Memory card mishaps and a new Duck

After snapping one of my Bartlett Tendons last week I did not want to miss out on heading out for my first ride of the New Year I mean my Duck has arrived from somewhere in China and I wanted to test her out. So I retrieved my BTK Crossover from the cupbaord in the kitchen and unbolted the Cam along with the broken tendon. I tend not to ride out of the saddle when I am using my Coast Cycles Buzzraw, as the bike is small and the handlebars always feel like I might tear them off, or bend, so this was the ideal choice for going for a "Buzz" whilst I only have one tendon in place.

Coast Cycles Buzzraw with Duck

Super fun this little bike

A little stroll over by the Causey Arch a BTK Crossover outing

Over the past week or so I have been wearing my new limb,which incorporates the BTK Crossover. I have been very kindly supported by Pace Rehab in association with Fabtech Sytems, Leftsideinc and my good friends over at The Arctic ONE Foundation on this trick bit of kit. 

Claire n Glenn

Now when I say "trick" many people who are not in the know, will just think this is an ordinary knee. When in fact it is a serious piece of design and engineering.

A Broken Tango and a Surprise local loop

I awoke early this morning, way before my alarm went off, this gave me ample time to scoff some Crunchy Nut Cornflakes before I set off for work. Normally our back gates are left open on a night, so I can just reverse out into the back street and be on my way. Well this morning the gates were closed so I had to go open them so I could get Tango out.

After opening the gates I just happened to notice my rear valance was melted slightly and I could see the tip of my exhaust. Strange I thought. On closer inspection and a bit prod of my exhaust I discovered it was loose and just flopping around. Ahhh dammit so that is maybe the noise I have been hearing the last few weeks. I put it down to my car being so small and all these stupid speed bumps, which for my little car are like dropping off a cliff each time. I cannot avoid them like in a big car and most are very vicious, yes even when going at a relatively slow speed.

Anyhoo I had to borrow Ern's car and my dad said he would have a look at Tango for me.

 On my return from work Ern gave me the bad news my exhaust had snapped. Bloody hell I could do without that. Short story, kept short it has just cost me almost £200 for a new exhaust. Ah well the joys of motoring I guess. At least Tango is now sorted and I still love her lol.

Now to this afternoon and my very nice surprise of heading out to ride a local loop. My friend Lee called around as he was going for a short blast. I haven't seen Lee in what feels like ages, what with his shift pattern and well just life in general. So it was lovely that Lee thought of me and came around to see if I fancied a catch up and a bit of a look out.

Over at these ruins

I haven't had my Ibis out since Ern fitted the new Sram Guide brakes and my Rockshox Reverb dropper, so I decided to treat my oldest bike to a ride out. Le suggested we head off up the Farmers Trail. As we approached the trail it was water logged and very muddy. Me being me decided 'Oh I will go down the little steep gulley at the side of the gates and up the other side. My Ibis had other ideas and snagged it's front wheel on a piece of wood that was hidden in the puddle and I proceeded to fall off, with the same words I almost always use when things don't go according to plan 'Ahhhhh shit'. I fell to my Bartlett Tendon side, so nothing I could do. Clipped in with a leg that is not my own, well you get the picture. I just laughed about it with Lee, especially when Lee said 'I think I will just push my bike over'.

Lee checking out bivi spots

This afternoon was a glorious afternoon. We headed through No Place and along to Shield Row taking the back trails. From there we headed to Red Row and called into the Aston Workshop as I wanted to show Lee all the amazing cars. There were quite a few DB5's, you know like the original 007 Bond car. Lee and I commented on how cars just are not the same these days, not so much character and all made of plastics. These old cars are classics and beautiful to look at.

 


From the Aston Worshop we headed over towards Tanfield Railway and down the trail to these old like ruins. Both Lee and I are not sure what used to be here. It's a pretty area and Lee in typical Lee fashion commented 'Hey this would be a canny place to bivi'.

Glorious weather

All the pretty flowers in bloom

Enjoying the afternoon

Lee chilling with an apple

 

A few photo's nabbed and then we were off again, using the Tanfield Railway path and having to cross the Causey Arch Bridge. To think before I started riding again I had never seen the Causey Arch bridge. Once at the end of the Railway path, we cut through the factories at Tanfield and were soon on the C2C and on our way home. Only around 12 miles or so covered, but we did take in some canny banks, one of which I showed Lee. It is the footpath from Barn Hill at Shield Row and it takes you up to Stanley, coming out at the indoor market. Phewww granny gear all the way up.

When you just don't feel like going out!

The lads had been going back and forth with messages upon Facebook arranging a ride out for Saturday morning. I only sent a few short messages, saying I didn't feel like heading out, but hoped they enjoyed themselves. As the days go by I just feel weaker and weaker and everything feels like a chore.

Well Saturday morning arrived I hadn't set my alarm like I usually would and was awakened by our doorbell ringing. Thoughts ran through my head 'aww just ignore it, who ever it is will go away'. I  then thought I had better go and see who it was. As I hopped down stairs using my elbow crutches as i couldn't be arsed to pop my leg on I saw though our kitchen window that it was my friend John. I went to the back door, opened it and John came in while I made a cup of tea and had some toast. 'You not up for a ride out' John said, to which I  replied 'I'm just not feeling it mate'. Soon after our other friend Lee arrived. When Lee saw I wasn't ready he asked 'You not coming'?, again I just repeated my earlier comment to John, saying I wasn't exactly feeling good. Lee was gutted, well so was John as they love hanging with me and going for a ride. Lee always says 'I always have an adventure or something happens when I am with you'. This is pretty much true, it's very rare we go out and something either funny, interesting or bizarre happens. As I was just finishing up my toast I spotted our other friend Al pull up in his car. At this point I was feeling a bit guilty, here were all the lads and me being a pussy just because I didn't feel too good. Before All got his bike unloaded off his car I hopped upstairs and popped my bikey gear on and got ready to head out with the boys.
              

Up the mucky farmers trail with Teflon Lee

Got to love the mud

Rain,Fun and a complete Cock!

  Once upon at time there was this geet old miserable twat...But hey we will get to that bit later on...

Just lately I never seem to have a minute to myself, don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, it just takes a lot of getting used to. Going from being ill for all those years and basically doing nothing everyday then getting up and knowing I had the same to look forward to the next day, then the next and so on. I suppose in a way it's the same for the majority of people who are unemployed, no money to do anything,depressed and frustrated. My friend John is out of work and I sometimes see his frustrations and how he doesn't like taking anything from me, for instance if I treat him to a McDonald's or buy a gear cable for his bike. I tell John "that's what friends are for" to help you out when your struggling, give you a bit of morale support and tell you everything will work itself out. You can't buy proper friendship and hey money is made to go around.

My m8 John

A snowy ride along a trail next to Tanfield Railway

Opened my blinds this morning to be greeted by quite a bit of snow. Got ready, grabbed my gear and I was off out on my Fat Bike.

I wasn't really sure where I was thinking of going, needed to clear my head and riding my bike generally helps. I've had a bit of a crap week this week, firstly being informed I've been turned down at my appeal tribunal to be kept in the Support group of Employment Support Allowance and then on Thursday finding out I can't claim Job Seekers Allowance because of me doing voluntary work, so basically I have very little money coming in and it's canny worrying. Anyhoo no good stressing and I certainly don't want to get anyone down by listening to me bleat on, this blog is supposed to be about fun,following my adventures and well just letting you see what I'm up to.

It's so difficult trying to get a shot of yourself

Causey Arch, the World's Oldest Surviving Single-Arch Railway Bridge in the World

Causey Arch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Causey Arch is a bridge near Stanley in County Durham, northern England. It is the oldest surviving single-arch railway bridge in the world.
It was built in 1725-26 by stonemason Ralph Wood, funded by a conglomeration of coal-owners known as the "'Grand Allies'" (founded by Colonel Liddell and the Hon. Charles Montague) at a cost of £12,000. Two tracks crossed the Arch: one (the main way) to take coal to the River Tyne, and the other (the bye way) for the returning the empty wagons. Over nine hundred horse-drawn wagons crossed the arch each day using the Tanfield Railway.
At the time the bridge was completed in 1726, it was the longest single span bridge in the country with an arch span of 31 m, a record it held for thirty years until 1756 when a bridge was built in Pontypridd, Wales.
An inscription on a sundial at the site reads "Ra. Wood, mason, 1727". Use of the Arch declined when Tanfield Colliery was destroyed by fire in 1739.
The Arch was restored and reinforced in the 1980s. There are a series of scenic public paths around the area and the Causey Burn which runs underneath it. The quarry near the bridge is a popular spot for local rock climbers.
Causey Burn itself flows into Beamish Burn which then flows into the River Team eventually
 discharging into the River Tyne.