Oop North - A Tale of Two Groups
Saturday 27th Jan
A busy meet at Trerulefoot, 9 out for a dry days trailriding - amazing, as it's been a long time coming...

Richard on the KTM450, Seemond on a KTM 250 Stroker, Steve on the 250 Beta, Eric on a DRZ400, Bob on the trusty Serow, Andy and Mike on CCM404's, Katie on an SLR230 and me on the Supertanker. Plotting a course towards Caradon hill - you could even see the mast for once! We took in Trewandra, and a mix of lanes that soon had us on the St Mellion trials hill. Katie, the first girl member of the KTRC, and Mike were on their first ride with us and found the terrain rather interesting. Top marks to Katie who, by her own admission, won top badger watching awards - stretching the contest to include trees, waterways , ruts and other countryside features ... ended the day smiling and has even posted (nice stuff) on the chatboard.

After a couple of lanes into Callington, we had fun rotavating the UCR at Gang - now known as Katies Bath Lane - and split into the hares and hounds. Hares, hared off and took in a good many lanes towards Pensilva before Seemond's KTM picked up a puncture - Steve's place at Liskeard proved ideal for a quick pitstop.

The hounds led by yours truly did the rounds of Liskeard, Moorswater and Dobwalls before stopping for grub at the garage to wait for the hares. Joining up again, the reduced posse of Steve, Seemond, Eric, Richard, Andy and myself managed a rapid transit throught Railway lane, Boduel and into North Bosent - here someone either a) Has constructed set of horse jumps or b) Likes to drive their tractor over foot and half tall logs... great fun to get over, but actually an illegal obstruction... Pushing on we transitted through Scawns, Penquite, Tredinnick, Treworgey, Sandplace, Wringworthy and Widegates to get back to Trerulefoot as it got dimpsey.

Click here to look at the gallery

A top 60 miles of mud, rocks and fun! Cheers Bish

Mystery Tour Part Deux

Steve Woods on a superb WR400 , Ian Major on an aquatic WR400 , Ken Worden on an armour plated WR250, Ross sheppard on a very capable GasGas 250, Seemond Stephens on a very quick, but slightly allergic to water KTM 250EXC(stroker), Andy on the not so scratch free katosh 300EXC and last but not least (again) Carty on the ever ready KDX200.
Well after a brief chat about the route (as I had intended to do a 30 mile or so local blat...........) that plan was totally discarded and I came up with an off the cuff route to conform to the advertised title " Mystery tour part deux".........
So everything in order we set off at a brisk pace to the first lane of the day: a long slippery sucker of a byway leading towards Wheal Busy, where we took the muddy whoop filled byway towards Chacewater (but not before having a ten minute play on the various steep climbs on said byway)...

At Chacewater we set off towards St Day, before turning on to the group of extremely muddy/greasy byways that eventually lead out near Poldice valley. Some people enjoyed a generous coating of roost whilst navigating these splendid lanes :0) Once poldice was reached we followed the UCR/byway up river to a point known a Greybanks where a trio of byways converge. Here as usual all common sense went right out the window as the group tried to ascend and descend various near verticle climbs.. some getting Up and Down! faster then others... And you know I'm sure at one point I even saw Seemond several feet in the air minus KTM!.......... Naaaaaah must have been a mirage ;0)..
After half an hour at this location, play time over & we headed out via the byway over the moor and another past the tailings dam to the next long woody byway at Baldhu....... onto the byway at Carrine Common! Now the full byway follows a route around the edge of the moor, but only about half is usually ridden due to how densely covered in gorse the other half is. Anyway long story short and all that, after a brief chat we decided in true pioneering spirit tha we would go for it .....double helping's yes please!! Anyway 15 minutes later looking like a bunch of mutant hedgehogs we all appeared at the other end only to turn about and head back via the other half to the byway at Baldhu again.
Here i suceeded in coating myself from head to foot in water after hitting a large puddle a little to quickly providing a bit of entertainment for Carty! Not to worry a couple of bikes back Andy managed an even more spectacular water explosion ;0) From here we headed via a couple of uneventfull byways to the small ford at Trehaddle and then on to the extremely deep ford on the byway at pulla cross leading up to the sewage works.

Ian kindly offered to take over as duty photographer for this crossing! muttering something about nutter's and I'm not going there again....? No idea either;0) Any way ten minutes later ford successfully navigated and all across without incident well Ken nearly had a blonde moment.......... (sorry mate but i had to say something to make use of that splendid photo)

Ever onwards we proceeded to the next byway up past the tip to sunny corner..and on through the byway at Wheal Clifford, up over Grey Banks again! Then onto the superb set of lanes known as Kerly Downs. Again the roost was flying thick and fast........ from there we moved onto the group of byways at Penstraze finally leading out via the two foot wall over the byway to the garage at Chiverton. Here we quickly fueled up before pushing on via the last two lanes before lunch. The first a greasy mud covered cobble job and the final a large water obstacle that proved to be deeper then usual........

Now i would like to say that all went well here but that would be a fib! I ploughed straight in right into a freshly ploughed up muddy bottom and watched in horror as forward momentum slowed and the water level climbed. As it hit the bottom of the seat I killed the motor and jumped off with the water up to my arse and quickly pushed the WR out water "ingress prevented" it soon fired back up. Andy followed on a slightly differont but as it turned out deeper line. In fact at one point he said it felt like the Katoosh was floating, but with some jiggery pokery he managed to get through. Carty in true trials style picked his way around the minute verge ......... Whilst and here's where it all gets a bit sad Captain Seemond ("The cinder warrior") Stephens pushed the fire breathing Katoosh round the edge (say's it all really hey Andy) .....

Without further ado we moved on to Smokey's and promptly tucked away sausage egg and chips washed down with hot chocolate and cream mmmmm....After lunch Ken departed are company to honour a prior engagement ;0) and Ross told the truth and said he was done in, and would be shooting off now (fair do's mate ) ;0),,,
So numbers trimmed down to a neat five! we went straight into the series of byway's known as Myrtle Cottage Lane (no badgers today)...........and then onto the usual carnage at Manor Parsley 2 although no one took a knap this time! We followed this up with a descent and ascent of the very rocky lane known as Manor Parsley one.... again no casualties and then moved on to the byway over the cliff at Porthtowan. The lane at sk8 in Mount Hawke beckoned, via a couple of very muddy lanes - we followed this lane to Teagle and then picked up the next lane known as Silverwell 2, finally following it to it's conclusion on the road at Wheal Butson. Here we ran the lane with the small but tricky rock steps up to Hurlingbarrow before taking the next green lane to Football Lane and on to the tricky cobble trials section at Blue Hills .......... no dabs this time!

We then moved on at a brisk pace to the short byway at Trevellas this has a nice muddy coating a fallen tree that you have to dismount your machine and squirm underneath, followed by a small stream and a short but steep climb... phew leading straight on to the next series of byways that include the "infamous steps" then it was on to the splendid lane at Lambriggen that as i have mentioned before has a bit of everything, along the straight as an arrow byway at the Cider Farm and on to the lane at Silverwell known as Silverwell 3. Half way along this we took another long muddy lane to it's conclusion before carrying out an about turn and repeating the exercise. Everyone arrived at the end looking a lot muddier From here we cracked on back up Silverwell 1 and 2 before finally taking the series of Myrtle Cottage lanes back to Smokey's.
Sixty miles in all was covered and a great day was had by all............
Thanks again lads Steve Click here to look at the gallery

Ben and Steve go Badger watching!
Sunday 21st Jan in the East

Hooking up with the muddy gang of Ben KTM 125, Steve Wilson 250 Beta, Knightrider on the CCM404 and Mark on the 450KTM, the Supertanker definitely looked a bit too clean - turns out some had also been also out on the Saturday. My superslick MT43 (more like a Pirelli World Superbike tyre) was out slicked by Steve's front - how does he keep the Beta on the straight an narrow?

The guys had come over from Callington direction, so after a brief lunch stop to get over the effects of Morden we pushed on towards the Duloe direction. With badger watching in mind, Ben was tree inspecting within the first few miles but no great damage! The standard stuff was tackled to Wringworthy where we diverted for the entertaining rut infested lane at Milandreath. My ascent was fun - knocked off the new chain in a rut and managed to haul the XT back, guide the chain back on and complete the climb - just as Steve and Ben were coming back to look! After adjusting the rather stretchy said item. We headed into Duloe via Treworgey and Treddinick. Then out through Penquite into Pendriscott and Crooksball. Moor badger watching was experienced but I can't exactly remember where .

Having descended Shillamill we headed across the sheep field UCR towards Lerryn, where Steve also decided on a highside badger watching tactic - very successfully executed!

We then rapidly despatch Beara, Kilmansag, Trevillis, Scawns, Boduel before arriving at Railway lane and into Dobwalls for a well earned break. A quick lap of the Moorswater and Liskeard lanes followed before we split.. A great and very muddy day had by all.

Cheers Bish

Adam goes Loopy - Saturday 13th Jan and Steve's Magical Mystery Tour see below - Plus Steve Wilson's Northern adventures yet to come...

Just some pics for now on the Saturday ride, all will be explained in detail later... Suffice to say that the 6 of us 'Easters out on Saturday were highly entertained by Adam's lofting antics, Bob's Serow submarine and Ben's candid camera head cam...


Click here to look at the gallery
or Watch Ben's Muchlarnick Vid

Mystery tour

Sunday the 14th Jan 2007, 0930hrs at Smokey Joes saw the following on parade and ready for action, Steve Woods on the sought after WR400,
Ian Major, on yet another WR400 (see told you) Robin on the trusty CRF 250X, Jason on a rather smart looking XR400, Ross on his infamous GasGas 250 Pampera, Seemond on a nitro powered katoom 250 stroker! Andy on a scratch free KTM 300EXC Johnny "T" on a very handy GasGas EC200, Carty on a well ridden KDX200, and last but not least Archie on the very reliable TTR250.........
So at around 0945hrs after final fettling and introductions, we set off at a brisk pace along the series of lanes known as Myrtle Cottage lane and I must admit they were a tad gloopy - believe they even claimed a few casualty's... Any way Seemond and I arrived at the end of said lane and whilst I knitted a new pair of trousers! Seemond headed back to see what the hold up was? Apparently Jason had spotted a rare albino badger in the hedgerow and just had to have it ............. Badger hunting over we carried on to what can only be described as total carnage at the gnarly root infested lane known as Manor Parsley 2, I even caught Ross napping at the bottom of a tree.......... At the top of Mp2 we split into two groups, Robin guided one with Ian, Ross,and Jason in the opposite direction and the rest of us continued en route.....

We descended Manor Parsley 1 and promptly about turned at the bottom and ascended the same lane, before moving smartly on to the set of byways that descend the cliff into Porthtowan, then ascending the opposite cliff out! From the Porthtowan byway we took the road for a mile or two to the series of lanes through Hurlingbarrow, StAgnes, and on to the slippery trials section at Blue hills....
From here we carried on to the lane with the infamous "Steps" at Trevellas these were dealt with smartly by all and we moved onto the next byway at Lambriggen. This lane is a bit of a mixed bag! It has a muddy straight followed by a river crossing and rocky uphill climb and finally a nice muddy slope up to the road! what more can you ask for?
We then took on the long straight potholed byway at the Cider Farm... before moving quickly on to the descent into the valley on the series of lanes known as Silver Well 1, 2 and 3 and promptly on to the fantastic deep water crossing at Blackwater, that provided a few rapid heart beats but was navigated with out incident.... We then fueled up and headed of to Smokey's for bacon sarnies and chocolate cake!

Five minutes after our arrival at Smokey's, Martin Chapman and Claire arrived on the shiny KTM powered BSU outfit, followed shortly by Robin and co.....
Lunch sorted we headed out towards the Poldice Valley area, via the byway's at Penstraze and Chacewater, through the series of superb lanes known as Kerly Downs, on past the tailings dam to the byway over the moor, and so to the byway on the bank at Twelveheads. Much fun was had here for half an hour as the steep climbs were tackled with extreme skill by some and in a fashion by others including moi! ....... (I'm telling you i saw a £50 note! )
Anyway playtime finished, we carried on up the byway the opposite side of the valley, down through the small ford at Trehaddle. Then onto the extremely deep ford on the byway en route to the sewage works at Pulla Cross. This was an arse twitching moment due to the depth but was cleaned with out ado.... (allthough I believe Robins crew were not so fortunate! in fact I did hear tale of a tow to Truro!) From here we started the home leg via the byway/ucr at Poldice, through a series of three extremely gloopy/slippery byways to Chacewater.............. Wheal busy ........ Blackwater and finally Smokey Joes.....................cheers lads it was a top day.

Steve woods

Click here to look at the gallery of the day

2007 Number 1! - Or slithering to Tavi ... 07/01/07

A super short one - no time! Another gale lashed Sunday start at Trerulefoot saw Steve Wilson (Beta 250), Kev Knightrider (CCM 404), Smokin' Wayne (KDX 250), Gerald (KTM 450), Mark S (DRZ 400) and myself on the Supertanker (still running on the 30th Dec petrol.. overfilled it to say the least) heading North towards the Devon border. After comprehensively slithering along Trewandra, Blunts, and Pillaton we hooked up with Ben (KTM 125), Mark T (KTM 450) and Colour Sergeant Rob (KLX 250) who (we think) got lost on manoeuvres!

Handing over the navigation to Ben and Rob we yomped up the St Mellion cliff what a climb! Then into the hinterland around St Dominic - Morden slithered down by some... the more sensible using the other UCR. Having lunch, a refill (although not the tanker!) and a yap a Drakewalls we then snaked a course around Chillaton, Luckett, Horsebridge, Sydenham Damerell and many points in between! Don't ask, Ben and Rob knew where we were going. Rob and Mark S also tried novel techniques for extreme leaning, but found gravity usually wins and I had the joys of hauling up the XT twice in the same place when we diverted for a bit of bank ascending. A fantastic day and lots more to come in 2007... now back to TBM to laugh about our KTRC Wreckers mention, me 'andsomes!---- Bish

Click Here to See the Gallery from the day

The Mega Ride - Seeing out 2006, 30/12/06

The KTRC saw 2006 out with a big finale! 22 riders turned out for a pretty wild and blustery Saturday with a target of trying to reach Tavistock (by the least direct route!) Splitting into 3 groups so as not to frighten the natives... Nick navigating his group of Steve Woods, Ian Major, Mike Wooley, Ken Worden and Andy Davies headed off through Newham. Rossi and Steve Wilson, smoked off (well maybe not Steve) as they were with the stroker contingent of Seemond, Philpy, John Turk, Steve Arthur and Shaun Warrick - the excellent Lostwithiel climb being their first call. Finally the Helman Tor mob, navigated by myself, of Tim Stone, Jason Venton, Ben Floyd, Rob Evans, Wayne Tipton, Kev Knight and Nigel Yeo left and (despite a deliberate U-Turn...) soon were enjoying the views. (I know I've missed some names.. apologies ... I will work them out and edit it)

SMOKIN' SANTA (even with reindeer, Muchlarnicks a challenge)

Six of us braved the BA grounding fog to hit Trerulefoot for the Xmas Eve ride - Neil on a KTM 400, Ben on his KTM 125, Rob on the KLX 250, Kev Knightrider on the black CCM 404, myself on the Supertanker and Santa (aka Andy) on the 300 KTM - I know the KTRC has members far and wide, but I didn't expect sign-up from the Northpole.