Turf Zone – ArnistonBing
Further to the most exciting news yesterday of the latest Planet Gary unofficial turfing medal, Bing Bagging – the inspiration for this one comes from an interesting book I’m reading at called Bing Bagging by James Carron. The idea is to visit and take zones located on shale or coal waste bings, essentially small man-made hills of waste material from mining or oil shale production. Well, we have Munro bagging, why not bing bagging?
I posted a request on the WhatsApp Turf Scotland group this morning and was delighted to hear that there are quite a few such zones dotted about Central Scotland. These replies raised a couple of points. The first is what actually constitutes a bing? Should zones on the site of a bing be included even if the bing has been removed? Another point concerns zones close to a bing. Would this be within the remit of a bing?
Turf zone – RamseyBing
Actually, let’s not bother too much about definitely defined definitions. If it looks like a bing, smells like a bing and tastes like a bing, then it’s a bing, for sure. If it’s smoking and the soles of your boots are melting, it’s probably on fire, and is most certainly is a bing. Which reminds me. A few years ago, I rang 999 and reported that the bing at Gore Glen was on fire. It’s known as the Kirkhill Tip. It had been smouldering underground for weeks and the trees and vegetation on the surface was gone. The fire service soon turned up and got hoses into the burned area, which was deep underground. It was quite exciting as the water boiled and vast billowing clouds of steam, ash and smoke erupted from the bing.
Speaking with the officer in charge, they actually didn’t have any experience of burning bings and were asking my advice. How long will it burn for was one question. Having looked up the Internet on the topic that morning my reply about one in the USA that burned for 70 years did not help. The area was initially fenced off to protect Joe and Jane Public and they eventually got contractors in to excavate the burning area. It now lies dormant, waiting for another lightning strike or some stupid children lighting fires for a barbeque. Bings can even self-ignite, which is rather worrying, and exciting at the same time.
The list of bings with zones located on them so far. Still a few other suggestions to investigate.
- 5SistersBing, West Calder.
- ArnistonBing, Gorebridge.
- Battlepoint, Prestonpans.
- BroxburnBing, Broxburn.
- Chandler, Tillicoultry.
- GreendykeBing, Broxburn.
- RamsayBing, Loanhead.
- SeafieldLaw, Livingston.
- TheBing, Livingston.
- SorrowMine, Dollar.
There are also some bings I know about without zones on them. I’ll put in a new zone request and keep my fingers crossed. Not sure what the rules are these days for new zones.
- Carberry, near Dalkeith.
- Tarbrax, South Lanarkshire.
Oh, almost forgot, the Planet Gary unofficial turfing medals for bagging zones on bings start with Bing Bagging 5 – take five zones located on a bing- with a potential Bing Bagging 10, 15 and 20 to follow.
And to finish, a quick update on the teething troubles with the Surly Krampug I sold to Neil yesterday. None of my initial thoughts was causing the problem. Turns out something inside the Alfine 8-speed shift lever had failed. Strange as It’s been working fine for years and decided to fail when I’m selling the bike. And not having a spare, I had to take the shift lever off my Surly Pugsley and fit that. All working okay now and Neil is happy. Just need to source a replacement for the Pugsley. Back soon.
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- Bing Bagging 5 – take 5 zones located on bings.
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- Bing Bagging 10 – take 10 zones located on bings.
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- Bing Bagging 15 – take 15 zones located on bings.
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