Out with Daddy & Baxter in Myrtle

This blog is about the wee adventure I had out with my dad and Baxter today, however I thought I would also add a few words about the misadventures this week, LoL

Myrtle up on the Moors

 

What a nightmare few days I have had. It all started with me planning a leisurely ride out on Sunday on my Buzzraw. As I have not sold the bike, I thought I may as well enjoy it and go for a leisurely cruise. So I got all togged up, complementing the fashion of my bike, and went to head out. Well, it wasn't going to happen, as the bike's battery was completely flat. "Never mind" I thought I will pop it on charge and go out in the afternoon".

Batteryless Buzzraw

 

After about 5 hours of charge I replaced the bike's battery into the bike's cradle and "whey hey", absolutely nothing. I checked the battery charger, it appeared to be working, so I left the bike to charge a little more.

By this time it was getting a bit late to go for a ride and the battery didn't appear to be working. I tried it in the bike one final time, and unexpectedly the bike's display powered up when I pressed the power button. It showed no errors and 100% battery... Strange.

So I thought I would get up early the following day and take the wee bike for a spin. Righty Ho! All geared up and ready to go with a mini picnic and a planned route. I went to get my Buzzraw and...crap, no juice yet again.
 

I have decided to keep the wee bike as a play thing. I haven't done many miles on it in the 3 years I have had it, around 85 I think. I have had to try and locate a new battery, found one on eBay, so that is another £190, but at least my wee bike should be good to go.

I took the old battery apart and Ern and I had a look to see if we could find any obvious faults. My dad has then left it on charge and hooked up a multi meter.

Ok so no Buzzing around until the new battery arrives.

Anyhow whilst I was on fannying about with my bike, my dad decided to start Myrtle up, as she has been standing in our yard for some time, up on stands whilst I have been waiting for her steel smoothie wheels to come back from getting powder coated. The nightmare continued, Myrtle refusing to start. By this time, I had come back out into our yard in a somewhat pissed off mood. My dad had removed Myrtle's oil Bath air filter and was checking to make sure her electric fuel pump was working.

My dad asked me to spin Myrtle over whilst he checked at the rear to see if anything was going on engine and fuel wise. As I spun Myrtle over, my dad shouted for me to stop. When I joined my dad at the back of the car, Myrtle had spat out what appeared to be oil  from the crankcase breather, we then  smelled a strong odour of petrol. Kind of reminded me of Herbie, when he didn't want to play.

We jacked up Myrtle, so she was sitting level off the ground and popped her on stands, then my dad dropped Myrtle's oil. When I say oil, it was a combination of oil and petrol, so much so that about 5 litres of stuff came out. Once the horrible mixture had been allowed to completely drain out, we replaced the oil with some fresh and tried Myrtle again. She pretty much started first click. My dad thinks the engine must have got flooded, however he has bought a compression tester to check everything is ok.

As Myrtle appeared to be running ok, no horrible petrol smell and ticking over, with no blue smoke I suggested we take her out for a run and that was today.

So this morning I packed a make shift picnic, with a flask of coffee and some yum yums, plus turkey sandwiches. Wor Baxter promised to be a good lad, so we took him for a ride out too.

Before setting out I asked my dad how much petrol he thought we had in Myrtle, as her fuel gauge isn't exactly reliable, "enough to get to the petrol station, at Cost Co's", he said. I wasn't too keen driving through to Cost Co's as it can get busy, and I am still learning the fickle nature of this car and its clutch, nevertheless, off to Cost Co we headed.

The first obstacle was in our backstreet, and the poxy speed humps. The first one we came to, Myrtle ground her front end over. I had to stop, take out the AirLift control and pop 95 psi in all four corners. Even modern cars rake over these humps, they are so steep.

Myrtle was running pretty good, I mean she has loads of rattles and is very noisy, but she now steers 100% better and has a decent turning circle. As we went from our house and approached Gateshead, almost at Cost Co's Myrtle's electric fuel pump sounded like a Tommy Gun, getting louder and louder. Myrtle eventually ran out of petrol, right at the side of the fuel pump at Cost Co.

This motoring Malarkey is expensive £56.76 of Super unleaded to fill Myrtle up, and then we were off for a ride out. We ended up going from Gateshead all the way up to Weardale and Teesdale

We drove to Hamsterley Forest to have our picnic and let Baxter have a walk and a breath of fresh air. It has been a lovely day weather wise, there were loads of people at Hamsterley. We sat at a picnic table on the green to have our stuff. A nice relaxing break before returning to work next week.

Ern & Baxter

Ern enjoying the Turkey sandwiches I constructed.

Myrtle 65 Bug

 

From Hamsterley we just followed road signs to make our way back towards Stanhope and from there home. The electric fuel pump and regulator appears to have solved Myrtle cutting out, as she drove solidly today. My dad checked the oil dipstick and there doesn't appear to be any petrol in the oil. Myrtle's fuel gauge cannot be relied on, my dad mentioning he wished he had brought a stick to dip the tank, however when he looked under the bonnet into the petrol tank he said she had not used that much. I am still getting used to the clutch operation and found 3rd gear really difficult to get in, especially when trying to use the engine braking going from 4th to 3rd and panicking somewhat when going up some steep climbs with impatient drivers behind and not being able to hit 3rd, then having to drop to 2nd and on one occasion hitting 1st and almost throwing us through the wind shield "Oops". I definitely think a future mod will be a more powerful engine, not so much to thrash around, just something that you don't feel you are thrashing the life out of.

Ern Checking the fuel situation

The engines the other end dad

Myrtle 65 Bug aired up

Baxter enjoying his ride out

Myrtle 65 Bug

Myrtle aired out, she wasn't sitting right down as pan on bumpy grass

Nice to be out in the old girl

 

I really enjoyed today, being on the quiet country lanes up in the moors, just tootling and spending time with my dad and Baxter, drove 115 miles today.

Upon arriving at home, Baxter didn't want to get out of Myrtle, I think he loves going out in the Wee car.

Baxter

Baxter

Baxters Turn...

After leaving wor Baxter in yesterday whilst Ern and I had a little bimble out in Grandma, well we kind of felt a bit guilty. You see I don't let Baxter get in my cars as his hairs are a complete nightmare. Ern on the other hand couldn't give a rats and is quite happy riding around in a mobile skip. Hence Erns car, his Citroen Berlingo Multispace is the designated "dog" and mountain bike car, as well as make shift removal van and general work horse.

I know both Ern and Baxter don't look exactly raring to go

I think Baxter was quite excited to be going out for a slightly longer walk, especially as the area we decided to go was all grassy and soft trails. Baxter hates pavements and rough, stoney pathways. He does a funny walk when ever on these types of surface, over exaggerting lifting his paws, as if the ground were red hot. Baxter has been having problems with his claws, two in particular, one on each foot which for some unkown reason have decided to grow wonky. He hates his claws been cut so I have had to resort to filling his nails using a diamond file that Ern got from thge man on Mordor market, a good few weeks back. This appears to be doing the trick as Baxter will tolerate me filing his claws and it has prevented them from turning into his pad which is what originally happened and made him limp. Most dogs wear their claws down naturally and this is the case will all his other claws, apart from these two bothersome wonky ones.

Baxter trotting along

Baxter is also suffering from an allergy and to have blood tests done to discover the culprit of his problem will cost a small fortune, so we have been trying out different things, or should I say stopping different things. Baxter no longer gets biscuit type treats and is only on his dry feed, which contains no wheat and additives. We also give him antihistamine tablets and he appears to be much better I did notice he looked a little sore on his tummy today, however that could be due to the fact he had been sliding on his tummy along the grass, something I try to prevent him doing. I mean he could be allergic to the grass I suppose.

Had a right sweat on by the time we went around

Baxter's a strong lad and when he pulls he is a complete nightmare

My Log

Of we went to Hedley Hall Woods, it has been ages since I had a walk around here. There appears to be a few more footpath trails in place and I did not see any no cyling signs, so it may be a place I will venture to on my bike as I think it will make for an interesting video. There would be some nice shots in and out of the trees and some lovely scenery. Hey may be do it in the warmer weather and even bring a picnic.

 

Baxter with his Arctic ONE Buff

Suppose you think your funny

  

Forgot to pop Strava on again, so not sure how far we walked, we didn't exactly follow a set route and were in and out of the various trails kind of exploring. It has been great to get out over the course of the last few days and actually do something with my time off, even if it is just local.

Baxter's Birthday and a little tootle oot on the bike

My little lad is three today, needless to say he got spoilt.I picked up 2 toys for Baxter last week, man pet stuff is expensive.  A Kong jumbo bone and a Kong cone, both in large came to £30, never mind he is worth it. I gave Baxter the bone this morning and he went mental, he even pulled poor Ern all the way around his walk so he could get back home to his new toy. The Kong cone I filled with biscuits and some peanut butter then froze it. Just gave Baxter this about and hour or so ago and he has been quite happily lying in the sun licking his make shift lolly.

Birthday Boy

Mmmmm I love peanut butter

Yum Yum

My Buzzraw has arrived

"Buzzraw" You may be thinking, "what the hell is a Buzzraw". Well it's a unique, funky, somewhat retro styled bike, some may even say a scooter (How dare you)  I prefer the term bike, as a scooter to me is one of those little things that you kind of push along with one foot and I once had a bad experience as a kid, on one of those when I face planted and got gravel rash.

Coast Cycles Buzzraw in Coast Blue

Short stroll out with Ern and wor Baxter on the BTK Crossover

I am due to head down to Pace Rehab's new HQ in Manchester next week, so that Paul my prosthetist can have a look at my current BTK Crossover socket. So this morning I thought it maybe a good idea to convert the Crossover into ambulation mode, so that I could give Paul a little bit of feedback on how the socket and knee are working together. Converting the knee from sports to walking mode is as simple as removing the tendons the tendon receivers and cams and replacing the protective shells on either side of the knee. Oh and then not to forget to adjust the Rock Shox shocker, both the pressure and rebound so as to be able to walk on the knee. It only takes a few minutes once you get the hang of it.

Out with Ern, Baxter and the BTK Crossover

Have to admit it has been sometime since I walked on the Hybrid BTK Crossover as I have been using it mostly on my bikes. It is a lot different to walk on than my Ossur 2100 Total Knee. It doesn't take long to get the hang of it, however it does feel like a bit more work in that the BTK has more resistance. I think with regular use it would be like anything else you would just become accustomed to how the design works and adapt accordingly.

Baxter such a good lad

Having a little gargle in the stream

Ern (aka me dad) decided we would go for a tootle up Quakies (Quaking Houses) and up past the fell, taking in a small part of Chapman Wells nature reserve, before looping back through the woods to Quakies again. Wor Baxter is in his element when he is off the leash. Ern lets him off regularly, me well I always keep him on as I cannot exactly run after him if he buggers off. Not that he really does. Baxter never seems to go too far, well unless he spots a deer or a rabbit. I guess I am more cautious as I always worry some other dog sets about wor Baxter and he gets the blame as he is classed by many as "one of those dangerous breeds" I say "Poppy Cock" this is what is wrote on Wikipedia about the Bull Terriers Temperament

Can you spot the ickle wee Ern

Such a Poser

 






















 "Bull Terriers can be both independent and stubborn and for this reason are not considered suitable for an inexperienced dog owner. A Bull Terrier has an even temperament and is amenable to discipline. Although obstinate, they are particularly good with people. Early socialisation will ensure that the dog will get along with other dogs and animals. Their personality is described as courageous, full of spirit, with a fun-loving attitude, a children-loving dog and a perfect family member. A 2008 study in Germany showed that Bull Terriers have no significant temperament difference from Golden retrievers in overall temperament researches".

My 2 best mates

We were originally going to call Baxter Vandal

Leave, Leave

Determined to carry a stick

Managed to get a few pics using my GoPro whilst out with Ern and Baxter and although the walk was just a short one with a few stops here and there, really enjoyed being out with my dad and Baxter.

Usually likes saying hello to horses, but today had a stick

Such a handsome boy

Happy Lad