M
McBad
Guest
Caught an interlude between the gales and rain to drive Sarn Helen, coming
South from Forest Lodge. Lots of puddles and surface water but the lane has
a good hard base so early sections to the bridge were no problem, as
expected. Views over surrounding hills and valleys excellent in winter
sunshine. Didn't see the red kites that I've seen before on this section.
After the bridge I went up the rocky section of track towards the top gate
first, stopping half way (there is a firm patch of grass on the western side
where there is a gate into a field) to see if the following Free-Lander was
getting up OK. It was - quite impressed.
The next section has some minor steps and biggish rocks and is steep, it was
also flowing with water this afternoon. The Free Lander got about half way
up this, to just before the steepest bit, and was stopped by a boulder which
the wheel could not step up over. We got out and shuffled some rocks around
and then noticed a very strong smell of dead fish, eggs, sulphur and
rubber...
Following this Jamie found that he could not engage any gear in the
Free-Lander; forwards or reverse. Suddenly this was starting to look like a
long and difficult afternoons' recovery, probably to be followed by some
expensive garage work! I went up to the top and turned the 90 to come back
down the hill nose-first, plan being to attach a tow rope and roll him
backwards down the hill in neutral using the 90 as a brake. Eventually this
would have brought some difficulties because at the foot of the hill I would
have needed to get past him and hopefully turn him round, however there was
no way we could tow up hill with the Free Lander clearly struggling before
the most awkward section...
Turning the 90 and coming back took about 15 minutes by which time Jamie
found that things had cooled down enough for him to be able to engage
reverse. This allowed him to back down to the grassy section and turn round
before descending to the foot of the hill in first gear. He found that
whenever he attempted to engage hill descent control the engine just stalled
dead. Still a bad smell in the air...
Two well prepared suzukis and an orange 110 turned up during the recovery,
and stayed until we got to the foot of the hill to ensure that we got off
the difficult bit ok. Thanks guys.
We returned the way we'd come. Back on the road the Free-Lander seemed to
behave as normal although the smell lingered...
I was quite impressed by how far the Free Lander got and I think in dry
conditions it would have got further, however I don't think I'll be buying
one. Pity it doesn't have a low box. Any ideas why HDC wouldn't engage?
Cheers,
M.
South from Forest Lodge. Lots of puddles and surface water but the lane has
a good hard base so early sections to the bridge were no problem, as
expected. Views over surrounding hills and valleys excellent in winter
sunshine. Didn't see the red kites that I've seen before on this section.
After the bridge I went up the rocky section of track towards the top gate
first, stopping half way (there is a firm patch of grass on the western side
where there is a gate into a field) to see if the following Free-Lander was
getting up OK. It was - quite impressed.
The next section has some minor steps and biggish rocks and is steep, it was
also flowing with water this afternoon. The Free Lander got about half way
up this, to just before the steepest bit, and was stopped by a boulder which
the wheel could not step up over. We got out and shuffled some rocks around
and then noticed a very strong smell of dead fish, eggs, sulphur and
rubber...
Following this Jamie found that he could not engage any gear in the
Free-Lander; forwards or reverse. Suddenly this was starting to look like a
long and difficult afternoons' recovery, probably to be followed by some
expensive garage work! I went up to the top and turned the 90 to come back
down the hill nose-first, plan being to attach a tow rope and roll him
backwards down the hill in neutral using the 90 as a brake. Eventually this
would have brought some difficulties because at the foot of the hill I would
have needed to get past him and hopefully turn him round, however there was
no way we could tow up hill with the Free Lander clearly struggling before
the most awkward section...
Turning the 90 and coming back took about 15 minutes by which time Jamie
found that things had cooled down enough for him to be able to engage
reverse. This allowed him to back down to the grassy section and turn round
before descending to the foot of the hill in first gear. He found that
whenever he attempted to engage hill descent control the engine just stalled
dead. Still a bad smell in the air...
Two well prepared suzukis and an orange 110 turned up during the recovery,
and stayed until we got to the foot of the hill to ensure that we got off
the difficult bit ok. Thanks guys.
We returned the way we'd come. Back on the road the Free-Lander seemed to
behave as normal although the smell lingered...
I was quite impressed by how far the Free Lander got and I think in dry
conditions it would have got further, however I don't think I'll be buying
one. Pity it doesn't have a low box. Any ideas why HDC wouldn't engage?
Cheers,
M.
