A scary moment.
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:33 pm
As a young man with a motorbike - a 150cc Villiers engined James - I was returning from an afternoon and early evenings Tenching at Frensham Little Pond to the campsite where the tent was pitched. The road was poorly illuminated by the 20W bulb in the direct lighting headlamp. The lights only worked if the engine was running.
As I breasted a rise I saw the road dropped downhill and cut through a dark pine plantation, mature trees ready for harvest. I allowed the bike to reach full speed, about an indicated 58 MPH, and approached the almost dark tunnel looming over the road, keen to be out of the dark as soon as I could.
I reached the all encompassing gloom, leaving the scant starlight behind me.
Pop - spludge - bang - whirrrrrrrrrr! The engine stopped!
I lifted the clutch and coasted, almost wetting myself in the spooky gloom. The bike coasted on, getting slower and slower as the road levelled out.
As soon as I could safely get off and run alongside so as too clear the scary darkness, I did, being careful not to damage the rod fastened like a rifle across my back.
About 100 yards from the light at the end of the tunnel - I know, I know - I was becoming very out of breath.
Reading 'The Lord Of The Rings' in you favourite armchair, under electric lighting is no problem. Having read it recently and now inside a dark and spooky forrest it all seemed a bit frightening!
Eventually, breathless, I came out into the end of the plantation, not light, but not so dark. I drew great lungfulls of air in, happy to be out of the gloom.
I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle under my helmet. I had this substantial feeling I was not alone! Looking around, eyes desperately trying to see in the half light I saw a blurred five bar gate with a small dog lying in front of it.
Suddenly, making me squeak, a voice asked " Wossamarrer mate? " There was a man by the gate with the dog, an old country boy by the sound of it.
" Christ " I replied " You really scared me! My bikes stopped working. "
" Course it 'as mate-yer plug leads 'anging orf! "
And it was.........................
As I breasted a rise I saw the road dropped downhill and cut through a dark pine plantation, mature trees ready for harvest. I allowed the bike to reach full speed, about an indicated 58 MPH, and approached the almost dark tunnel looming over the road, keen to be out of the dark as soon as I could.
I reached the all encompassing gloom, leaving the scant starlight behind me.
Pop - spludge - bang - whirrrrrrrrrr! The engine stopped!
I lifted the clutch and coasted, almost wetting myself in the spooky gloom. The bike coasted on, getting slower and slower as the road levelled out.
As soon as I could safely get off and run alongside so as too clear the scary darkness, I did, being careful not to damage the rod fastened like a rifle across my back.
About 100 yards from the light at the end of the tunnel - I know, I know - I was becoming very out of breath.
Reading 'The Lord Of The Rings' in you favourite armchair, under electric lighting is no problem. Having read it recently and now inside a dark and spooky forrest it all seemed a bit frightening!
Eventually, breathless, I came out into the end of the plantation, not light, but not so dark. I drew great lungfulls of air in, happy to be out of the gloom.
I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle under my helmet. I had this substantial feeling I was not alone! Looking around, eyes desperately trying to see in the half light I saw a blurred five bar gate with a small dog lying in front of it.
Suddenly, making me squeak, a voice asked " Wossamarrer mate? " There was a man by the gate with the dog, an old country boy by the sound of it.
" Christ " I replied " You really scared me! My bikes stopped working. "
" Course it 'as mate-yer plug leads 'anging orf! "
And it was.........................