austin
Well-Known Member
The November "Gentlemen do Lunch ride"
Just me, Phil, and Paul on the ride today. We met as planned at the Tickled Trout Services, M6, Preston and after a good natter and catch up headed out onto the M6 north straight into a queue. There something going on in Preston city centre which had backed up the traffic onto the M55 exit. Fortunately it was still dry.....for now. We turned off the M6 at Carnforth and took the Lyth Valley Road (A5074) through to the Windermere ferry - who managed to confuse us with cyclists when we paid for the tickets so a nice discount on the crossing. The roads up the Lyth valley and on the road to Coniston from the ferry were streaming wet with the rain that was now coming down in buckets and also sick with wet leaves. Not a nice combination but I defy anyone not to enjoy these roads whatever the conditions.
Next stop was at the Bluebird cafe which was acting as HQ for the power boating event with the Car Park requisitioned as the paddock. We got to park the bikes right on the lakeside and mingle with the crews, mechanics,event staff etc. As it was pissing down with rain, in best gentlemen style, we had a brew and cake in the cafe while we watched boats being launched,warming up before heading off down to the main "course" - a measured Kilometre a little way down the lake. Just as the rain eased off the course closed for lunch so we had a good look round the paddock and found out where the best places were to view the course. It turned out to be Hoathwaite Farm - a rustic and basic campsite I have used before with good and easy access to the lake side and the start of the measured kilometre - which meant there were some event staff around who were more than happy to let us know what was going on, what was what in the power boating world. They didn't even weary of Paul's endless questions.
Anyway here's the pics you will all want to see......
This boat has a Turbine Motor from a Lynx Helicopter. We missed its run
But we did get to see the engine in the paddock area. Just look at that exhaust!!
A selection of boats in dock and running.
This was the fastest boat we saw doing a run - 123mph
A bit blurry - long shot, mega zoom and it was pissing down
Didn't see this one in action but it looks like it should be quick
Lots of fettling going on
The start of the timed run - orange buoys mark the start and break a laser beam fired by the chap under the umbrella. Similar set up at the end.
Recovery boat
125+mph at this point
Jet ski at around 70mph
Just me, Phil, and Paul on the ride today. We met as planned at the Tickled Trout Services, M6, Preston and after a good natter and catch up headed out onto the M6 north straight into a queue. There something going on in Preston city centre which had backed up the traffic onto the M55 exit. Fortunately it was still dry.....for now. We turned off the M6 at Carnforth and took the Lyth Valley Road (A5074) through to the Windermere ferry - who managed to confuse us with cyclists when we paid for the tickets so a nice discount on the crossing. The roads up the Lyth valley and on the road to Coniston from the ferry were streaming wet with the rain that was now coming down in buckets and also sick with wet leaves. Not a nice combination but I defy anyone not to enjoy these roads whatever the conditions.
Next stop was at the Bluebird cafe which was acting as HQ for the power boating event with the Car Park requisitioned as the paddock. We got to park the bikes right on the lakeside and mingle with the crews, mechanics,event staff etc. As it was pissing down with rain, in best gentlemen style, we had a brew and cake in the cafe while we watched boats being launched,warming up before heading off down to the main "course" - a measured Kilometre a little way down the lake. Just as the rain eased off the course closed for lunch so we had a good look round the paddock and found out where the best places were to view the course. It turned out to be Hoathwaite Farm - a rustic and basic campsite I have used before with good and easy access to the lake side and the start of the measured kilometre - which meant there were some event staff around who were more than happy to let us know what was going on, what was what in the power boating world. They didn't even weary of Paul's endless questions.
Anyway here's the pics you will all want to see......
This boat has a Turbine Motor from a Lynx Helicopter. We missed its run
But we did get to see the engine in the paddock area. Just look at that exhaust!!
A selection of boats in dock and running.
This was the fastest boat we saw doing a run - 123mph
A bit blurry - long shot, mega zoom and it was pissing down
Didn't see this one in action but it looks like it should be quick
Lots of fettling going on
The start of the timed run - orange buoys mark the start and break a laser beam fired by the chap under the umbrella. Similar set up at the end.
Recovery boat
125+mph at this point
Jet ski at around 70mph
