Killybegs

The sun never really showed its face much as promised but I took the bike for a spin anyway. Foolishly blitzed the first 20km around the coast (did I think I was on the Tour de France!) which meant that a third of the way into my planned route I had used 40% of my battery. So it was into power saving mode, Eco+ or OFF generally and Eco and lower gears for the uphill bits. Managed the middle third on 10% of the battery. Stepped it up the speed for the last third and consumed 20% of the battery. Just goes to show how far you can go on a battery if you ride sensibly! A few pics along the way:

We have two Haibikes, total value £6,000. They have increased the cost of our house insurance considerably but still cheaper than insuring them separately. Most insurance companies insist on gold standard locks. Ours are secured to each other with a D lock which itself is secured by heavy weight cable to my hybrid bike on a rack on the wall. That's a combined weight of over 60kg, not easy to nick from a locked garage. Our car bike rack has built in locks but if we are leaving it somewhere over night, the D lock goes on as well. If we are out for a ride and stop for a coffee, we use a cable and combination lock but make sure we can see the bikes. If we think they may be out of sight at some point on our ride, we will take a D lock with us.

The first sunny day since we got back from Kerry, so I put the modelling aside and went out on the bike. Took a trip along the coast, spectacular views but, needless to say, very hilly.

I recall biking a single track trail at Castle Ward several years ago. It passed twice through a field with a rather large bull in it. A good incentive to pedal a bit faster!

Good to see you back working on the shed.

After a wet start, it has turned into a beautiful day. Out for a quick spin on the bike, I thought I would check the gate at the bottom of our local 'mountain'. This gate is shared by Coilte (Irish Forestry Commission) and the local windfarm and is usually locked. Today it was open which meant I had 10km of off road with plenty of climbing and descending. Shame I had the wrong tyres on but good fun if a little hairy at times. I also had too much pressure in the tyres so it was a bit of a bone shaker. Fortunately I checked my rear through axle when I got back onto the tarmac as it had come loose, albeit by only half a turn. Another side affect of having the wrong tyres on. Anyway it was a great ride and gave the old cardio vascular a good work out.

2822 coasts down the embankment above Worseter shed with a train of empty minerals headed for South Wales

My overseas copy arrived from British Railway Books on Friday.

...and will be appearing on Worseter in due course in this livery!!!

Same weather this side of the border, so made the most of it ahead of storm Barra next week. A few pics from my bike ride this afternoon. We are so lucky to have such a variety of landscapes on our doorstep.

It was the thought of removing the raised lining that put me off. Well done!

Indeed we are. There is now a short walking/cycling trail on the line of the old railway but I was unaware of it prior to seeing your post and googling it! I will have to check it out.

Ex GWR railcar 22 made it into green livery and is available RTR. Link to pic https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/292452569536260489/

As the forecast was for rain arriving at lunchtime, I took advantage of a 'dry window' after coffee to go for a quick 25km spin on the bike . As this is RMWeb here's a railway pic taken out on my ride. The old bridge that used to carry the Killybegs branch of the County Donegal Railway over the Bungosteen River, which feeds into Killybegs Harbour.

First test run.

We keep a supply of RSA (Irish Road Safety Authority) free 'be seen' vests in the car. If we see walkers or cyclists cycling in poor light in dark clothes we offer them one. Some accept one, some say 'I have one of those at home' and some cyclists are quite rude! I get the impression that it's not cool to wear them. I'd rather be uncool than dead.

Work in progress on 2822.

I add a little soot to the ash to make it a bit darker. It turns out like this ......

That's a very competitive price.

The top panels are 5mm foam board. They are supported front and back on battens except across the window where they are supported on pads. The sides are supported by strips of 5mm ply fixed to the underside of the cross members.

I haven't been entirely idle in the interim as I did build covers for the fiddle yard. This has allowed me to put out my stock without having to worry about it getting dusty.

I hadn't realised how much time had gone by since I last posted anything on 2822. It went into the paint shop a while back and today it received an initial light weathering with the air brush. Still work to do, so, hopefully, more pics once it is finished.

There's nothing like a bit of late afternoon sun in November.

Very nice, thank you Phil.