I have just got back home from a very nice cycling week(short --it was only
five days cycling) in the New Forest ( including 1 day on the IOW). I covered
just over
250 miles based in Holland's Wood Forestry Commission Campsite ( which was
very
good since all the kids went back to school in Monday 3 Sept (which was my
first biking day).
On the Tuesday I cycled down to Lymington, crossed the ferry to Yarmouth and
then did about 65 miles on the IOW on a v warm day.
The rest of the days were spend going all over the New Forest -- 98% of the
time on the 40 mph roads of the whole area --- which also 98% of the
motorists
obey --- but if you ride positively ( and about 1 metre from the very tatty
road edges) then cars cannot pass you until you let them!
Many of the so called cycle routes "off road" were mostly loose gravely tracks
which the Forestry commission littered liberally with their tree felling
rubbish. I
didn't enjoy the one day when I returned to my camp site from Beaulieu
through recommended tracks. It was a fairly uncomfortable ride on my Thorn
Raven Tour ( Rohloff) fitted with road Marathon Plus.
Bit I had super weather and, having travelled down there in my little Suzuki
Swift, my touring tent was outfitted lavishly. It really was a week of
luxury where I had 2 stoves going for my evening meal-- which extended my
evening menus considerably. I even had a fresh crab ( live till I cooked it in
my pot) "Surf and Turf"
with some cut up sausages served on fresh salad leaves that I found in the
forest. with buttered and parslied potatoes ( I also found some fresh
mushrooms but I am not informed enough to pick the safe ones ---so I bought
some
in the local shop).
It was my last holiday of the year and has added a bit of zest to the end of
summer.
Trevor A Panther
in South Yorkshire
England, United Kingdom