Mowing the Lawn (2)

[Mick F]

Yes, I was nearly 63 before I was allowed one. It's basically going to be Pension Age before you get one.
Mrs Mick F has to be 66 for her OAP and her bus pass.

As for East Anglia, I had an idea to ride LE to Lowestoft and back, and was in the early stages of planning it for May (just gone).
I wasn't feeling too good - heavy cold, blocked ears, coughing - so I dropped the idea. I couldn't get up enough enthusiasm for it.
Route was going to be Home, LE, Home, Bridgwater, Swindon, Bedford (Daughter2), Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Kings Lynn, Bedford, Swindon, Bridgwater, Home.
Maybe next year.

I have cycled in many places not on my map because I don't have any GPX tracks. Some rides date back to the 60s touring N Wales and Trough of Bowland. Plus I've ridden to Brighton along the coast in the 80s. This isn't to mention all the foreign countries I've cycled in.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2601&p=15289

[ChrisF]

Yes, I was nearly 63 before I was allowed one. It's basically going to be Pension Age before you get one.
Mrs Mick F has to be 66 for her OAP and her bus pass.

Mick, many thanks! I didn't know I could get a bus pass - I thought I had to be 65, but I have now checked and could have got one last year. And, similar to your situation, 'Mrs ChrisF' will have to wait until 2020.
So, is this a reason for me to get a folding bike, as you have done? It would certainly open up possibilities for different rides - but how many bus journeys would I need to make for the savings to pay for a decent folder?

[mercalia]

Re your UK map with gaps and how to fill them. What about East Anglia? Plenty of great cycling and beautiful scenery. Then again, living in 'blighted' Essex has the advantage of not being inundated with tourists.

I remember asking how you defined all as in all the roads, in your last mowing lawn post and getting roundly put down as a barrack room lawyer by some of the old lags that were on the site then. Your definition above of working down from A to B to major/minor unclassified roads (presumably until you drop off the perch) finally answers my question. Ta.

rjb: I hope you realise that bus passes are not given out at 60 anymore. I'll be nearly 64 when I get mine and it's going up every day.

Enjoy.

re the freedom pass. many men dont realise it is age a woman can get one that is important ( sex descrimination laws) and not the 65 that many think it is & the age a woman has to be is determined by date of birth and not a particular current age

here is a calculator ( for London but the age thing is universal, London has special arrangements for those 60+ not eligable for a Freedom Pass yet )

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/older-persons-freedom-pass/eligibility

[al_yrpal]

Blighted Essex? A beautiful county, spent lots of my youth cycling around it. CTC, Hainault Road Club. The parts TV concentrates on are awful and those East End expatriates too, but much of the countryside was and is still idylic. Constable painted on the borders… Dedham Vale and the Painters Trail.. Great cycling.

Al

[simonhill]

Essex, sshhhhh, don't tell everyone, it'll turn into Cornwall.

I'm an Essex Boy and my comments were very much tongue in cheek, I know how good it is. I once took an American friend on campervan and cycling trip here. She had been told all the usual rubbish but was blown away by the sights, etc.

[craign74]

Isn't this how you mow the lawn?

[Mick F]

Good idea!

Back from West Cornwall this morning.
I covered 112 miles in two days.

This takes me up to this for West Cornwall.
Still a few holes to fill yet. Maybe go back down there later in the summer.

[ChrisF]

Well done. I see you could spend another whole day in the Lizard peninsular: plenty of dead-end lanes there! I also recommend the lane running NW from Porthleven to Ashton, one of my local favourites.

[whoof]

Well done. I see you could spend another whole day in the Lizard peninsular: plenty of dead-end lanes there! I also recommend the lane running NW from Porthleven to Ashton, one of my local favourites.

It's even nicer going from Ashton to Porthleven.

[Mick F]

Cheers guys!
Yes, more rides required down there, and thanks for the Porthleven/Ashton idea.