Yeh, I'm kicking myself for not getting out last weekend..., but with an amber weather warning in effect (for rain) lasting until Saturday night I think my trusty steed will just get fettled some more.
Sunday could be a possibility though.
Saw several rainbows, showers, rain, hail, sleet, snow and a fair bit of sunshine yesterday while out on the mountain bike. The wind was blowing the trees about so much they looked like they were dancing and the Teign valley was littered with fallen branches last night.
Lanes should be 'interesting'. Plenty of work for the tree fairies I imagine.
JT's train set is broken again and made the national news, again.
Even Sidmouth has taken a beating - at the end where the boats are stored the sea has ripped the tarmac off the pavement and spread huge chunks across the road. The road is littered with stones & pebbles....
And probably for the next 6 weeks too - according to tonight's news!
Martyn
We don't live in the USA. I'd be surprised if it took as little as 6 weeks. You have the personnel and skills but the Fat Controllers in Westminster have no knowledge of what each limb is doing at any one time. The Environment Secretary was so shocked by what he saw when he forgot his wellies that his eyeball came out. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26057456 NOT JOKING!
-- Edited by Jocko AKA Simmo on Thursday 6th of February 2014 11:41:34 AM
I will be very surprised if they complete that work in 6 weeks, more like 18 months.
I will be happy to be proven wrong.
Consultation, design, clearing up, making safe, local do gooder committees, arranging finance, tenders and thats all before they even think about "Mending it".
The only access for machines, 360s lorries etc of a suitable size is via the bridge access, so that will need to come down and be replaced later.
That one operation will take 6 weeks.
6 weeks is what the politicians think the general populus will handle, after the storm, pun not intended, has died down, then the truth and reality will filter through.
Call me "Mr Cynical". Tee hee.
Thats a 60s record, isnt it?
Probably due to the fact that it is a predominately pebble covered beach. Where is the surprise?
"Life is a beach!" ???
Yeh, some pebbles on the road along the front is nothing new, whole sections thick in stones with small stone drift banks on the opposite side is something new.
Stones were also down the roads leading to the front, stretching into town towards the shops. Road Closed signs were there and had been used so the front must have been closed off the night before.
It must have been very rough down there - no smashed windows this time though.
This is the line at Bridgewater which is normally on a 6ft high bank.....
The hole at Dawlish.....
Which is looking a bit better now, we are using shipping containers full of stone as a temp breakwater (Wacky take note )
I have a day in the chopper tomorrow having a look from above so if you see a black and yellow bird in the sky then give me a wave got a film crew with me as well !!!
-- Edited by jt on Sunday 9th of February 2014 09:39:27 PM
Pity the conservatives and Dr Beeching didn't leave well alone in the 1960's then we had a line from Exeter via Ide and down the teign vally to Newton Abbott, and another over the top of Dartmoor via Okehampton and Meldon and down the TAmar valley to Plymouth. Now they are saying it will cost tens of millions to build a line they shut down to save a few thousand
The big question do any of the politicians actually know what is good for this country, as at present the people are paying for the past ****ups!!!!!!!
__________________
Riding with enthusiasm upon the ragged precipice of disaster
Pity the conservatives and Dr Beeching didn't leave well alone in the 1960's then we had a line from Exeter via Ide and down the teign vally to Newton Abbott, and another over the top of Dartmoor via Okehampton and Meldon and down the TAmar valley to Plymouth. Now they are saying it will cost tens of millions to build a line they shut down to save a few thousand
The big question do any of the politicians actually know what is good for this country, as at present the people are paying for the past ****ups!!!!!!!
Course not. They're all in it for themselves. Anyone who was any good wouldn't want to do it anyway. Those MFs in Westminster have nothing in common with us down here. Now where's me dirty bomb?
Pity the conservatives and Dr Beeching didn't leave well alone in the 1960's then we had a line from Exeter via Ide and down the teign vally to Newton Abbott, and another over the top of Dartmoor via Okehampton and Meldon and down the TAmar valley to Plymouth. Now they are saying it will cost tens of millions to build a line they shut down to save a few thousand
The big question do any of the politicians actually know what is good for this country, as at present the people are paying for the past ****ups!!!!!!!
If they try to reopen the Teign valley railway they will regret building the dual carriageway over it. We will lose Stibb lane at Ashton too, unless the level crossing gets reinstated. I predict massive NIMBYism as people have to give up their gardens. And I'll have to find somewhere else to walk and cycle when I want to go the the Manor inn at Ashton. And the Moor to Sea will have to find a new route.
Bleating about the tens of millions is all very well but they will be throwing another few tens of millions at the Dawlish sea wall instead of doing the right thing.
Wintry showers were forecast yesterday but I wasn't expecting the snow drifting down in huge flakes on Dartmoor, and 191-075 was white over with hail in a very short time. Hail really stings when all you have on is cycling gear!
Pity the conservatives and Dr Beeching didn't leave well alone in the 1960's then we had a line from Exeter via Ide and down the teign vally to Newton Abbott, and another over the top of Dartmoor via Okehampton and Meldon and down the TAmar valley to Plymouth. Now they are saying it will cost tens of millions to build a line they shut down to save a few thousand
The big question do any of the politicians actually know what is good for this country, as at present the people are paying for the past ****ups!!!!!!!
If they try to reopen the Teign valley railway they will regret building the dual carriageway over it. We will lose Stibb lane at Ashton too, unless the level crossing gets reinstated. I predict massive NIMBYism as people have to give up their gardens. And I'll have to find somewhere else to walk and cycle when I want to go the the Manor inn at Ashton. And the Moor to Sea will have to find a new route.
Bleating about the tens of millions is all very well but they will be throwing another few tens of millions at the Dawlish sea wall instead of doing the right thing.
Wintry showers were forecast yesterday but I wasn't expecting the snow drifting down in huge flakes on Dartmoor, and 191-075 was white over with hail in a very short time. Hail really stings when all you have on is cycling gear!
According to BBC today, Network Rail have chosen their route already, which is the much more sensible (IMHO) route over Dartmoor.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26110559
Possibly also because ECC/Bardon Aggregates spent a small fortune restoring Meldon Viaduct, which I believe they bought off DCC for £1, and now just carries the cycle path - and because the line to Meldon was orginally built as a main line, and up until a few years ago was still used for hauling ballast from the quarry (still used for tourists). There will of course be NIMBYism, but I was more shocked to hear the MP for Dawlish insisting that some £300m should be used to rebuild the sea wall instead of making an alternative inland! I'd like to see her face up to the regular train passengers who now have to go by road until the existing line is repaired.
Not in anyway an 'official' comment - but I would love to work on a railway over the moor. The meldon line and the NDN from Credition right up through Barny, Yelland, Instow to Meeth was my first 'patch' when I started.........I know i don't look it but I am that old......I can remember going to Ilfracombe on the train as well!!!!!
Flippin heck - I hope he and his family are ok and have somewhere to live?
Yes I am ok thanks. We have been rehoused in Lady's Mile caravan park just up the Road from "ground zero". The caravan park owner is kindly letting us stay for the time being for £20 per week which just covers his costs for the gas and leccy. But the best news is three and a half TRF members and myself managed to drag my 250xc up the cliff this afternoon, so now at least I have one of my toys to cheer me up. Looking forward to riding Sunday at the Core day. Thanks so much guys for your help just what I needed! Although I think Joes plan to take the Ducati out the same way was possibly a little ambitious! Thanks again - top men.
__________________
Canoe, Kayak, Stand up Paddle Board, Windsurf, Birthday Parties, all @ devonwindsurf.co.uk
If I can help 'facilitate' getting your bike out through our worksite mate let me know and I will see what I can do.
JT
That would have been bit easier than dragging it up the cliff at the back of the house. Been bit pre occupied this week to look on the forum. Thanks for the offer though, but all sorted now thanks.
__________________
Canoe, Kayak, Stand up Paddle Board, Windsurf, Birthday Parties, all @ devonwindsurf.co.uk
Once the rain and water problem goes away and the press have moved onto something else like a drought then all this will be forgotten, will the support money still be there and will a new/old railway be built/commissioned highly unlikely.
HS2 is so much more important.
__________________
Took the Queens Shilling and disappeared for 23 Years !!