turner's torque Damian's Deep & meaningful musings In my other life I am a counsellor (therapy, not local council) and there’s a quote that we often use in therapy "As a responsible adult, when new information and ideas come my way, I’m allowed to change my mind." and that happened to me last month. Let me explain... Like many others, I’ve often said that if you want a challenge whilst green laning, go visit a Pay & Pay site, green lanes are for all to enjoy. Which is fair enough, yeah? Whilst driving a lane last month I ended up contradicting myself. As I’ve written later in the mag, the last time I drove In Moor Lane it was a bit of a challenge with deepish undulating ruts - it was fun trying to negotiate them. Now however, after being graded it’s as smooth as the M62, and I was quite disappointed. That got me thinking, should we keep some lanes downright gnarly that only tricked up 4x4s can negotiate, or should all lanes be fit for all? Another controversial question - Are we becoming that society in which everyone believes that they’re entitled to go everywhere and do anything?
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THE MUD LIFE MAGAZINE
As a canoeist, how would you feel if all waterways were flat and placid without the odd rapid to test your skill and get your adrenaline pumping? What if rock climbers were only allowed to climb rockfaces with a slight gradient, because someone once got hurt trying to reach the top? If I go for a walk, or bike ride in the country, I expect it to be challenging, that’s why I bought a mountain bike instead of a road bike, and a pair of sturdy walking boots instead of plimsoles. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with repairing lanes, but where do we draw the line? It’s a difficult question to answer, and yes, I know the green lane situation is a whole lot more complicated than that, but it just frustrated me. Anyhow, at least I now know that I can take a soft roader over to Scar House Reservoir without getting hung up or damaged!
