Thread Title
My remit was comprehensive and varied, embodying what felt like an
encyclopedic list of personal ambitions, objectives and wants that had
ammassed in my psyche for months, (even years), since I had first
contemplated the thrilling idea of owning and utilising an electric
bicycle.
Although, in every day life, I enjoy a non linear, carefree existence,
even a l
Practicalities
Had I made the right choice in my ebike purchase? Having done my
homework, the Powabyke Euro was always going to be my planned number one
choice.
She was stocky, for sure but the robust nature of her appealed to me …
and I already knew she had the reputation of being a good hill climber.
She would need to be … to cope with the wild, raw geology of a 200
million year old continent, (Pangea), that had disintegrated and thrust
its ancient seabeds and deserts up into the coastal promontories we now
label The Jurassic Coast.
b) Would ‘My Little Pony’, with her 2/3rds of one horse power, get in
harness and transport my 6ft frame, (plus fishing tackle, metal detector
and provisions), on the occasions I make my appointment to meet a rising
spring tide to catch a handful of the thousands of mackerel that boil
and swirl in vast shoals at sunrise just offshore?
Varied Objectives and Dreams
a) Photography. There are images online that showcase the fantastic
array of local historical, geographical and natural resources that I
often refer to with friends online all over the world … but some of
the images I have shared have not been my own compositions.
I love the bus journey between Bridport and Weymouth primarily because
it crosses the stunning coast road betwixt the two venues … and I
always said to myself, “When I get an eBike, I’ll be able to survey,
view and create my own, entirely unique individualised photos” … from
any grass verge, from any 5 barred field gate … and from vantage
points that a car, bus or even a walker just couldn’t easily access or
experience.
Please don’t expect such works of art from the current batch of enclosed
photos, (below). This first adventure was to represent just a ‘proof of
concept’ exercise, to see if the potential of the machine meets my
expectations for it.
b) Scenery. I read the landscape like a book. I date hills and other
geographical or historical features either in millions of years, (Our
rolling hills), tens of thousands of years, (Chesil beach itself is
about 10,000 years, having formed as the last Ice Age retreated),
several thousand years, (Signs of ‘Man’ with his strip lynchet terraced
agriculture, the 3000 year old Bronze Age barrows, (Tumuli), our ancient
hill forts, Anglo – Romano settlements, our medieval castles … along
with all the other, more recent human activity and intrigue.
Issac Gulliver, the infamous 18th century smuggler, has left scores of
dwellings and features on the landscape – all part of his ingenuity in
tricking ship’s captains onto Chesil beach itself by placing lanterns
and lights to mimic the safe port of Weymouth further down the coast!
The coast would look like the welcome haven of Weymouth to seamen
navigating by such lights but … shipwreck awaited them … along with
Gulliver’s men who would claim the bounty, (and lives), that spewed out
of the ship’s stricken bowels.
Hence, the idea, the plan, the need to actually get into the very veins
of my county’s history, (and pre-history), is yet one more compelling
reason to test the new machine … to see if she would meet the
expectations I wish to place on her.
- Adventure
Catching fat mackerel and bass below Thorncombe Beacon. Responsibly
metal detecting, plucking 2000 year old Roman coins and artifacts from
the rich, black soil of the plough. Painting the landscape in oils or
charcoal. Exercising to just maintain good health.
All of those things are already part of my world but the added dimension
of pursuing them without harming Gaia, or adding to all the strife in
the world, is yet one more aspiration I could begin to explore today.
- And one final dream
Abbotsbury remit pic here
The image of The Fleet nature reserve, lying snug between the chocolate
box village of Abbotsbury and Chesil beach itself is one particular
image I wish to ‘own’ for myself.
IF … IF Eva could possibly make it along the coast road to the vast
Iron Age hillfort just before the intimidating hill that leads down to
Abbotsbury village, I will have attained my greatest desire for my new
machine … and might possibly even secure a decent photo.
Make no mistake, I’m reticent, even anxious about realising that
particular goal, (for road safety reasons and with regards to my own
health).
The steep hills rise and drop and then rise higher and drop further
before rising again to 179 metres, ( 587 ft), where the brooding Iron
Age hill fort itself guards the plateau … 8 miles from home.
Doesn’t sound much but, with a further 8 miles back, (16 in total), on a
machine that might only have delivered 20 miles range when new,
(probably under less taxing and demanding criteria) … well … we’ll
see. 🙂
Just for reference, I’d like you to recall my first post, Brand New Sky,
and the photos I took FROM Thorncombe Beacon looking towards the harbour
at West Bay The Beacon and the distinctive flat top of Golden Cap, the
South coast’s highest point, will serve as datum points of reference and
I may refer to them to provide scale and perspective now and again.
(I’ll add a red, vertical line to some images directly over the Beacon
as appropriate).
Like now!
Thorncombe ref pic
This is the view looking back over my shoulder a couple of miles out
along the coast road. See Thorncombe Beacon on the horizon?
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