Planet Gary

Turf Zone – BryansStop

Out turfing Newtongrange this morning and as always enjoying the steep climb from the River South Esk up to the town. Or should I say not enjoying the climb? Hmm, not sure actually. I’m finding that the more I turf on the single speed the easier all these hills are becoming, which means I must be getting fitter all the time. And while on that topic, I was watching a YouTube video posted on Always Another Adventure. It looks at three tests to assess fitness for age. I gave them a try. You might as well, it could be encouraging, or perhaps, discouraging.

The results for myself were interesting, at least, though I should point out these tests should not be taken too seriously. With the first test, the sitting-rising test, I came out above average for my age. Off to a good start then. The second test looks at when will I slip my mortal coils and depart from this earth which had me living to 2063, giving me the ripe old death-age of 102. Still another 40 years left in me then. I wonder if I’ll be riding my bike, or even turfing then? The final test of the three, looks at levels of fitness for age, gave me the fitness level for a 41-year-old. Nice to know that when you are 62 years old! Remember, just some fun and not too serious.

Now, you know the stamina medals, 400 zones in 24-hours, 200 zones in 24-hours, and so on down. I was wondering if it would be nice to have some similar medals, smaller, yet equally challenging in their own way. For example, how about extending the 30 zones in 60 minutes for the Darkest Ninja medal? Say, 60 zones in 2-hours, 90 zones in 3-hours and 120 zones in 4-hours. I’d suggest calling them the Crazy Rabbit, the Crazy Fox and the Crazy Badger. Still challenging but not so time consuming. Just a thought. Back soon.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Turf Zone – BroomieGolf

As I was in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh today to visit Mr Sweeney Todd the Demon Dentist, I thought, this is a good opportunity to hunt down a few hapless turfers holding unique zones and steal the zones from them. However, the trouble with this game, that of hunting turfer uniques, is that there always seems to be so much effort involved for so little reward, and what little reward that actually is. No medals, no extra points, just a few turf nicknames on a list, and not even an official list at that. About the best you can get out of hunting turfer uniques is a feeling of a job well done and a small degree of smug satisfaction.

When I say, so much effort involved for so little reward, I refer to my efforts in Edinburgh for a paltry 5 turfer uniques zones, well spread across the city. I started off at Bruntsfield, where my dentist plies his evil trade – I shall not name him directly as he is actually a fine chap and very good in his chosen field – and made my way down to Fountain Bridge for my first turfer unique of the morning at zone McEwanSquare, relieved from turfer WarrenRabbit. Actually, when I looked last evening WarrenRabbit held most of the Meadow’s area but lost almost all overnight and this morning to the usual suspects from Edinburgh, mostly catsfather and féarglas, which meant I could not pick one off as I crossed the Meadows and had more walking to do.

Surviving my trip to the dentists will little more than a scrap and polish, though his new dental assistant isn’t as good as the previous and I found that water from the ultrasound scraper kept pooling at the back of my throat, meaning I had to stop him to swallow. Anyway, my next target was across in the Slateford area, at zone LoanRobber, held by whit1001. I should say that I’m on foot today, no efficient bicycle or kick scooter, and walking hurts my hip. So, I’ve restricted myself to only zones directly on the route, forgetting about any zones nearby, which I would have taken had I been using the bike or kick scooter.

Popped into the Four Square cafe, a charity supporting people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, in Saughton Park, for an Americano and fruit scone. While the coffee was fine the scone was rather dry and not very enjoyable. Probably should have gone for one of the cakes instead. However, now refuelled and buzzing with caffeine, I continued my quest and walked across to Carrick Knowe, taking a zone from NF44 and adding another turfer unique to the days tally. My plan now was to hitch a ride to Princess Street, then wander on down to London Road for a spot of herpetology, or is that astrology and herpetology? And fortune was on my side today, as I walked down a short path from the cycle path onto Corstorphine Road, a No 31 Bonnyrigg drew up a few minutes later and I hopped aboard. The reptiles in question were actually Scorpio73 and Redsnake, both holding zones on London Road.

There was still a few other turfer unique zones in Edinburgh, granitemike held one out at Cammo, srocmikej also held one at Cramond and there was a cluster of zones held by cloisters out at the Bonaly area, but those are tasks for another time. Actually, hunting turfer uniques was one of the reasons I’ve order a new bicycle, yes, a bicycle with gears! I hope to use the new bike, a Ribble CGR SL, rather than the bus, to ride from Bonnyrigg and grab all these remote turfer uniques. But we shall have to wait and see. That’s all folks.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Turf Zone – McEwanHall

This page lists my TvT or Turfer verses Turfer collection, all the turfers I’ve taken at least one zone from, known as turfer uniques. There are no medals but it can be quite an interesting challenge when out turfing.

Total turfer uniques taken to date – 310.

2024 – 73 turfer uniques

WarrenRabbit, whit1001, NF44, Scorpio73, Redsnake, Talla1, NewTownIsBlue, mikey44, TheDude71, MTBNoob, horselj, MarkusAke, allinug, cyclecamping, meleys, lakespilgrim, bookish.jogger, Kronester, Siodach, BigBoomer, Danemark, dannyb91020, RNS, LanndenFox, allycatz, stretchMTB, McFlyAway, jimmysalad, Fergus2016, teep, catsfather, CollieB, MrBelpit, RabdeBruce, gob5hite, sailajd, Marrob, GooseEater, EvilPegg, Topsyturfy, FeGran, 1dan, kcal, lenlen360, HedwigOwls, Trumpetdude, MitchRapp, Goygoy, regalia, welchie, Toot, JamRo, RedDoor, STAGStevie, Bellerina12, North_Wing, ciney, ambrose, BarneyBoo, RosyPosy, sur-G, ESOC_Rocks, JiminyCrikit, Mathsboy, MagicShrew, DianaVilliers, mx5man, Skylark, barbsie, GMturf, lillolil, RE101, rnics.

2023 – 47 turfer uniques
taysidefrog, ScubaPuffin, mustang1234, NornIronSQ, Kenica, TheTortoise, bob.bbd, Tuuunes!, Spotoc. WhatBog?, magnusn, Stellamarita, scottydog, cmdopenguin7, KingdomReiver, bobsuruncle, Luthien, corsicana, ChemiesR, turfingthrough, HappyHaggis, BaldiePete, MrPugsley, Hib71, AndyP, spads, chrisfl, thisisewan, Pest, Arnsturf#, Kronvrak, Tobythedog, LindaGC, Gman93, turbosmith, CoolEsocAds, slowasstop, Aodhan, MoMac, stc89, richard13, SparkyMarky, chemiesf, Borelord, barking, Boneshaker, Rummbaabaa.

2022 – 49 turfer uniques
steventon_gang, JammyDognut, Pekijala, AROS-KS, NorthofIapetus, Strac, DaHunter, Dangermous, BawZoneFire, 12sixC, Alsterspross, fjtweedie, neillyposse, Coaster, Fuzilier52, L712, OchilWomble, AndyMac, Lindhardt, Leopard99, BraidAl, Veld, Bloo, Flangela, Ferry, Slaw, RebelRebel, RebEyy12, Saur, SHW_Goodbell, Arkki, Caminante, jeffhodg, ZulaTheAlien:), Christmas2, godders, Greenkeeper, Rossco, andypatqos, saintchris13, pinkgirl, HappyHibby, steddie4life, MANOSTEEL, sheenbeen, MuttsCycles, BeccyOz, NancyDrew, ELORoss.

2021 – 124 turfer uniques
ESOCHi, van_andermaet, TimmyM, callumb, ChoccyMuffin, ESOCKisaKat, KoveshEzorim, Pyramid, Cremebrulee, EsocNora, Tekuteku, gaelgirl, Shoegazer, Orinoko, Granmabigabee, ESOC-Q, K.N.L., katlesoc, SeaTurtle, Fezjivebunny, Ephemeral, sparkleblue, ktmcnl, pPilot, stoker, Furryback, elojw, carrybagman, TheMockbeggar, ELO_PY, Drylaw13, GopherTea60, Buk13y, DoodleDad, Wintergreen, SIman, JaxJaunts, MJCFife, greasedweasel, SeaCat, ELOG, Pyewacket, applepip, Quidkid, LangTouner, M&M’s, Lustysue, BlazedL0ve, PancakeMike, elkaytoo, edgygrl, MsJ, Suilven, MrBourbon, elpth, edinfolks, SnickerDoodle, TheToad, bleschu, JingsCrivens, chesterton, DrG, squirrelnutkin, Tandem, FiFVO, ajmtheperfect, RosieBode, TopFlat, Knoydart, PoshWhippet, kjtindall, bodby, Dowasaurus, FeTaTo, ESOCJanet, noxidc, CardiffSoulCru,
Jarvmobile, gavtav, willrun4cake, snowpilot, soosoo, stuperman, TTVmruseeks, BigGav, SparseRunner, Furseal, CabinFeather, Baloo!, ELOsheila, DNostrebor, SpookyWood-y, HigsyWigsy, Artful, Heretofore, Rocky&Fed, Eggie_boi, FenderJazz, CSL, Beanjo, octo, Porridge68, ElsieSpanner, AlphaDonkey02, ccmartin:), DaffyDuck, grm3xy, ET, bythesea, Jenh, TSTopper, F1patrick, ><)))*>, Vikingb, SazlDazl, Redacted, ArthurDaley483, Edinburger, daffodil, Letsdoit, QuirkESOCs, TheLovely, TheInquisitor, Finreir, emack, Cruachan, ESOCWalter, joly.

2020 – 13 turfer uniques
Rossewan, ESOC-HR, ESOCJeneral, Teviot, llama176, zegalia, Aibo, Hodgejrjr, Hodge, MarkkuEsoc, Pedro_delb, PognHog, féarglas.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

I’ve gone and down it again, I’ve been out turfing on my trusty Swifty Air kick scooter in the wee small hours, otherwise, and perhaps more aptly known, as silly o’clock. That is, in military time, 0000 hours, in normal-speak, 12.00 midnight. It was too good a night not to go out. A light breeze to keep the cool, air temps around 14 C., and almost complete low cloud cover to reflect all that wasted streetlight back and help me see where I’m kick scooting. Yes, I do have lights but prefer not to use them when I can. You actually see more that way. And in any case, the hot humid weather made it difficult to sleep, so thought I’d better do something more interesting and go turfing.

I love combining kick scooting and turfing at night, it’s just so peaceful, still and serene. And to be honest, I cannot understand why I’m about the only person who does this, other than MuttsCycles, though he’s not quite into silly o’clock kick scoot turfing. With almost no other people about in the wee small hours, other than taxi and delivery drivers, you have the streets and roads almost to yourself, otherwise busy roundabouts are empty and best of all no dog walkers with uncontrolled dogs. Plenty of bunnies about and Bonnyrigg rabbits have a reputation for being quite vicious at times, so best given a wide berth.

My targets this evening were some Neutral zones across by Melville Castle Hotel and Kings Acres golf course, zones that tend not to be taken all that often. My route took me across a sleepy Bonnyrigg to Broomieknowe golf course, grabbing the zone there of the same name. Not a golfer in sight. Strange they’ve not invented night-golf, perhaps wearing night-vision goggles and using LED-lit golf balls. Next, down by a deserted Melville driving range for the zone there, then round the golf course and across the footbridge to the hotel. All quiet there, no parties in full swing, just one late night taxi driving away. The zone is called SpotTheDog. Watch out for the tall figure sculpture after crossing the footbridge, it can look rather menacing and somewhat akin to a Dementor.

Now, my next zone is at Kings Acres Golf course and there’s a wee shortcut if you know where to look. Opposite the gravel car park at the hotel there’s a wee sign indicating a footpath leading up through the woods. It’s not all that obvious, especially in the dark, but saves a long scoot/cycle/walk way out the access road. Note the path is usually muddy, even in summer, with scattered logs and branches and is not scoot able or easily rideable uphill. It brings you out at an old track which you should follow left and keep left until you reach a gate. Cross over and follow the narrow path – it’s lined with stinging nettles this time of year – until you reach some derelict buildings on your right. A side path to the right will bring you out near the zone, just follow the track.

Next, the two zones at Melville Grange Farm. These can be reached from the rear of the clubhouse buildings. Don’t be misled that your route is blocked by the fence, there’s a gate, it just doesn’t look that obvious. You now have a straight and easy run for both zones. At the second zone be careful of the barbed wire on the top bar of the gate. Note you can go between hedge and field and avoid the gate which has been made difficult to open to discourage folk.

Now, some exploring. Crossing the car free and silent city by-pass, soon after you start the climb to Gilmerton, there’s a secluded track off to the right. This leads to Todhills and also the Shawfair area. Along this track and heading off to the left are two other tracks, one I know links to the Loanhead to Shawfair cycleway, the other leads to Drum Farm and I wondered if this one also gave access to the cycleway. So, I scooted along to find out but as far as I could tell in the darkness it didn’t, at least without clambering over barbed wire fences and clumps of stinging nettles. Oh well, never mind but knowledge gained.

After taking a few zones in Shawfair, I head along to Millerhill for the two zones there, then scoot along the dirt track that would take me under the city by-pass again and out at the haunted graveyard and ruins of Newton Old Church. Saw an opportunity for a photograph at the underpass. I’m still amazed that my Google Pixel 8 Pro mobile phone can produce sharp clear images under low lighting condition when handheld. Love it.

My return through Dalkeith Country Park was pleasant, if uneventful, other than the usual bark of roe deer, fleeing fox and badgers all crashing about in the undergrowth and scaring the crap out of me at times. I wish the estate would change the voice message on the exit gate, to say something like “thank you for visiting”, rather than welcoming you to the park.
And that was about that. Nothing much to say about the scoot home through Dalkeith and Newbattle. Grabbed a few more zones, saw some more roe deer and was looking forwards to a nice cup of tea before jumping into bed. Or rather slipping quietly into bed making as little noise as possible so not to disturb the ChoccyMuffin who was sound asleep. Back again soon.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Why is it that some inanimate objects seem to possess a life of their own, even a desire to escape? Take, for example, the humble bar of soap. In this instance, a Tesco Simple Pure Soap Bar For Sensitive Skin, 100g, one bar from a pack of four. I’m having a shower after a hot sticky silly o’clock turfing session clearing zones around Dalhousie Castle Hotel. Yes, the things we do for turfers who are a dab hand at making excellent cake, scones and other delightful delicacies and who are also more than generous with the products of their skills. None other than Pastry Chef aka turfer CardiffSoulCru.

Yes, I’m in the shower and drop the soap, make a spirited attempt to catch the damn thing but miss, only managing a fleeting slimy touch before it escapes. Not only does it land on the bathroom floor but also manages to escape through the open door and into the hall. But it does not stop there, and makes a 90-degree turn and gets as far as the end of the hall before coming to rest. Now, don’t tell me that soap doesn’t have a will of its own!

Then there’s the mobile phone, another inanimate object that seems to possess a life of its own, particularly one for mischief and usually when running the Turf app. Yes, recently my mobile phone, a Google Pixel 8 Pro, has taken to crashing the Turf app whenever it feels like, and always when taking a zone. But why does it do that? I care for it as I would a young puppy, feed it fresh electricity every day and even polish its screen when it gets dirty. It gets taken out for walkies every day and is loved, cherished and cared for. Yet it still gets up to wanton mischief. Maybe it wants me to read it bedtime stories or tuck it up in bed at night. So annoying. Have tried uninstall/reinstall of the Turf app but to no avail. As a last resort, I’m considering resetting the phone back to factory and doing a rebuild.

Now, you may be wondering what there is yet another picture of a bicycle above. Well, I have actually taken the plunge and ordered a brand spanking new bicycle. Yes, a Ribble CGR SL Sport from Ribble Cycles across in Englandshire, in Preston, Lancashire, to be precise. I almost bought it last week when it was priced at £2400 but I’m glad I didn’t. Last night I chanced to look again and low-and-behold the price had dropped by £400.00. One of the high-end models was down by £1000, another £1600. It was just too good an opportunity to miss. So, after a nice chat with the FC*, it was out with the credit card and the bike was ordered.

The website states estimated delivery 10 – 14 days, which is enticing but somewhat misleading, as an email just bleeped in with an estimated dispatch date of 30th May with up to 3-days delivery time. I was hopeful of getting the bike in time for Sconanza 2024 but that seems unlikely. However, I’ve emailed Ribble customer services and asked if there’s any chance I can get the bike before Sconanza 2024 on 1st June, including a link to the ESOC page. I’m not hopeful but worth a try. At least I’m not short of other bikes, or kick scooters, for that matter!

So, why this bike in particular? Well, I wanted something lightweight, at least lighter than the 11.5kg of my Genesis Day One single speed (nee Harley Quinn), but I also wanted gears to help tackle those more challenging turf medals such as the Roundpointer-750k. This wee beastie comes in at a stated 9.00kg, though I’m taking that with a pinch of salt as I suspect it might be slightly higher.

Much to the FC’s dismay I’ve already planned a few changes, even before the bike arrives. Why anyone would think this is odd is beyond me. Seems a perfectly reasonable action to any bloke interested in bicycles. First task is to fit mudguards which require a dedicated bridge for the seat stays. Parts ordered. Next change the tyres to my preferred Schwalbe Marathon Racer 30 x 700 (also ordered) and bung on a set of pedals (from Pugsley). Seems that not many bikes come with pedals these days. I hope to keep the final weight under a target of 10.00kg.

The key to this bike is the lightweight carbon fibre frame and forks, 1.60kg compared to the 3.30kg of the Genesis, which gives me a good basis for future modifications and rebuilds. I’m pretty sure I could get that down under 8.00kg with a single speed build and some inexpensive very expensive carbon fibre or titanium components. Back soon.

*FC – Financial Controller.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Turf Zone – SayAhhh

The time is 12.30 am. The witching hour, the hour of the supernatural, when the boundary between the living and the dead becomes blurred. One day has passed and another is born. I’m lying in bed, warm, snug, cosy, sleepy, comfortable and do not want to get up. But I told myself I would go for a night-turf this fine evening. I get up. I wish I was back in bed but too late now, I’m up, might as well go turfing. Strange unearthly noises are emanating from the back garden.

Actually, I’m well prepared for this night’s mini turf adventure. All my kit is ready to hand, the Swifty Air kick scooter is prepped and loaded and ready for zones and all I need do before heading out into the forbidding cool darkness of the Bonnyrigg night, is find out the source of the mysterious noise issuing from the shrubbery. It’s certainly something alive, so not the wind blowing the ivy. Not that there’s wind anyway. It sounds like snoring but not quite. ChoccyMuffin is sleeping peacefully, so no blame there, more a snorting. Perhaps it’s a snarking whatever that might be, if that exists at all.

To be honest, I’m bumming this up a little, adding a little to this special occasion. It’s actually a snuffling, and is most certainly a hedgehog. We’ve been hoping for hedgehogs in the back garden for a few years now, even cutting “hedgehog highways” in the fence to allow access. So, a quick look about and there’s the culprit, a hedgehog. ChoccyMuffin will be delighted. I take a picture for the records and to show Choccy. But there’s more, not just one hedgehog, but two. Brilliant. I leave them in peace to continue whatever they are getting up to, if you know what I mean.

The plan tonight is to scoot off down to Dalkeith Country Park and grab a few zones, watch for wildlife and enjoy the peace and quiet. Weather is overcast and fairly mild, about 10 Degrees C, slight breeze, still too cool for just shorts and t-shirt, so on with long-sleeved t-shirt and windproof jacket. Hat, gloves and longs in the pannier for later. The access pass to the town gate of DCP is already on the scooter. Would not get very far without that as the gate is locked at night.

Pretty much quite all the way across town, just a few taxi cabs and hire cars buzzing about, some youths hanging about McDonalds making a noise. First wildlife of the evening are hunting vampire bats along the cycleway, followed by another happy hedgehog, some cute baby rabbits and a young fox, all within 100 m or so. I take a few zones along the way, all revisits as I hold most of the local area. I don’t like revisits; you need twice as many zones for the same points value. The town centre is fairly quiet, no drunks, no rowdy youths, just raucous seagulls feeding on a discarded pizza, with chips and brown sauce, it appears. The local Bobbies pass in a Ford Transit. The driver looks like Judge Dread. They don’t stop even as I’m scooting on the pavement.

Turf Zone – CollegeZone

First take is zone Restoration, another pesky revisit, then off out along the tarmac road towards Smeaton for zone DoNOTCrossEsk, still a Neutral. Massive dark shapes are thundering alongside me in the field. Just horses, so nought to worry about, probably. Next, I set off along the track for zones TheUnknown and YouAreTheAce but the track is a mess, churned up by horses, even the upper reaches are a mess and unrideable and lower down it will be even worse. I decided to leave for another time. It’s a full 1000m to the furthest zone and I don’t fancy hauling the Swifty all the way there and back again.

Next zone taken was BridgeOfFaith, the bridge still closed to access, so I won’t be taking zone ToEdinburgh this evening. The track is also closed off from the Montagu Bridge end as well. Signs claim there’s been a landslip. However, you can gain access from zone ParkOfSteel if you feel so inclined and won’t feel guilty about disobeying the signs. I’ve decided to wait until the summer months when that route is usually open.

Turf Zone – DoNOTCrossEsk

The time is around 2.00 am and I’m on my way back home. Roe deer are everywhere, I can hear them running away, dark shapes with white rumps, bounding off into the night. An adult badger runs along the road before me, visible in the light beam, claws clattering on the hard surface. It veers off into the wood and crashes away through the undergrowth. I takes zones HowlandsPark, LugtonCross and SneakyPlace, then I’m back in Dalkeith town centre, stopping for a revisit at HolyBuccleuch, where I get startled by a man sitting on the wall smoking a cigar. I said hello but he seemed reluctant to reply. I moved on.

Next stop the dead-centre of Dalkeith, the graveyard, and zone HolyDalkeith. Not sure I like all these cheap and cheerful LED fairy lights, glowing gnomes and the like, feels a little tatty and messy, but that’s just my opinion. If the bereaved get some comfort from a lost loved one, I’m fine with that. Just don’t put any on my plot or I’ll be back to haunt you. I must say my legs are getting tired now as I scoot along the cycleway, almost home. A few final revisits and I’m back in the garden. The hedgehogs are still at it, snuffling about in the same spot I left them. Time for a cuppa, then bed. All in all, a good night out, not many zones taken but good to see so much wildlife around. Dalhousie Castle next night, perhaps.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Turf Zone – ArnistonBing

Gorebridge this morning, 20 or so zones all with a nice 50 points Neutral bonus each. Not a lot I can say about turfing the zones in Gorebridge other than it’s very hilly and not a place for a single speed bike unless you are a bit daft, a word I’ve become accustomed to in recent years. Personally, I would prefer the term mildly eccentric. Actually, it’s not accurate to describe Gorebridge as hilly, it’s really all just one steep hill. So, today I thought I’d share a few observations, perhaps some turfing hints and tips, that might prove useful, or not as the case may be.

The first one concerns GPS and how fickle it can be. For example, at zone LouisBraille, if you ride onto the pavement, you can usually find yourself just on the edge of the zone and can start the take process, saving the need to ride down the wee path towards the play park. However, if you are like me and want to make efficient use of your time, you might flip the bike around before the take has completed, ready to ride off into the sunset, or more likely, the next zone. Unfortunately, the GPS Gods don’t always take kindly to this simple manoeuvre, and will move your turfman all over the place, anywhere, in fact, except in the zone. Best to wait until the take is finished before changing the orientation of the phone. Another example zone would be HolyGoreKirk, same can occur there.

Next footwear. It seems to be a rare occasion when you don’t end up cycling off road for one zone or another, and might often find yourself walking. And this is not an uncommon event when riding a single speed bike. My point on footwear is that while some footwear is good for cycling, it might not always be good for walking, or pushing your trusty iron-steed up a steep muddy slope, for example, at zone ArnistonBing. So, footwear with a good grip it a wise choice. Oh, and a good thick solid sole is kinder on the soles of your feet when riding bear-trap type pedals. That’s the ones that are expert at catching your shins when pushing the bike!

Next bikes with skinny tyres. For some time now I’ve been riding my single speed with 30 mm wide touring tyres (that’s one and a quarter inch in old money) and have come to the conclusion that they will cope with about 99% of the terrain I throw at them. In the past, I would use tyres up to around 75 mm (that’s three inches in old money) and today I wonder why I did that. Of course, not including the fat bike, as that’s a different kettle of fish all together being for soft sand and snow.

Okay, I may not be as quick on rough terrain but I still get there in the end, and what’s the rush anyway? In deep sticky mud I need to take care but still manage to make my way though. A farmer once told me that his skinny tyred Series 1 Landrover can outperform some of the later models with wider tyres when sued in deep mud. I think the theory is that the skinny tyres cut through the mud to find firm ground underneath.

Now another turfing tip, this time how to carry your bike. It always seems inevitable that I end up carrying the bike while out turfing and Gorebridge is a good example. There are the steps across the railway line at zone BridgeWatcher and the very awkward steps up to zone GoreGlenPark from the parking area. So, how to easily carry your bike, well, relatively easy, I should say.

The method I use is to reach across the top bar and grab the down tube near the bottom bracket, then lift the bike and hook the saddle over your shoulder. This shares the weight between your arm and shoulder. For ascending steps raise, the front of the bike to clear the front wheel, for going down steps raise the rear to clear the rear wheel. Simples. Must go now, I’ve got a Teams meeting arranged my Walter to attend regarding creating turf events and I’ll be off for a night turf tonight if the weather holds. Back soon.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Turf Zone – Suttieslea

Today, I want to look at the benefits of the humble mobile phone handlebar mount and how it makes turfing by bicycle so much simpler, and quicker. I was turfing Dunbar today and my partner does not have a mobile phone handlebar mount and had to carry her phone either in a pocket or the rucksack, which is far from ideal. This essentially meant I had to do all the work, choosing the next zone, planning the route and stopping where the zone was, even telling my partner if they were inside the zone or not. Not that I minded really, my partner is ChoccyMuffin after all, and I’d been bribed with the promise of coffee, scones and four bars of chocolate*. It really is a disadvantage when one or more members of a turfing party lack a mobile phone handlebar mount.

Mobile phone handlebar mounts are relatively inexpensive, costing around £15.00 to £25.00 on Amazon and there’s a wide variety of choose from, some good and some totally rubbish. My preference is a manufacturer called Lamicall, the model that fits bars up to 40mm in diameter and I use them on all my bikes and kick scooters. This model allows you to clamp onto the handlebar stem which is much more stable than the handlebars themselves and also leaves the bars free for lights, favourite mascot, or whatever.

One issue I’ve found is clamp slippage on the bars, the mount slipping forwards, or backwards, when jarred by bumps during riding. Two ways I’ve got round this. One is to smear a thin layer of clear silicone sealant around the handlebars and clamp inner surface, leaving a slightly tacky surface for the mount to grip. Leave it 24-hours to dry before using the mount. Another method, one that is less messy, is to wrap a layer or two of self-fusing silicone pipe repair tape, as used by plumbers to repairs leaks in waste pipes or the like, round the bars. It’s slightly tacky and grips well. No more slipping phone mounts.

Now, a new turfer has appeared in Edinburgh recently and being a newbie has perhaps not understood the way the game of Turf actually works, which resulted in a few unsavoury words on the Turf app messaging service. Of course, in wades a few members of the Scottish Turf Crew to show him/her/them/they the error of their ways. Actually, I feel kind of sorry for any newbie that falls foul of Turf Law when the Scottish Turf Crew are involved. Mess with one, mess with all, might be the motto. Like a biker gang or Hells Angels chapter. If you read this, New Turfer, the idea is to take zones, loose them, and take them again, the more the merrier.

New turfers who exhibit a questionable attitude might find themselves undone further down the line. For example, imagine you are trying for any of the Greed medals and ask other turfers to leave your takes. You may find other turfers less agreeable to doing this when you’ve crossed the wrong paths, so to speak, in the past. Even simple things like assists or avoiding blocking each other might not be granted. What goes around, comes around, as they say.

Now, I must give thanks to turfer Hodge and Fearglas who mention about a new Midlothian zone, might have missed it otherwise, at least this evening, but would likely have spotted it tomorrow.  Mind you that could have been too late! And also, thanks to Pastry Chef a.k.a. CardiffSoulCru, for requesting zones be cleared around Dalhousie, which got us out of the house for a very pleasant turf/ramble in the woods. A FTT zone is always desirable. This one was called WouldDean and was created at 04:23 today, taken at 18:12, so not too bad. Back soon.

*the chocolate has not appeared yet!

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.

Turf Zone – ColdWarCrib

Welcome to the 666th Turf post on Planet Gary.

It’s tough when you retire, strange random things just happen. For example, you might be making that essential life-giving pre-turf coffee and have your favourite “I Love Turfing” mug at the ready, the unbreakable stainless steel, carbon fibre and Kevlar single person cafetiere* by its side. The milk goes in the mug without issue yet the filter coffee also ends up in same said mug. Why does that happen? Did some invisible being nudge your elbow? No. Did some random passing dark-matter move the mug? No. You are just getting old. Or still half-asleep, yes that’s the one. Better than saying you are getting old.

Sometimes I just cannot be bothered loading the exceedingly heavy bike rack onto the car, bolting it down, plugging in the electrics, haul on the bike, strap it down, then gather all the other stuff I “think” need for an away-day turfing. In fact, most of the so-called “needed” stuff never gets used. However, today I managed to actually get moving and aimed for the Gyle area of Edinburgh to hunt down a few unique zones for my 2500 Unique medal.

My plan was to park near the Gyle, thinking I’d find a space along an apparently quiet Turnhouse Road, as suggested by Google Maps, however, about a million houses have erupted like a fungus from the ground and no bloody chance of that. And the nearby streets have restrictions due to services being installed. Eventually, I ended up at Barnton and found a space there. And easy enough to unload the bike and get turf-ready. Then I was faced with a mighty challenge. Crossing the A90 Queensferry Road and living to tell the tale.

Thankfully, there’s a pedestrian crossing and I took no small delight at pressing the wee button and waiting for the red man to turn green, which he did in due course. Mind you some of the drivers looked rather red in the face and angry at the delay. Perhaps I should not have waved and smiled so much? Or was I actually smirking? Not sure. Started off with zones in the Clermiston area, followed by a few on Corstorphine Hill, discovered the Barnton Bunker, an attraction I always wanted to visit. Next picked off a few isolated uniques around Davidson Mains, before heading back to the car for some sustenance.

The weather when I left Bonnyrigg was sunny but Barnton could be another world. Thick, chilling mist was blowing in from the sea, as Sir Paul once sang, and it was not very pleasant in the wind. I also didn’t expect all those steep hills, not very obvious when viewing the turf app. However, one should perhaps read the streets names before venturing into a new area. Street names like Hillview and Drum Brae are clearly suggestive of terrain far from that found in the Netherlands. Oh, met fellow turfer Barking who was across from home in Dunblane. He was also after unique zones towards his 5000 Unique medal with only, and I say only, 1500 to go. Good luck with that.

Now, I rode my trusty single speed today, once known as Harley Quinn, and so far I’m undecided what to call this fine example of a velocipede followed the new paint job. Should I retain Harley Quinn or the original name of Genesis Day One Reynolds 853? Suggestions on a postcard please. However, what I must say is that I rode smooth tarmac, rough tarmac, badly lain cobbles, climbed steep hills, slithered both up and down loose gravel and some soggy grass as well, yet this one single speed bike coped admirably. Who needs a gravel bike, or suspension, or chunky tyres, or electric motors, or silly numbers of gears, when a skinny-tyre single speed does all? Just saying, bicycle marketing industry!

After lunch, back across that bloody road again and up though the East Craigs area. Luckily, I found a secluded path (with zones!) that runs parallel to the busy Maybury Road, aiming for Cammo Walk, which would take me through the Cammo Estate and the zones there. To be honest by now I’d had enough of busy streets and noisy death-dealing traffic. You don’t get these conditions in Bonnyrigg, thankfully. Interestingly, once I entered the Cammo Estate everyone was much more chilled, would say hello without prompting, even stop chat. A much more pleasant environment. Grabbed seven Uniques there and very enjoyable it was.

Not a bad day out turfing with about 33 Uniques added to the tally and some parts of Edinburgh explored I would never have dreamed of visiting and the Cammo Estate was well worth the trip. Downside was that traffic on the A90 Queensferry Road, totally mental. I recall looking backwards trying to see a gap to join the carriageway but seeing a wall off vehicles hurtling along at 40-plus and not an inch to spare kerbside. I rode on the pavement until I located a pedestrian crossing. Scary stuff, the traffic, not the crossing.

And finally, you might be wondering what happened to the coffee mentioned above? Well, I used a tea strainer to filter the coffee grains from the milk. No point wasting precious coffee. Back soon.

*Bought for me by ChoccyMuffin because I broke all the glass ones.

Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.