The Random Rideout Pictures

For those wondering and possibly considering a similar day out, here's some further details to enhance your trip.





My food posted above, came from the place noted here below, as I didn't do the boat crossing, I'll save that for a later family motorhome trip as often my bike rides include a recce function for other events

 

What a great day out @Eldon, thanks for sharing via your lovely storyboard and photos.

 

The place, Bosuns Locker, is clean, presentable and the food was tasty. There are a range of panini's priced at £6.95 I think, amongst other items. With x2 lattes it came to £12.90 which I didn't think was too bad.
I didn't partake on this occasion but there was also a nice cake selection, with the Carrot cake looking particularly tasty

 

Scouting a new fishin' hole.

I've been by Chatsworth Lake a hundred times. I've never seen anyone fishing the shoreline, boating or kayaking. Although I haven't seen signs prohibiting activity there, I've always thought it was off limits. There's a locked, iron cattle gate blocking the gravel road to the lake. It's on Chatworth Rd. Across from a state park called the Franklin Parker Preserve (mainly a hiking area). I did some research and found it's under the authority of the NJ Conservation Foundation. I contacted them and was told it's public property. Because it's on a dangerous curve, there is no parking (posted with signs) on the lake side, so people, apparently, assume it's off limits. I scooted out there yesterday. It's about twenty miles from El Rancho Fork Lock. It's beautiful. It's too far from the preserve parking lot across the road to carry my little jon boat and then there's the gate but, we can easily portage my kayaks over to the water. I found a couple nice spots where we can launch the Tupperware torpedoes. On the way home I skirted a literal herd of about ten whitetails led by a nice buck and hit a little thunderstorm, but Miss Maggie didn't seem to mind. My youngest daughter and I are going to give it a go on Sunday and see if we can entice some bass or pickerel to bite.

Miss Maggie on the preserve side


The lake


Launch site


Lunch was waiting for me - wild blackberries! Sweet!


Trumpet Vine


From the road

 

Lovely, @Fork Lock! The bike, the lake, and the plant life. Let us know how the fishing goes!

 

I am always testing my bikes reserve capacity. But it is every time a bit nerve-wracking. Normally every bike should be able to be ridden for minimum 50-70 more kilometres when the reserve light comes up. On my former Tiger 1200 I had a highlight. In Germany in the area of Munich the reserve went down to zero and then I had in parallel a mistake on my navigation system and missed the right freeway exit I had to ride more than 10 kilometres with zero on the display to the next fuel station. I was nervous but the Tiger made it without any issues!

 

Fishing Report, as promised.

My youngest, Abby, and I fished the aforementioned Chatsworth Lake yesterday. We had a great day. The weather was perfect. We each caught several pickerel (catch and release). Afterwards, lunch/early dinner at Hot Diggity Dog in Chatsworth. Haute cuisine!

 

Little run out to Llandudno Great Orme, cleared head from work and get away fro. DIY at home - what a beautiful day

 

Not really a random ride out, as I'm in Northumberland at the moment, but as I was up here, I thought I'd go and see this.

 

A little wander up the east coast with the (UK) weather being so good.

 

Unfortunately when doing the last pic, I found the limit of Alpinestars product longevity

On the path was a piece of ragwort so I brushed it to one side with my recently purchased Alpinestars boots ready for bringing the bike to the steel cutouts.



These boots are 13 days old.



With such a minor scuff to the floor, what good are these in a bike crash?

 

Not good news at 13 days old @Eldon , can you take them back to retailer and say that not fit for purpose.
I’d expect better from a brand like Alpinestars.
Although that said I’ve got a pair of their boots at probably 9 years old and still going strong…….ok they’re sportsbike boots so not worn all year round but a far greater life expectancy than yours!

 

Looks like you'd of been better off in flip flops. That's really poor for such a brand.

 

It looks like they are soft fabric boots rather than proper safety boots. But have to agree with you, if they are sold as motorcycles boots you expect better protection from them.

 

So, although the intention yesterday was an ice cream at Flamborough, my boots changed my mind, strike whilst the irons hot so to speak.
It did mean a 70 mile detour but hey ho.

Back to Infinity York and straight to the counter.
Hi I'd like to bring these back as they are rubbish........ blah blah blah.

Agh but, that isn't a manufacturing fault!

I don't care, they are obviously substandard construction and not fit for purpose!!!

The days of human contact are now very limited and so easy to hide behind smokescreens, staff levels etc. Apparently they have to send an email to head office with pictures.
Ok, how long will that take and I'm happy to add cash now to upgrade to something worth having?

Oh probably about a week

By this point, I'd selected my new ones, got a different member of staff to get me the right size and they were firmly on my feet and staying there, come what may

I need this solving today and so what is the price difference to pay?

Your old ones are no good to us and so the full price!

No no no, you credit me these rubbish cheap made in india boots that you sold me less than x2 weeks ago and I pay about £50.

The phone rings and apparently head office will credit for an upgrade I thought you said it took a week and there was no one to call

You know when you get the feeling that you've just been part of a pantomime



Goretex lined TCX



Note the bumper strip for any toe stub or scrub.

Fair do's to Infinity York though, they did resolve it.

I openly agreed with them that it wasn't a manufacturing fault but rather a poor construction using inadequate materials.

Beware of companies relying on using their name for clothing and footware to sell a poor product.

 

So where am I today?

 

Parked on double yellow lines

 

Well done @Eldon it goes to show that a little pushing back and persisting at retailers does pay off

 

Withernsea

 

I've got the TCX Blend waterproof leather boots which I've had for a couple of years and very happy with them.