boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 So today I wanted to get the little CRF out and go for a trail ride, there are some lanes to the north of Salisbury Plain that I haven't done for a long time so I decided to head that way. I certainly wasn't going to go anywhere to the south of the plain near Stonehenge as it would be heaving with hippies all trying to get there for the summer solstice . I got away by 08.00hrs and after filling the tank it was a 20 mile ride on tarmac to the first lane . Just a short byaway which was cut in half in the 90's when they built the A350 bypass around Chippenham..... and then onto the village of Laycock which is largely owned by the National Trust.... The local shop really needs to check the sell-by dates on some of their stock and then passed by Laycock Abbey which is well worth a visit if you're roundabouts.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacock_Abbey 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Brilliant Bob.......I'm getting to like that Rally now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earache Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Nice pics! The Abbey looks cool - love stuff like that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 I like it too. Don’t know about all that wet dirt on those tracks, though 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 So onto the next set of lanes which were very dissapointing as the local authority has decided to tarmac them........... and now I'm heading for a couple of lanes that will lead to the Plain........... But before I get there I ride down this lovely old holloway near Potterne....... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Now were climbing up onto the Plain............. Salisbury Plain is huge (by UK standards) and has tracks going everwhere but you need to understand that it's overseen by the MOD and they control where you can and can't ride , for your own safety. It is an impact area where live munitions and tank training are carried out, and it's a great area to ride as long as you obey the warning signs, your life could be in danger if you stray off the byways and permissive routes....... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Plain This is the perimeter path, it is a gravel track which skirts the perimeter of the Plain. But you can also ride the muddy track to the right or the grassy track to the left............ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 I carried on and dropped down off the Plain via this track which took me down to Rushall........... Then I made my way back up onto the Plain via this byway. There are lots of these sort of tracks in this area and they look fine and dandy but at this time of the year they hold a surprise. The grass is long in summer but what you can't see are the hidden ruts underneath, you can be riding along fine and then the centre rut grabs your front wheel , you take a dab with your foot to steady yourself and dab into thin air as your foot has dissapeared down the left or right rut. Lots of dudes end up on their arse riding these trails for the first time and then some water just to keep it interesting .............. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Now I was into some fairly easy stuff, so a chance to bomb on a bit....... and some tree covered roads as well............ and back to the overgrown stuff............ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Then I gained some elevation again with great views all around............ and found some more poppy fields........................ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Back onto the Plain for some blasing along gravel trails.......... The MOD have done a great job of marking the trails........... and there's always the chance that you'll come across something they've left behind......... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 So time to head for home mainly on tarmac but with a couple of old lanes on the way...... and finally Pete's favourite bit, where I show him whatthe days riding has done to my bike ........... 4 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Fantastic! The Tank shot has got to be a Bike of the Month contender! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, boboneleg said: and finally Pete's favourite bit, where I show him whatthe days riding has done to my bike ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Great Bob i can only dream of doing that at the moment, I think its starting to get to me When i had my old Africa Twin apart a couple of months ago i noticed under the fairings and tank is still covered in the dust from when we crossed Salisbury plain on the way to Italy in 2011 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Great memories Fred, once that twat Drayford (or whatever he's called) let's you travel more than 5 miles we need to have a ride together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Fallsalot Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 9 minutes ago, boboneleg said: Great memories Fred, once that twat Drayford (or whatever he's called) let's you travel more than 5 miles we need to have a ride together Definitely Bob we will have to drag Alan along on his CCM as well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 8 minutes ago, Lone Amigo said: The CRF 250 Rally looks like an updated version of my old NX 250 Dominator. Old Honda chief mechanic once told me that was his favourite Honda engine ever, from a quality point of view. Great riding, Bob, little bit too muddy for my taste but quality stuff. How much do you weigh? Do you like the CRF's stock suspension for that stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 On 20/06/2020 at 22:29, Sir Fallsalot said: Definitely Bob we will have to drag Alan along on his CCM as well It would be like dragging an anchor along for you two! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 17 hours ago, Specs said: It would be like dragging an anchor along for you two! Not at all Alan, plenty of lovely scenic stops up on the Plain 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 On 23/06/2020 at 16:45, boboneleg said: Not at all Alan, plenty of lovely scenic stops up on the Plain It'd be a lot of stops for me regardless! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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