#Didtheyreallydothat? cars and motorbike performance

This blog is about car and motorbike performance.

Bear with me.

During the last week I have sat through a few "Horrible Histories" with my darling little grand daughters. They love them! They are amusing and I guess informative too. The theme is often how extraordinary our forbears were - they did the most bizarre and outrageous things!

Horrible Histories - Vile Victorians | Compilation - Bing video

Like most Islanders I read the IOW County Press - the local newspaper. The CP maintain a good website with rolling news. I pick up the Islands news headlines each day and to be honest it is often the basis of local conversation. We are parochial - with a village mentality. 

The IOW is not really a big place - population in total about 140K and in many respects a bit of a backwater (much is rural - half is designated an AONB). There are no motorways of course but we refer to one. The "motorway" is the only duel carriageway on the island. It is an urban road - and the duel carriageway stretch is less than a mile long. Despite this there seems to be an extraordinary number of car and motorbike accidents. Over the weekend there were at least three separately reported collisions involving a car and motorbike on the County Press website. Injury and death. Almost always excessive speed for the conditions features.

Now the link! Horrible Histories and road accidents on the Isle of Wight!

I am imaging a Horrible Histories in say 50 or more likely a 100 years time - DID THEY REALLY DO THAT?

Did they really, for more than a hundred years, build virtually all cars and motorbikes capable of exceeding the legal speed limit by at least 50% and in many cases over 100%?

Yes they did !

Why ?

Why build a car or motor bike that can achieve speeds far in excess of the legal speed limit? ( so the only time the engines capability can be fully utilised is when the driver breaks the law !? )

Why build transport that is so over engineered for its basic purpose?

Why buy a car that is much more expensive than it needs to be because it is so over engineered?

Why when the planet is threatened by climate change do we continue to build cars and motorbikes that consume far more resources than necessary and burn far more fuel because the cars and bikes are so unnecessarily powerful.

Speed kills. Why are we building cars and motorbikes that are capable of such excessive speeds? Driving within speed limits and reducing rates of acceleration would massively reduce accidents.

Horrible Histories will be able to have a lot of fun with this question. Why have we bought into it?

The short answer I can see - 

VANITY

STATUS

CHEAP THRILLS

IT CREATES JOBS AND TAXABLE INCOME.

The more you think about it the dafter it is. Very hard (impossible) to justify if cars and motorbikes are just a means of transport. It is particularly hard on the IOW where there just aren't the roads for excessive speed. Perhaps it is why there are so many accidents - drivers and riders frustrated that they cannot open the throttle and consequently take chances. Years ago I realised there is no point overtaking on the IOW. Occasionally I get overtaken - but you can almost guarantee without fail I will catch them up at the next junction.

 

#ExamResults A level grade inflation and common-sense

In the last week A level and GCSE level results have been released. Yet again they show grade inflation.

What makes this even more controversial is results are based on teacher assessment rather than controlled examination.

I am commenting on this issue based on common-sense - based on the experience of a parent - and based on the fact I was a governor of two different schools totalling a 10 year stint (albeit a few years ago now.)

I am going to make my points in bullet point form for simplicity and because of time constraints (it is holiday time and my grand children are here).

• The government cancelled formal national based exams because of practical covid considerations. It is hard to challenge this decision (although some of course will challenge any decision a government make for political reasons).
• Independent controlled national exams removes most of the possibility of any outside influence on results (although admittedly and historically fault has been found in vagaries of exam paper marking. There is no such thing as a perfect system.) 
• The gov't tried to use an algorithm to predict grades to replace the temporary halting of formal exams but there was an out cry against the results it produced. The results using the algorithm were based on past performance and therefore gave no scope for undue improvement! 
• The only other viable option was "teacher assessment". In effect teachers marking their own homework.
• This is what teachers unions, teachers and the majority of schools wanted. 
• Teachers claim they are the ones who know their students best and as they the teachers are professionals they will ensure grades awarded by them are objective and fair.

The results just released show A level A and A* grades awarded nearly doubled and almost 50% of candidates achieved A or A* grades. 

Despite this unprecedented increase the on message is results can be trusted.

However the reality is this evident grade inflation casts doubt on the veracity of some results and so it should. Can the results be trusted? 

Well is the current cohort so significantly brighter than their predecessors? Or have they worked so much harder. Or have schools improved their teaching to such an extent ? The answer logically is surely no. So what is the explanation for "grade inflation"!

In my opinion the explanation is simple. Teachers have over graded their pupils and the reason why is not complicated to understand (and expect).

All schools are placed in league tables based on their exam results. Those league tables in simplistic terms determine which schools are considered to be the "best" schools and which are the failing schools. These league tables are used by parents to determine choice of schools. Pupil numbers largely determine allocated resources and kudos and career advancement flows to the leadership (and teachers) of "successful" schools. 

By the same token "failing" schools are under pressure. Heads can lose their jobs. Governors and OFSTED will be on their case. Teachers who are not getting good exam results from their students are under pressure. Heads will be putting pressure on them to up their game.

So with the best will in the world if teachers (schools) can mark (grade) their own pupils - they are likely (bound) to grant them the best possible awards for reasons of self preservation and self interest. Sadly the system puts maintaining "professionalism" under unrealistic pressure. There is additionally the emotional pull from students to teachers - why not give them the best possible grades (the best grades we can get away with) - it will open doors for them !? Teachers and schools have caved in.

Flowing from this are a number of unsatisfactory outcomes :

• If almost 50% get A and A* grades they lose a lot as a measure of excellence. Future employers will not trust them.
• Genuinely bright students will not be clearly identified.
• However competing universities desperate for students to fill their courses (to generate fees) will now be able offer them without being accused of dumbing down academic standards. 
• Over rated students will come a cropper at some future stage as they are not as bright as their grades indicate.

Having said all of this I do not believe it could have been avoided. As soon as you cannot sit vigorous exams in a controlled setting with fully independent marking (as the gov't couldn't do in the covid pandemic) there will inevitably be test flogging, distortion and over marking. (We have previously seen this when results are based on too high a proportion of "course work".)

Covid has had a very broad impact on education. It has been very hard on students. Students (and their parents) cannot be blamed for grabbing everything they can even if deep down they know grades achieved are lets say - better than their normal standard. Sadly it is life but eventually it will all come out in the wash.

#Brecon&Gower

I am just back from a short camping/walking visit to South Wales - 4 nights. It is an area I know pretty well and it always delivers. 

Of course it is good to get off the IOW now and again - especially after the Covid lockdown. South Wales is easy to get to from the Island - ie Portsmouth - Winchester - Newbury and down the M4 to cross the Severn Bridge into Wales. 2 or 3 hours.

When we set off the weather forecast was not great - but weather was forecast changeable! While summer sun was desired it was not crucial ha!

There is something positive about going over the huge Severn Bridge. It makes you feel you are entering a new world. You are of course in many ways - just look at the unintelligible road signs. Welsh is like Greek or say Russian - impossible to guess what the words mean. So many double l's and d's ha!

Our destination was Brecon - in the Brecon Beacons for the first night. We ambled up the lovely Wye valley for a break at spectacular Tinturn Abbey and later a walk around the attractive and well preserved little town of Monmouth. Then it was across to Brecon the main town in the Brecon Beacons.

The Brecon Beacons sit in the Brecon Beacon National Park. It is an AONB.

From Wiki :

The Brecon Beacons (Welsh: Bannau Brycheiniog, IPA: [ˈbanai̯ brəˈχəi̯njɔɡ]) are a mountain range in South Wales In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of Old Red Sandstone peaks which lie to the south of Brecon. Sometimes referred to as "the central Beacons" they include South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan. The range forms the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog), a designation which also encompasses ranges both to the east and the west of "the central Beacons". This much wider area is also commonly referred to as "the Brecon Beacons", and it includes the Black Mountains to the east as well as the similarly named but quite distinct Black Mountain to the west. The highest peaks include Fan Brycheiniog to the west and Pen y Fan in the central part. They share the same basic geology as the central range, and so exhibit many similar features, such as the north-facing escarpment and glacial features such as lakes and cwms (cirques).

For two night we camped at Priory Mill Campsite by the River Honddu. It is a low impact site - quietly run with no commercialism whatsoever. The owners have been there for over 20 years. They allow no groups, children or dogs. It is very peaceful with the added advantage of being in walking distance of Brecon town and therefore the pubs of Brecon. (Find the Brecon Tap and sit right in the town square. Very atmospheric.)

Next day was a lovely walking day - bright but with a breeze. We walked to the top of Corn Du 2864 ft and the the highest peak in S Wales - Pen Y Fan 2907 ft. We took the quick route disparagingly referred to as "the motorway"! It starts from the carpark of the Storey Arms. True there can be a lot of people setting out but you soon lose them on the 4 hour plus trek. If you are lucky to have clear visibility - as we were on this day - the views are spectacular. I have walked to the top of Pen y Fan several times over the years. I would do it anytime. It is a very rewarding thing to do.

Next day we headed south down to the coast. The weather was poor so a good day to drive. By late morning we were in Swansea and visited the well known Swansea Market. I had a Swansea breakfast which is basically a full English but with laverbread (seaweed) and cockles. A surf and turf breakfast - ha!

We were booked to camp on The Gower peninsula - another AONB and NT presence. The afternoon brightened considerably and we were able to doze in the sun overlooking stunning Rhossilli Bay with its 3 mile long beach.

Overnight a storm came in - very strong winds and heavy rain but the Vango Omega 350 with the bracing straps locked - stood up well. 

Next day everything brightened and the tides were perfect to walk / scrabble out onto the Worms Head.

Worms Head - Wiki

Worm's Head (Welsh: Ynys Weryn) is a headland which is the furthest westerly point on the Gower Peninsula, at Rhossili. The name Worm's Head is derived from an Old English word for 'dragon'.^[1] The headland of carboniferous limestone comprises three islands: the Inner Head, the Middle Head which features a collapsed sea cave known as the Devil's Bridge and the Outer Head. In total it is approximately a mile long, and the Inner Head up to 200 yards wide. Worm's Head is only accessible on foot for 2+1⁄2 hours either side of low tide, fatal to attempt to wade or swim to when the causeway from the mainland is flooded.

The poet Dylan Thomas initially described the Worm's Head as "the very promontory of depression" and was forced once to spend the night on the Head after being trapped by the tide.

In August 2020 seven visitors were rescued by the coastguard after getting stranded on Worm's Head by the incoming tide. In September 2020 seven Swansea University students also had to be rescued after becoming stranded.^[5

The Worms Head walk is a bit of a test. It involves a lot of scrambling. The rocks are sharp and vicious - so be careful! Adhere to the tide/time advice of course. There is a real sense of satisfaction when you have completed it as with Pen y Fan walk. It is great when you get back and look out to the Worms Head and think - I have just climbed to the top of that!

In the evening we have a celebratory dinner at a great little pub called the Britannia Inn at Llanmadoc (in the middle of nowhere - ha!). 

On the way back home to the Island we stopped off at Barry Island of Gavin & Stacy fame. It is a bucket and spade kiss me quick type of place. I will try and not be too judgemental. The beach appeared excellent and we walked out onto a very gusty headland which was a good place to be. Barry Island is an amusement park and fast food haven. It is what it is and everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. It is not like so many of the UK's resort towns - on its last legs. It seems to be doing ok.

Now back on the Island we can reflect on those full 4 days. Really excellent. Brecon and The Gower are an excellent combination and a very practical place to get to from the Island.

Here are a few mob photos :

River Wye - England one side Wales the other

Tinturn Abbey

Priory Mill campsite Brecon

On the way up to Pen Y Fan. First Corn Du - the black anvil.

after Corn Du the short descent and then climb to Pen y Fan

Pen y Fan in the middle

a Swansea breakfast - laverbread (fried seaweed with cockles)

beautiful Rhossili

the worm and Worms Head

Seals commonplace

On the Worms Head

Oxwich Bay - the Gower

fished here with my dad and brothers many years ago

The Old School House Oxwich. We rented it for easter holidays many years ago. Nice to see it again.

View from the Britannia Inn

Barry Island where Ness played father christmas and Gavin & Stacey met apparently

#HebrideanWay with the Three Tenners

We are not long back from cycling (actually a few weeks have expired now!) the Hebridean Way. What is the "Hebridean Way"? The marketing blurb. 

The spectacular islands of the Outer Hebrides have always been a magnet for cyclists seeking quiet roads and a different pace of life.  As you wind your way past stunning white shell beaches, constantly stopping to visit a historical site or watch eagles soar overhead, you will lose all track of time.

Using 2 ferries and 6 causeways to hop between islands, this popular on-road route begins on the Island of Vatersay at the southern tip of the archipelago and ends 185 miles (297km) later at the Butt of Lewis lighthouse in the far north. 

You will get lungs full of fresh air and the scenery that subtly changes along the way is awe-inspiring.  In the morning you can be riding beside turquoise seas and passing flower-strewn machair, before heading inland through rugged hills made from Lewisian gneiss which is some of the oldest rocks in the world.  But there is absolutely no hurry. This is a journey to savour so slow down to Hebridean time and take it steady.

Where are the Outer Hebrides? They are often referred to as the Western Isles. They are off the West Coast of Northern Scotland. The Inner Hebrides is closer to the mainland - islands like Skye, Mull and Isla. (35 inhabited 44 uninhabited).The Outer Hebrides by definition is further away. (made up of 15 inhabited and 50 uninhabited islands) The ferry from Oban on the mainland took 5 1/2 hours to get the our starting island - Barra - a distance of 93 miles.

Why did we choose to ride the Hebridean Way ? The Three Tenners like to take on a realistic challenge. We like being out in the open air and away from commercialism if we can. One of Mike's daughters is an Outdoor Activities Leader in Scotland and she put us onto it. We jumped at it once the seed was sown because it was a new area to us and like everyone else we have found the Covid lockdown frustrating at times. The Outer Hebrides was open for business so we got it sorted within a few weeks.

The logistical challenge took a bit of time to solve given we live at the other end of the country. In the end the solution was Mike drove his van with me as passenger (not enough seats for Rob) to Oban. We carried the three bikes and gear. Rob flew to Glasgow from Bristol - quick and cheap and took the three hour train to Oban. Our drive took about 10 hours with breaks. We met for an overnight stay at Oban YHA.

The other major consideration was how to get back given we were going to cycle about 200 miles north on the Islands. It seemed to us the only practical solution was to use the Stornoway ferry to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland and then get back down from Ullapool to Oban to collect the van. That is about a 5 hour drive because there is no direct route given the terrain. In the end we used a firm called Ticket to Ride - based in Inverness to shuttle us and our gear. They were super efficient but it was our biggest expense of the trip.

A quick comment on the Caledonian MacBrayne (Cal Mac) ferries that serve the islands. They are not that frequent but they are comfortable and cheap because they are apparently heavily subsidised. The Oban crossing - 5 1/2 hours cost £15 each for instance. Covid has had a big impact because total passenger numbers are reduced for safety reasons. Consequently ferries are often shown as fully booked and they operate a standby system. Best to book for sure.

Now a bit about the trip itself :

The Hebridean Way is a designated signposted route and it is on good surfaces. It could be done on a road bike and there is no chance of getting lost. The distance is 185 miles (+30 if you chose to cycle to Stornoway from the finish at the Butt) - much of it is on the flat - and while there are some tough hills on Harris particularly - it is not a hard ride in that respect.

What however makes it a challenge is the weather - or particularly the prospect of atrocious weather. The islands are low and exposed and strong winds are common place. The finish point at the Butt of Lewis has apparently been recorded as the windiest place in the UK. We were camping and on bikes so we were obviously exposed to the elements. The other factor is the Outer Hebridean islands are sparsely populated - with few shops - and Sunday (and many on Monday too) they all close for religious reasons. There are also few pubs. In the whole week of cycling we only used one bar apart from while waiting for the ferry at Stornoway.

Our route :

We crossed from Oban to Barra,

The next morning we cycled down to the beautiful little island of Vatersay for the start of the Hebridean Way. (the 10 islands are mainly connected by causeways but 2 ferry crossings are necessary to traverse the chain)

Vatersay

Barra

ferry across the Sound of Barra to Eriskay

South Uist

Benbecula

Grimsay

North Uist

Berneray

ferry across the Sound of Harris to Harris

Lewis

the return ferry was from Stornoway (the principal town) to Ullapool on the mainland. 

Here are a few random thoughts

• The islands of the Outer Hebrides are undoubtedly beautiful and wild. The coastal scenery is often white beaches and turquoise sea - almost always deserted.
• There can be a real feeling of isolation and silence is easy to find.
• Maps show place names but they very often amount to little more than a one or two little cottages.
• Each Island has its characteristics. Harris was the most hilly. Lewis the main island perhaps the flattest in an open moor sense.
• We expected the route to be busier with other cyclists - but we hardly saw anyone. Almost always we were on our own.
• Not every part of the ride was beautiful but within no time it was again. This is the great thing about cycling. 
• The ferry crossings can be lovely. Get outside - find the lee - and watch the sea birds and seals and maybe a whale.
• The majority of the properties dotted all over the islands are not what you would call quaint or picturesque - but are low slung and basic cubes. Often there is farm related scrap in evidence. These places are places of work and survival and not much more in many instances it seems.
• Evidently by the number of churches and chapels we passed religion plays a big part in Islanders life. Retaining Sunday's as a day of rest is fiercely upheld apparently.
• The Outer Hebrides is an ornithologists dream (including the Golden Eagle). Skylarks and Oystercatchers are everywhere. We loved watching the birds when we could and I strongly advise taking binoculars which we did.
• Most roads are single track with passing places. Islanders were considerate and friendly towards us cyclists.
• Wild camping is allowed but authorities asked visitors to stay on designated sites where possible for covid reasons while we were there. 
• Stornoway was a disappointment. Of the Outer Hebrides total population of around 26,000 Stornoway's (plus close by villages) population accounts for 10000. It is the only proper town - but even in summer (admittedly raining) it was not at all inspiring.
• We speculated about living in the Outer Hebrides. 100% back to nature with a simple (and no doubt harsh) and isolated lifestyle would be the offer. I am sure it is a hard place to make a living. I have read the overall population has stabilised following progressive reductions. It seems Island life relies heavily on government subsidy (ie ferries).
• Oban was nice but bigger. Ullapool was a thriving little town in a spectacular setting.

 A summary :

The Hebridean Way was a brilliant thing for the Three Tenners to do. It was a wonderful week + and one we each took a lot from. We would recommend it without reservation (but do your planning). You really feel you are somewhere unique and special and the Outer Hebrides has a real ring to it.

We loved the cycling - we loved the camping and we enjoyed the islands very much. It was such a contrast with mainland living.

We were lucky with the weather I guess as we did not experience a really big blow. If we had it would not be hard to imagine the Hebridean Way being a brutal challenge - so do not underestimate if you take it on.

Here are a few photos from my mob camera - but as ever it is hard to capture the real magnificence of the land/seascapes.

Last night Ullapool

Oban

Approaching Barra

camping at its best

Nr the start at Vatersay

Mike

Taransay of Castaway fame on the left

Rob fishing

Rob chaotic

Mike minimalist

Wild camping. It was still light at 10pm. We were miles from anywhere here but had a good signal. We were able to tune in to the Football Final on mob phones!

Mike's mob picture of a Stone Chat

The finish at Butt of Lewis

Magnificent bird watching at this stunning spot. Watched a Minke whale surfacing on and off for over an hour

Lighthouse Butt of Lewis

Contrasting pictures of Rob and Mike. one likes the camera 😂 

Mike in the distance

Ullapool - a sheltered harbour

We had a real laugh with this young group from Perth. St Johnstone

 fans! 

And these lads - builders from Middlesborough let me join them (covid bubble) to watch the England Denmark semi. They were so funny but not very diplomatic given we were in a Scottish bar (Oban) !