Nice pic Mudcrawler. QUestion, does your front fender in any way block the airflow to the radiator?

Took the bike out for its first proper run on Saturday.
Stick a tenner in the tank and head south, it's where the sun is, planning to take an easy byway over the hills to the Derwnet valley, but miss the turn and can't be bothered to get the map out. Still the view from the tarmac isn't bad. Nearly get blown off me feet by the wind taking the pic.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/21020906.jpg


Take the tarmac over the top to the next valley and the wind nearly has me off the road twice. Make the first off road bit, I've not been on the trails for yonks. Taking the pic I'm thinking might have chose an easier one. Bounce down the trial trying to miss the bigger rocks and keep out the big ruts, death grip on the bars, I'm saying to myself just relax let the bike do the work, doesn't help. Wasn't pretty but make it to the end in one piece.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/21020901.jpg


Give the next trail a miss as I don't fancy the wind over the top, and head up the Wear valley to Alston, which I just ride through, intent on stopping at a good spot I know on a trial, which is just off the road home.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/21020902.jpg


Looking west down the Wear valley, the phrase "If you don't like the weather just wait"
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/21020903.jpg


Stop just up ahead and get the flask out for a cuppa and a tab. Take shelter under the trees as the wind is getting on me wick.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/21020904.jpg


Can't resist a spin through the woods to the first gate, tyres show their failing and have a few slides on the way.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/21020905.jpg

Turn the bike round, more spinning, and head for home down the 686.

Have such a good day on Saturday, get me self out again on Sunday, once the Carlingberg has worn off. Stick nine quid in the tank, wouldn't take any more, and Head North West, it's where the sun is. I'm soon at the first trail. Tyres complain about the inch of mud at the start, but hey if it was easy.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020901.jpg


It's nothing special I just like it, a proper tree lined owld road, so stop for a cuppa and a tab. There's a stable at the end so I take it easy, lots of horses about, but the exhaust note of the ten is hardly loud.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020902.jpg


Head a bit further north before turning west now on deserted single track roads, scenery is good though.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020903.jpg


Getting closer to another favorite trail. Sign sez "Not suitable for motor vehicles after 3 miles".
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020904.jpg


You can get to silly speeds along here, but I keep it down to 45, oh come on I'm running in ya narr.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020905.jpg


A couple of twitches from the rear keep the speed down alot through the trees where it's still wet.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020906.jpg


It's about 5 mile through the forrest so I make the last stop for a pic and a cuppa before heading to the end.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/22020907.jpg


Had back along the wee roads riding past a few more Tenere Trails, but they'l keep for another time.

Couldn't fault the bike, did about 100 mile each day, fill up in the morning, ride all day, sat at 70 on the big roads, just wafted you along the road no hassle, solid as a rock despite the wind, did the B roads fine and handled some easy trails, I like it.

Just need to get bike fit again and remember that waterproof trousers aren't much use left on the kitchen table, cold plumbs on Satda.

Nice little write up fella.

Our paths must have crossed at some point on Saturday, I headed off north up the A7 then peeled off towards Newcastleton, then over to Kielder (was gonna take the forest trail but it's closed!) then onward to the A68 and south peeling off into Bellingham, Wark, over the Military road towards Hexham and South to Hartside. Had a cuppa and a crack with Dazzerrtw, SteveD and Nick (on a BMUU) and we headed off down into the eastern lakes and over Kirkstone Pass, into Windermere for another cuppa and home.....

The roads were a bit on the greasy side, and I nearly came a cropper on the road at the back of fellhouse Fell - I was late for the meet and going way too fast over a big dip in the road, which I left behind as the wheels began to have thoughts of become stewardesses....

Good day though, next week Moffat and the Scottish boys.......

Skunkmoto ............... you lucky 'Bee'!
What great little trails you got round there to ride.
Good pictures.

I don't know if I can wait another week to get my 'Ten'!!!:112:

Barry.

What a fantastic place to ride skunkmoto. You need to arrange a trail ride around that area so us tenere boys from the northwest could ride up and join in. Great pictures.


Gary :eusa_clap:

Nice pics Skunk, looks like a grand day(s) out!

seeing as you seem to know where to go round our way - would you be up for a get together? i'm mad keen to get out on some trails but i only know of a few so i'm a bit lost :)

Cheers
Pete.

Thanks for the replies, I like seeing these posts, gives ya a bit of incentive, and this place definitely tipped the balance for me to get a Tenere, so a big thanks to Cap�n for the excellent site, and all those who have contributed, too many to list.

GULG was planning to get to Heartside to see a few faces, but had a late start, went throo Nethead/Alston/686 about 3-4ish, only saw one bike all day on the Saturday.

PeteBog, could definatley do with some company, don�t really like doing the remote trails solo, if things go wrong you�re stuffed. Loads of trails round your way, amble-rothbury-wooler, haven�t ridden them all, but it�s one of the areas I want to explore on the Tenere. Thead in the ride out bit?

To anyone else get along to your local TRF they should help you get out.

Nice pics, makes me long for spring even more.

Nice report! I envy you guys for having that kind of roads/space. Miles and miles for your own to use! Not running into anyone else... great!

HJ