Turf Blog 15-02-25

Turf Zone – NorthNorthEsk

Tuesday 13th February, I’m hunting turfer unique zones again, though meagre pickings with just the one down in Musselburgh. Today was also another example of how frustrating collecting turfer unique zones can be. So, I pedalled down to Musselburgh on Mr Bumble, the single speed Brompton, made my way to zone HolyInveresk, held by turfer MGS-SfL. Zone taken, so all well so far and another added to the list.

Then I made my way back to Bonnyrigg, detouring through Whitecraig and picking off zones along the way. I’d travelled down via Dalkeith Country Park, so seemed sensible to return by another route. I took zone Whitecraig at 11:12 in the passing. Now, fast forward an hour or so. Logging onto the computer, I noticed another turfer unique has appeared in Whitecraig. And where might that be? At zone Whitecraig, held by a new turfer called Benedict.fun. Okay, I’ll nip down on the bike after tea for that one, me thinks.

However, I’m just about ready to leave when I see the zone has been taken by turfer TurboSmith, at 17:32. How frustrating is that but thank goodness I checked before heading out the bike. I hope that new turfer Benedict.fun does not get too disheartened after losing the only two zones he/she/they/them have taken and continue to take zones locally. For me to take one, I should add.

Friday 15th February. Hunting turfer uniques is one thing but there is also something very similar, that of FTT zones. In other words, First To Take. When a new zone is created, some turfers like to be the first person to take that zone. There are no medals or extra points involved, other than the usual 50 bonus points, but it’s good fun and can also be quite challenging to get there first. And its nice to get them before your rivals.

It was my wife Cathryn, aka ChoccyMuffin, who spotted the latest here in Midlothian, a zone called NorthNorthEsk, located on the access road to Melville Castle Hotel. It’s also tantalisingly close to the A7 but just out of reach unless your GPS is out of kilter, so you cannot take it from the main road and must make the trip towards the hotel. The zone was created at 09:04 this morning and Cathryn noticed it was there about 10 minutes later. This was good opportunity to bag another FTT before anyone else.

Due to the zones location, both out with the usual cluster of urban zones and also on a tarmac access road open to traffic, it what’s we call a car zone, a zone that can be taken from the car, even from within the car, in this instance. They might also be called lazy zones as minimal effort is involved. So, should I go for it or not?

I was actually planning on heading into Edinburgh with Cathryn to take a turfer unique down by the Canonmills area. But while turfer uniques might be taken by other turfers there is always the chance they might return, not so with an FTT zone. Once that is taken the first time it cannot be taken again as an FTT. I decided to go for it. This presented me with a decision to make, how do I get there? I could either walk, cycle, kick scoot or drive the car. As I dislike driving to zones like this in the car, I decided to walk on this occasion, keeping my fingers crossed I’d get there before anyone else.

The walk took me about 40 minutes and I decided to be a little sneaky. I usually leave my GPS on while turfing but this would reveal my presence to any interested parties watching turf TV. Also, taking any zones along the way would suggest my direction of travel, so, after taking the first zone on my route I went dark, switching off the GPS. This is also known as ghosting and not something I tend to do very often.

However, in this case there were no other turfers in the area to annoyed or whatever. Once closer to zone NorthNorthEsk, I switched on the GPS to show I was in the area and suggest it would be pointless for another turfer to try to take the zone. All worked to plan. Zone taken, breath out, relax. Quite a decent FTT this. Zone created at 09:04 and taken at 09:59. Nice.

Something I want to mention is something Cathryn mentioned the other day. And that was to take more interest in the zones you visit. For example, she was out with HappyHibby in Edinburgh and they were taking zone MadelvicMotor down by Granton. At the zone, on the wall, is a plaque explaining about the Madelvic Motor Carriage Company who was an early manufacturer of electric cars in the late 19^th Century. Must try to do that rather than simply taking the zone and not even looking at what the zone is called.

To finish, the mention of car zones got me thinking about a series of un-official turf medals I created some time ago, called The Grand Turf. Essential taking zones from within  a vehicle such as a car. Described as follows:

“You are permitted all legal forms of transport when turfing, including the motor vehicle. In this challenge you are only allowed to use a motor vehicle, such as a car, and are not allowed to leave that vehicle to take the zones. Medals are available for 5, 10, 25 and 50 zones.”

I must admit that I tend to forget about these un-official medals but I might start doing this one. However, as I’m keen not to actually use the car, saving the planet and all that, could walk or cycle instead and pretend I’m inside a vehicle. Yes, all rather daft but if it makes a pleasant change from the usual simply taking zones and collecting points, why not. It might even be fun as well. Bye for  now.

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