ForeverBlueSkies - Life, the Universe & Everything - a blog

Monday, April 18, 2005

Forget the Pyramids

Forget Niagara Falls...

Infact forget any reputedly cool destination...

...Hawley Woods are THE place to be. And the rest...

Caesars Camp ride - click for enlargementGoing out for a "quick" ride yesterday (hot and Sunny) ended up in a blast through Hawley Woods and round the Hawley Lake, up Hawley Hill and down to Minley Manor.

There was even a minefield between Minley Manor and the pond, I thought you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it - so photo below - "Achtung - Minen"

Down to the Fleet Pond, past the NGTE, a quick hop along to the Basingstoke Canal, into Velmead Woods and up to the trig point at Miles Hill, overlooking the Farnborough Airfield.

Then a "bomb" through the Long Valley, past Tweseldown Racecourse, to Outridden Copse and Burn's Plain. Across the road and up, up, up to Ceasar's Camp to take in a commanding view of the Kingdom...

Achtung - MinenA dash along to Bricksbury Hill for a broad downhill section back to Burn's Plain and across to the back of Rushmoor Arena to catch a glimpse of the banger racing from the Fleet Motor Club, then over to the Army Golf Club and down the Farnborough Road...

...past the Air Sciences Trust (it's XS420, Dave ;) ), through our scabby old relegated town centre and then home...

So, apart form the last leg of the ride, it was a most pleasurable experience. We are so lucky to have so much around us - it just takes a 20-30 mile ride across country to take it all in.

And the people, oh the people were so good. Having just read RahX's ego post, it seems like a little luck rubbed off and everyone wanted to stop and say hello, have a chat, ask directions etc. Hurrah for humankind, we're not so bad after all.

And if anyone wants to do this trail, there's the map. Do as much off-road as you can to appreciate it, though the roads are only there to get you home quick 'cos you're hungry ;)

Blue Skies thinking @ 4/18/2005 07:18:00 AM  

17 Comments:

  • At Mon Apr 18, 04:24:00 PM, Blogger superfan said…

    You like bikes dont you Lever?

    not that theres anything wrong with that or anything.

    Guess what I'm listening to?

    you'll laugh. I've give you a clue:
    "this is not enough! THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!"

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 04:34:00 PM, Blogger superfan said…

    By the way, how are you getting along with Doom 3? the advert scares me deeply.

    Give me Grand Theft Auto any day...

    ::sigh:: I'm not allowed it, the rents refuse to buy it me cos its violent and you can pick up prostitutes and stuff. LOL.
    I'm really violent when I play it as well. I just nick cars and kill people for money and do drugs and stuff. Hmmm...

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 04:58:00 PM, Blogger Lever said…

    TMRB: LOL Afternoon Seffy :D

    Yep, I love my mountain bikes. Great way to get out, enjoy the countryside and keep fit too.

    "This is not Enough! THIS IS NOT ENOUGH"...hmmm...only thing I can think of is TATU? Yeah, that does make me laugh - makes me a tad sad for knowing that too (haha, not really I googled it ;) ) - whatever happened to them anyway?

    I've got a bit further in Doom 3 and yeah, it still makes me jump. I'm trying to limit my play time with it 'cos there's so much other stuff to do. Like sleep.

    But GTA - LOL that's funny; I've *heard* that too much GTA turns people into chavs :\ Guns, drugs, pimpin' - definately sounds chavvy to me. Do they wear trackies and stuff? Like - not do sports but wear sportswear? YEAH, I reckon the rents did well there, keeping you away from that stuff tsk ;)

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 05:31:00 PM, Blogger RahX said…

    Wow, there really is a minefield. Thats crazy. About the most dangerous thing I've encounted so far this season is a pothole or two.

    Oh and those crazy people who have obviously never been passed by a car while riding on a bike. I can reach out and touch some of them they get so close. I really need to put on my carrier and get away with my bike next time.

    Somewhere with woods, most definitely.

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 05:36:00 PM, Blogger rebekah said…

    i'll go biking with you if you take me ...

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 05:58:00 PM, Blogger Lever said…

    RahX: Dude, my webhost was being a bitch so I didn't post it until a moment ago... I just posted a link from the image to an enlargement of the Mines Sign... that sign cracks me up... leg off, crutches... LOL You can see the cordon (sp?) goes right 'round the back of the field too... but there were no blown-up bunnies or anything...

    Know what you mean about the close-call drivers. They should be made to ride a bike on a busy road before being allowed to get their license...

    Woods. Yeah :D

    Rebekah: LOL, you're more than welcome Missy. You can go infront ;) :D

    And I'd appreciate the company too, especially considering there's so few female bikers 'round here...

    ...more lady bikers in Hampshire!!!

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 09:41:00 PM, Blogger Brom said…

    I never realised just how close the M3 got to the centre of F'borough. I've driven through there sooo many times, unfortunately at the mo I have no work in that direction, however, if/when I do I'll have to take time out and buy you a beer!?

    Oh now this is getting too much, Reb in a kilt, on a bike, riding infront!

     

  • At Mon Apr 18, 10:29:00 PM, Blogger davinian said…

    It's sad I know - but there seems to be very little info on the E.E. Lightning T5 XS420. A round trip with Google found me back here - Farmborough!

    Rebekah, can I take you biking?

     

  • At Tue Apr 19, 01:27:00 AM, Blogger rebekah said…

    all three of you may take me biking but only i get to wear the kilt ...

     

  • At Tue Apr 19, 03:36:00 AM, Blogger Jay said…

    Niagara Falls is only cool for old people or honeymooners; there's not much to do in town past 9pm, so one way or another, you'd better be in bed.

     

  • At Tue Apr 19, 06:17:00 AM, Blogger homercat said…

    An actual damn mine field? crapola that's a might scary don't you think. You'd figure someone could get those dudes outta there.

     

  • At Tue Apr 19, 07:20:00 AM, Blogger Lever said…

    Brom-man: And the M3 connects to the A331 Blackwater Valley route so you can go from Camberley & Farnborough to Aldershot & Farnham and then on to Guildford with ease. That means you can get to the Hogs Back Brewery too. So next time you're down this way you're more than welcome to drop in :D

    Hehe, and as for Rebekah biking in a kilt... excellent. Which reminds me, I must get a video camera...

    Davinian: That's one of the back pages of the FAST website; there's also pics of XS420 at RAF Conningsby where I saw them back in 19XX, and one of it in a rather poor state of repair... but then back to life at Fairford, 2003...

    Have Lightning, will travel...

    Rebekah: Yep, you win hands down on that one...

    Jay: I was there years back but can't remember much about it - that says it all. I'm going to go back (on honeymoon? Go on, then, somebody propose to me ;) ) even though a Toronto client advises me against it...

    Lovedonnaz: Hey there lovedonnaz :) Yep, we got plenty of that going on 'round here, with the Royal Engineers being our local buddies - bridges, pontoons, explosions, small arms fire and now minefields... Thought I'd seen it all until now...

     

  • At Wed Apr 20, 08:31:00 PM, Anonymous Red said…

    LOL, great minefield. :)

    You didn't mention the semi-constant sound of gunfire to send you to sleep on those hot summer nights, when the windows are open.....

     

  • At Thu Apr 21, 07:30:00 AM, Blogger Lever said…

    Red: Cheers dude :) That's at the far end of the field opposite the Total garage on Cove Road BTW

    Yeah, good point about the gunfire. LOL the crackle of the GMPG on a hot summer night does manage to drown out the drone of the M3...

    ...but as for the siren at Broadmoor... they test it about 10am every Monday morning - that's quite an eery sound - though, like the story of the boy who cried wolf, I don't think anyone would budge if it sounded any other time...?

     

  • At Fri May 25, 04:41:00 PM, Anonymous leon said…

    Hey,
    I found your post when searching on Caesers camp and cycling. Just did a large part of your route, I've lived in Fleet for 25 years and never knew about the minefield area! Or the back route up past Fleet bends! SO thanks for that, interestingly (or not) you work in the same industry to me too!

    Leon

     

  • At Fri May 25, 05:27:00 PM, Blogger Lever said…

    Hey Leon,

    Thanks for dropping by :)

    Yeah, glad you enjoyed the new trails. The Farnborough Road stretch is just pure "get home" road biking, so it's good for a head-down blast, but the other tracks are great and pretty this time of year too.

    Fleet, yeah I remember that place... was a resident for something like 13 years...

    And it's good to meet another Web/IT person *virtual handshake*

     

  • At Sat May 26, 12:43:00 AM, Blogger leonchaddock said…

    *virtual handshake back* Yeah Fleets ok, just been sampling the Oatsheaf's finest!

    Got an old uni friend coming up tommorow so going to show him the rest of the route, might even lead him through the minefield if hes lucky!!!

    ALthough I think if you detour slightly and head through Bramshill forest there is a good route to add a few miles.....

     

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