I use the same fuel - liquid oxygen and hydrocarbons.
Worth watching - and listen carefully for key words like 'telemetry' and the way the commentator reports the ascent and all the schhhh....peep..peep.... etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGNryrsT7OI
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Telemetry 9: 313km down range, altitude 8350m....
Aliens!!
Came across a group of these mole crickets when I stopped for a rest. I don't think I have seen them in the UK before. Handsome chap - reminds me of a Yamaha Vmax for some reason - can't think why.
Came across a group of these mole crickets when I stopped for a rest. I don't think I have seen them in the UK before. Handsome chap - reminds me of a Yamaha Vmax for some reason - can't think why.
Monday, 3 August 2009
Telemetry 8: 286km down range, 7410m altitude.....
As it was Sunday I decided to float around on Dartmoor - starting from Chagford and passing through Widecombe, Bovey Tracey, Lustleigh, Moretonhampstead and back to Chagford.
This is looking back over Widecombe after the climb up to Pudsham Down. It is a very pretty village but I was pushed for time as I was cooking lunch and didn't take a photo.
Lustleigh is also very pretty and sits in a sheltered spot. It's the telegraph poles that have got it wrong and not me.
Again, I didn't really have the time to do it justice and will just have to do this trip again. Here's a view in the centre of the village and sits at the end of the little track that I used.
The hill out of Lustleigh up onto the ridge is steep, long, painful, and excellent fun. Then it's uphill all the way to Moretonhampstead before the final clatter back to Chagford.
This is looking back over Widecombe after the climb up to Pudsham Down. It is a very pretty village but I was pushed for time as I was cooking lunch and didn't take a photo.
Lustleigh is also very pretty and sits in a sheltered spot. It's the telegraph poles that have got it wrong and not me.
Again, I didn't really have the time to do it justice and will just have to do this trip again. Here's a view in the centre of the village and sits at the end of the little track that I used.
The hill out of Lustleigh up onto the ridge is steep, long, painful, and excellent fun. Then it's uphill all the way to Moretonhampstead before the final clatter back to Chagford.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Telemetry 7: 237km down range, altitude 6314m....
20,700 feet - a bit of a landmark and some genuine altitude. I've fitted expensive new tougher and stickier tyres to cope with the wet and grit - so the sun came out and I got a puncture anyway. The rain did not disappoint though and gave a good showing in the latter part of today's trek.
Looking out over Exmoor I could see this cloudburst sweeping in.
As it was coming in very fast I decided to play chicken with it - as I packed the camera away after this second shot and departed I was accompanied by the splat, splat of some big fat raindrops. These two pictures are taken a few seconds apart - so you can see how fast it was approaching.
I decided to stick to my route and attempt a fourth crossing of the hills rather than head down and south. The road kicked back round more than I anticipated back under this cloud - and I definitely lost the game of chicken.
But I did see some sunshine! Here's the proof.
And I like this one because it shows the rain going away from me.
Looking out over Exmoor I could see this cloudburst sweeping in.
As it was coming in very fast I decided to play chicken with it - as I packed the camera away after this second shot and departed I was accompanied by the splat, splat of some big fat raindrops. These two pictures are taken a few seconds apart - so you can see how fast it was approaching.
I decided to stick to my route and attempt a fourth crossing of the hills rather than head down and south. The road kicked back round more than I anticipated back under this cloud - and I definitely lost the game of chicken.
But I did see some sunshine! Here's the proof.
And I like this one because it shows the rain going away from me.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Telemetry 5 and 6: 200.6km down range, altitude 5210m.
Begining to feel a little altitude sickness - now slightly higher than Pic Marguerite in the Rowenzora's. There's a bit of gratuitously random info!!
The weather has been holding things up a bit. Or not in the case of the contents of the spectacular thunder clouds we've had around for the last week. Today the road cycling was a bit tricky as there is now mud and cuttings over many of the lanes which doesn't encourage successful stopping on the downhills. Not that the brakes work too well anyway given the grinding paste that develops on the rims in the wet. The upshot is that I might include some of my ascendeur runs as, ironically, the MTB is not great for stacking up altitude - it becomes too much of an all day expedition.
On Saturday I did a short 16km ride from Portloe in Cornwall. Here's a view of the village from the cottage.
Sunday was a wash out and I went for a run along the coast with Mango, a dog.
Today looked like it might be a bit better so I set off - and got soaked in the first 2km!
The weather has been holding things up a bit. Or not in the case of the contents of the spectacular thunder clouds we've had around for the last week. Today the road cycling was a bit tricky as there is now mud and cuttings over many of the lanes which doesn't encourage successful stopping on the downhills. Not that the brakes work too well anyway given the grinding paste that develops on the rims in the wet. The upshot is that I might include some of my ascendeur runs as, ironically, the MTB is not great for stacking up altitude - it becomes too much of an all day expedition.
On Saturday I did a short 16km ride from Portloe in Cornwall. Here's a view of the village from the cottage.
Sunday was a wash out and I went for a run along the coast with Mango, a dog.
Today looked like it might be a bit better so I set off - and got soaked in the first 2km!
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Telemetry 4: 152.4 km down range, altitude 3834 metres.
After a break of a few days enjoying the rain and surf in Pembrokeshire I am back on the bike today - which I found suprisingly hard going. Added another 48km and 1000m anyway.
Very wet on the last downhill and really could not see where I was going. Good news though as I was able to top up with Tabasco Sauce at the halfway mark.
Now through the 12,000 foot mark - only 58,000 left to do.
Very wet on the last downhill and really could not see where I was going. Good news though as I was able to top up with Tabasco Sauce at the halfway mark.
Now through the 12,000 foot mark - only 58,000 left to do.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Telemetry 3: 104.2 km down range, altitude 2826m
At 9,269 feet chasing the 10,000 foot mark hard - and very wet.
Telemetry not behaving very well and not storing stable track - can't understand what I am doing differently.
Telemetry not behaving very well and not storing stable track - can't understand what I am doing differently.
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