping gear for a weekend!! they are great!!

See you all at the next muddy trip!!

Adam

p.s. but my Crash Bars!!!!!!! I also have a Large Arai TourX helmet for sale. Never used, I brought it in error as I needed an XL.!!

[DaveS]

Yes it was good fun. I felt quite knackered on the way home even though I didn't think we'd been out for that long. I thought I could have done another couple of hours, but I'm glad I didn't.

I think as it was very muddy it was much harder work than normal. We can normally spend a lot more time on the tracked vehicles track and this would have just been too hard going with all the thick mud I think.

I am really looking forward to another one, and as has been said perhaps we could sneak one in in early Jan perhaps, or maybe even over the Xmas hols if anyone fancies a blast.

[Chad]

hey what a day eh ! your pics came out good maveric that one you missed must have been me . :wink: i just pinned it and sent a prayer up to the god of keeping it upright :mrgreen: i odnt think ive ever had that much adrenalin running through my veins. with lots of moments laughing hystericly in my hellmet :lol: i got home cold wet with the biggest stupid grin you have ever seen thanks for all the words of encouragement guys .
maverics going to help me set up to post pics when he does i will get them on here. :thumbup:
it was allso nice to meet jvaughn . we popped into his on the way home. has your missus dropped yet mate :?: all in all an awsome day :headbang:

here is the first try at pictures

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1197

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1201

getting the hang of this now more to come soon :D

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1200

and some more

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1199

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1198

oh and check out the new avatar :D

[Chad]

thanks to maveric for helping me sort out posting the pics here goes :D

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1203

lots of people braved the chilly morning


http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1204

some petty @S here :)

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1206














time to get down and dirty :lol:

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1210

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1202

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1201

not so shiney now :cry:

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1200

maveric lookin well ard :lol:

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1211


dave cant get enough :headbang:



http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1209


a quick stop for coffee on the way home

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1199

thanks for a blinding day lads i cant wait to do it again :D

[Chad]

oh and not to forget the wringing of the socks moment :lol: :lol:

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1214

heres to you guys that got down and dirty :headbang:

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1213

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Maverick]

Nice one Chad, I like the well ard pic 8)