Thought I was going to cross a muddy puddle. Turned out to be hole about 4 foot deep in the middle. Went over the bars and into the drink, fully immersed except for my head! Filled the crankcase with water too. Pic is after I'd dragged the bike half out. Went home after that
It's to avoid dangers like this that we encourage riders to complete the Comments section on the run sheet which is used to keep the database and overlay current.
It's to avoid dangers like this that we encourage riders to complete the Comments section on the run sheet which is used to keep the database and overlay current.
So, what lane was it?
Cheers,
John
snailspacejase wrote:
H****** lane, off the A383. About half way between the A38 and Newton Abbot. Great lane.
-- Edited by snailspacejase on Tuesday 3rd of January 2012 09:56:08 PM
As two others have pointed out the photo was taken on land ALONGSIDE and not in the lane.
Considerable damage has been done by 4wd vehicles illegally driving on the land either side of the lane near the ford as they turn to get an angle of approach to the climb up the bank onto the two parallel tracks used for field access and the area has been turned into a quagmire by idiots. Perhaps the overlay comment should include a warning to stay on the road but that would apply to every lane.
I know the lane well and it can get a bit soggy at times but I've never seen it that bad. I assume it was just to the east of the ford?
Was the damage really caused by illegal 4x4s or agricultural vehicles? If the latter then they're probably entitled to go off track as it's likely to be their land. I seem to recall the western end has some ruts that are probably too deep for a 'normal' 4x4 and suggest a large tractor is the culprit.
I'll add something suitable to the lane description but the point about always sticking to the legal track is well made.
Cheers,
John
-- Edited by John Leah on Wednesday 4th of January 2012 01:59:07 PM
4X4 use is the culprit there John. The farmers do not have any reason to use this land which is a boggy wood. The Moor to Sea uses this bank as a section and there has been occasional 4X4 use over the years. Only in the last few years has there been a real mess made of the bank which is straight ahead as you exit the ford. The problem has arisen because people have been coming down the return slope too fast to stop before crossing the road and then swinging around to get a run at the slope opposite the ford and chewing up the ground in the process and dragging mud onto the lane which has always been muddy there but never such a quagmire as seen lately.
It is interesting to note the sustainable nature of the annual M2C motorcycle trial section usage which is not discernable afterwards and has never left a lasting trace. This contrasts heavily with the scars left by the cars who seem to delight in going places not meant for vehicles and leave a lasting mess behind. The deep tractor ruts caused by agricultural usage to the western end of the lane have always added interest to the lane when filled with quite deep water which often fills the lane from hedge to hedge because the only alternative as the sticky mud in the centre which can be deep and is punctuated by hoofprints making it very uneven and challenging.
I met a 4X4 last week and the driver warned me the ford was quite deep, it probably went over his bonnet if he went too fast. The water did not go over the seat and tank though as it sometimes does and only once have I felt it necessary to divert across the concrete bridge when the water had reached the bridge and was splashing over it
This video shows the lane from 1.41 to 4.11 and Victor shows how deep it was.
