Laning tour of UK

[AndyCook]

Did below dam lane this morning. Bit hassle as we did from south end after squeezing past a livestock trailer. Then after 1.5km there was a farm buggy blocking track.... And no way past. So we turned arounf after revrsing. And went to north end. Ford about 2ft deep. And we went down lane and returned same way again as the farmer was movibg sheep.. Hence the buggy in track.
We then went south and did giants grave which was ok. Then black yat which was very muddy and waterover bonnet on some bits. Farmer chased us on quad saying we had left a gate open. We hadnt. We had driven through an open one. He eventually cooled down after some discussion.
Then doctors pool and on to strata. It had been raining a lot and fords on road to strata had 1ft water on the road and burns wwere in spate. We looked at river at south end strata and it was very high. So aborted on strata florida and headed to campsite at devils bridge. Dry now...
Day 7 of laning tomo

cant post pics as on mobile and few taken today due to rain
a good day but dissapointing not to do strata but best not to risk it

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

It had been raining a lot and fords on road to strata had 1ft water on the road and burns were in spate.

If the water was over the road at the bottom of the Devil's Staircase then it's likely that Strata would have been fairly deep and fast flowing.

 

[AndyCook]

Today
nan-t-y-mooch lanes. The one i did last year, but in reverse (northern one with axle twister on E end). the washouts a lot worse than last may. Very close to tipping cruiser. Snorkel scraped on bank.
Then did panorama road and true happy valley. Gate opener didnt fancy old post road again. So finished on bomber lane. Ran out of yime to do Wayfarer, so dashed to manchester to brothers place.

 

[AndyCook]

Approx 1700miles and over £500 on diesel later we are back home after our tour on a large chunk of UK and laning in some of the best laning spots in UK: Lake district, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Mid-Wales.

removed 180kg of recovery gear, camping gear, clothes, tools, spare parts and the vehcile is sitting level again..after sitting 4-5cm low at back compared to unladen
going to replace the OME +150kg springs with +300kg ones and replace the standard OME lift 40mm shocks with Heavy Duty 40mm lift OME shcoks.
sag wasnt too bad last year, but the Roof top tent, rack, bars and Foxwing has added 90kg to load.

had a play with rear difflock accuator. after removing it (its 2yrs old) and refitting it worked better, but generally 1 in 6 attempts it wouldnt unlock, the rod wouldnt move quite far enough out by say 5mm. but turning the unlock-lock dial a couple times would usually unlock it properly,
fitted new one and it locks/unlocks everytime. so have painted it with primer and will fit it onces its had top coats and filled gaps with sealant. as that did good job on last one to stop water/dirt.

externally the 2yr old one looks fine. i will try and open it to investigate.

will work on pics now!

 

[AndyCook]

Lakes pics

first evening

camp

windy and cold but awning gave good shelter

a lane with tight gateways

tricky rock steps, needed rear locker here and still a struggle, and rear locker wouldnt disengage afterwards to an hour spannering to sort it

bluebells!

slabs

steps

quarry camp

gateopener doing her job!

flex

more flex

blencathra

scared sheep!

old coach road

camp

this turned up at 10pm in dark...

now to the Yorkshire dales

took this line last september with rear locker on and was fine, failed today..

resorted to winch and anchor, since the forest has been cut down next to track in last few months!!

and up!

Peak District

Hollinsclough

easing dropoff with stones

had to use rear locker on this uphill and it disengaged this time! (had bought a new one a couple hrs earlier at Milners! but not fitted it yet..)

slippy tree roots

And onto North Wales

gate opener washing a courgette on rain overflow off awning

gateopener gets scone bribery

foxwing repairs

 

[Gav Peter]

'Foxwing repairs' - WTF??? What did the gatecloser do to it???

Looks like a fab trip guys

 

[AndyCook]

and on with Wales

wet first night, rivers rose high. drainpipe working on foxwing

wifi access in campsite and nice beer

sidelights under awning

high water on dam

below dam lane

soggy wales by giants grave

low cloud

gate opener fed up of mud on Black Yat

soup!

Doctors pool

fine dining

cockerels

near Nant-y-moch

I open gate this time for gateopener to drive through ford

getting tippy

and other way

and back again - it got a lot more washed out further up and quite scary tippy, much worse than last May more erosion, didnt take photos as wanted to get it over with!

mirror and snorkel scuffed on bank on extreme tippy bit

axle twister - 1

axle twister - 2 - diagonal wheels in air!

axle-twister 3

panorama walk

panorama walk

panorama walk

pools on panorama walk

estuary

happy valley from panorama

Happy Valley

Bomber lane

from bomber lane

bomber

 

[AndyCook]

'Foxwing repairs' - WTF??? What did the gatecloser do to it???

Looks like a fab trip guys

yes it was a great trip and shows what you can do for a weeks hols in UK, but at some moments Aberdeen seemed a long way away, and thought it might be on a flatbed home!

foxwing got damaged at 1am on first night up Gatesgarth. it got pretty windy and i tried to close the foxwing on my own, as I didnt think herself would want to come out of rooftent - it was below freezing and windy..
one of poles had collapse and fallen down... and the hinge snapped.
field repair of two jubille clips at right angles to each other, one claming another that was used as a new hinge and tape held up for rest of trip!!
and BrendanB has been a star and got me two new hinges delivered and here at home when i got back today

weighed stuff as it took it out - after just over 100kg removed back was sitting a bit better

25kg - Fridge and some food
12.5kg = kitchen boxes
5kg = laundry
10kg = clothes and washbags etc
5kg = gas cylinder
2kg = gas cooker
8kg = land anchor
12kg = handwinch
10kg = handwinch cable
14kg = waffleboards

20kg = tools, puncture repair kit, spare parts
22 kg = table, foxwing awning poles, side panels, pegs, chairs
40kg = water bladders when full
25kg = drawer and it full of strops, shackles, snatch block, and some tools and recovery gear

180kg of stuff taken out!

still in on/car

~90kg = Roof tent, rack and foxwing awning

 

[AndyCook]

and the SPOT tracker record
red bits are laning days from Oziexplorer on samsung galaxy Tab

 

[J66P]

wow what a fantastic trip / adventure, some of those pictures are stunning

 

[adrianr]

Nice write up

Good trip!

 

[AndyCook]

some more and combined video clips

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[youtube:2qae66ln]DdqEyvyBwrA[/youtube:2qae66ln]

[youtube:2qae66ln]Py6D2-O-8q8[/youtube:2qae66ln]

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