There was a bit of a break in the weather today,so I decided to ask Kyle (my son) if he would like to go out for a ride. We decided to head off down to the coast. We are quite lucky in where we live as the C2C route isn't to far from us, so it's just a case of picking it up and then a pretty straight route down to Roker in Sunderland.
We were having a rather nice day out until we got to around Birtley, there is a bit there known as "the worm". It's like a man made embankment that's about 10 feet or so high and winds it way down to the side of the C2C route for a few hundred yards. Anyhoo I decided we would cut to the side of the cycle route on this beaten trail in between the worm and the C2C track. We had just got on it when this grumpy old guy walked across our path with his two dogs, which were off the lead and running all over the place. The man went to put one of his dogs on the lead and allowed me passed to which I said "thank you". Just after I got passed he said "are you allowed to ride on here" to which I said "yes we are". I mean there are no signs as it's just a beat up rough track, that has been worn away by walkers and bikers alike. This guy then said in a very grumpy fashion "you should be riding up there". I just continued on. It wasn't until I reached the end of the beat up track that I noticed Kyle wasn't following me. Kyle had had to turn around and come down the C2C part of the route as this old guy had actually blocked him and wouldn't allow him past. Kyle says the old dude was really miffed off and had gotten his camera out and took a photo off him, don't know what purpose that serves as we hadn't actually done anything wrong, maybe he just liked the look of his bike lol.
It's so annoying when you get people like this I mean they have their dogs off the leash running all over and the majority of them just allow their dogs to do their business where ever without picking it up. I always try to be polite when I'm out I know the rules of the tracks I ride,things such as giving way to horses and pedestrians. It's really hard being polite to a numpty like that though. I guess there just has to be some miserable sods who don't like bikers and think they own the place.
It didn't spoil the day, Kyle and myself actually had a bit of a laugh about it, hopefully the next time I'm down that way I'll see mister grumpy I'm going to ask if he has any doggie bags then make a point of telling him "hey do you know you can get fined for not picking up after your dog" Maybe I can get a photo or two of him lol.
Didn't get too many photo's today......
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| Souter Lighthouse |
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| Groyne Lighthouse South Shields |
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| Riding under Groyne Lighthouse |
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| My Sandman Hoggar Ti |
I often find Grumpy folk are usually the biggest hypocripts!. A couple of questions quick fire often leaves them speachless, along with an offer of name and address if they would like to contact the appropriate authorites - while always smiling!
ReplyDeleteAlso offer to take their picture in return!
And i never let it annoy me afterwards!
Nice lighthouse Glenn!
I could of understood him being annoyed if I was riding somewhere I shouldn't,somewhere private or if I was destroying the land, but honestly this trail, though slightly off the C2C itself is used by everyone. I think what annoys me is that the majority of mountain bikers actually look after trails,woodlands or where ever they ride better than your average Joe Public. I guess your always going to have certain people with views or opinions who just don't like anyone having a bit of fun....I mean come on get a life
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