Monday, July 17, 2006
Steve: Bike Ride
FYI Tim we did the Basingstoke charity ride yesterday (Nick, Paul and I). 54 miles this year of fairly up and down Hampshire-type stuff. Hope you are feeling better Nick, it was certainly hot! The initial off, cycling amongst 100s of others is a fantastic feeling (not sure why), with cars having to wait ages for us to go past.
I did have a thought for our Thursday down there and that was a day on the beach if the weather is good, visiting Tim in the evening. Looking more like Wednesday evening now after the rush-hour as I have the doctor's and Paul wants more time with Kimberlee and you can't blame him.
- 12:19 pm
Comments:
nick: I'm really pleased you managed to come Steve, good effort, and thanks for all your support. Iwas feeling a bit tired yesterday and spent a lot of the afternoon asleep, but not to bad today (just a bit sore from sunburn).
Yes beach would be possible; also as I mentioned, Geoff did some cycle tour of the IoW, so maybe that would be something we could do - he's going to give me some details when I see him this Wednesday.
Next Wednesday evening is OK, I quite understand if Paul want to spend time with Kimberlee (is that really how you spell it?) It's good to see he's paired up with someone nice, I hope 2006 will be a summer he'll remember with great fondness.
nick
Steve: Okay, we're on for Isle of Wight - 4 bikes on a car will be a challenge that I will have to prepare for in advance. Currently trying to get the floor sander sorted. Very busy a work and nearly fainted on the train tonight.
nick: Saw Geoff last night and he gave me some leaflets with stuff about IoW bike trails. I don't think we have to do the whole circuit round the island (62 miles)...
I've been out every morning this week on the bike, if I can keep this up I should be in a bit better condition by the time you get here. It's pretty warm though - I start before 7am and am soaking wet 15 minutes in...
Tim: Good effort lads.
IOW sounds good for cycling. When we went there recently (OK, four years ago - and the only reason I know that is because the World Cup was on) the traffic was busier on the East side of the island, which is more built up, so it might be worth doing the other half - depending what Geoff's leaflets say.
Also, it might be cheaper to book the ferry online (Red Funnel from Southampton, Wightlink from Portsmouth or Lymington) and Car + passengers could be cheaper than 4 pedestrians, no really.
The house is sold, btw, and we have a new phone number:434052. Not sure if broadband is done yet, probably not.
Tim: Also known as the "German Tank Problem". Speaking of which, broadband ought to be sorted out to resume CC next weekend.
Steve: Not tried too much but as Paul is an adult at 16, £37 on foot is the cheapest so far. More effort required.
nick: I thinking of getting a , although I think they've been obsoleted now so may be either scarce or cheap.
The current camera we have is a DSC P72 which we've been very pleased with. But there is an increasing amount of arbitration going on, Lesley taking it to Spain etc..
I think the W7 is an uprated P72 really, and the things I found myself looking for were:
- good quality pics, I have been very pleased with the other one and dpreview seems to think they're ok
- optical zoom
- lens is gets hidden behind shutter when camera not in use (some leave it exposed and they get fingerprinty)
- able to take ordinary AA batteries (a lot of them now seem to have rechargeable only)
- not too flimsy but small enough to fit in pocket
- decent lcd display on the back
- memory stick compatible (will work with other camera and Ella's PSP and our PC which has a memorystick slot)
Not too bothered about pixel count - the current one is 3MP and that seems pretty decent, only notice fuzziness when I've had stuff enlarged. But more has presumably got to be better.
I specifically wasn't looking for SLR - I like the idea of it but in practice I'm not sure if I'd be bothered to carry a camera around if it was too big.
nick: I found "Isle of Wight Ferries" will do 3 adults and 1 child as foot passengers return from portsmouth to ryde for £43.40, doesn't seem too bad. Was your quote for four people?
Steve: Slight change of plan, Paul need to get back for Saturday morning so we will head off late Friday night. We won't now be visiting camp so as to allow 2 full days at yours. D. is okay with this (so she says). Will arrive at yours around 9pm Wednesday night having eaten.
On the camera front I am disappointed with my Canon Ixus 50 on the picture quality front. With bright areas you get purple fringing . Other then that it's lovely to use. I've seen D's Dad's pictures from a compact on my PC and they show a similar issue. The problem is that you are viewing them nowadays a lot bigger than you would've before. There is a good reason why SLRs are the size they are - it is to enable the lens to correct this sort of stuff. I don't regret getting it as it is small and light but for decent results you need some thing like this.
Tim: I salvaged a day's leave last week so I might be able to take it this week instead.
If you lot are cycling Thursday, maybe I could get Friday off. Should be able to have the car...
Any good?
nick: wednesday evening -> friday evening is fine. What day are we planning on IoW, is that Thursday?
I don't know if we should be planning on taking the car.. if it's got bikes on top then maybe it won't fit.
Anyway, I think it's best to leave it until Wednesday evening to book, then we can discuss options rather than try and anticipate all the possibilities beforehand via the blog...
nick: I wasn't sure if there might be a height restriction for cars on some of the decks...
I just got my timetable for next year, and I have a class on the evening of the Merton and Webb show which I will need to miss. So it had better be good!
Tim: Maybe there is, fair enough. But they get lorries on there and you could probably take the bikes off anyway. Or er something.
Meanwhile, I thought the evening in question was the Saturday?
Steve: When you book the ferry you have to say the height and it doesn't seem to affect the price. It may mean that you are put in a different bit of the boat. I'm not sure we need the car unless it's a lot cheaper - car parking charges and generally more hassle I reckon.
Well done for getting the day off Tim. Nick will probably be a bit subdued after riding the day before :) I fancy a few days indoors with this heat to be honest. Weather looks okay for Thursday on IofW - cooler than Basingstoke.
Tim: No it's not a lot cheaper, so just an issue of where you're going to park and what sort of route you've got in mind.
Nick's in charge of the route, is he??
Steve: Well done Nick for the hospitality and Shrek research. Sorry to say that we have your helmet and belt-thing here - they were in the boot. I'll get them posted although I guess you don't need them in Spain (he says hopefully). Have a good holiday. I've checked my work email and am wound up already before I get there :) We're off to Wales this coming Saturday - taking road bikes I reckon (did my usual 19 miles today).
nick: Don't think that can be my belt-thing, I have that here (if you mean the karrimor black thing). No rush for the helmet, I think I have a spare and in any case won't need it for a while.
Hope you have a good time in Wales
nick
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nick: I'm really pleased you managed to come Steve, good effort, and thanks for all your support. Iwas feeling a bit tired yesterday and spent a lot of the afternoon asleep, but not to bad today (just a bit sore from sunburn).Yes beach would be possible; also as I mentioned, Geoff did some cycle tour of the IoW, so maybe that would be something we could do - he's going to give me some details when I see him this Wednesday.
Next Wednesday evening is OK, I quite understand if Paul want to spend time with Kimberlee (is that really how you spell it?) It's good to see he's paired up with someone nice, I hope 2006 will be a summer he'll remember with great fondness.
nick
Steve: Okay, we're on for Isle of Wight - 4 bikes on a car will be a challenge that I will have to prepare for in advance. Currently trying to get the floor sander sorted. Very busy a work and nearly fainted on the train tonight. nick: Saw Geoff last night and he gave me some leaflets with stuff about IoW bike trails. I don't think we have to do the whole circuit round the island (62 miles)...I've been out every morning this week on the bike, if I can keep this up I should be in a bit better condition by the time you get here. It's pretty warm though - I start before 7am and am soaking wet 15 minutes in...
Tim: Good effort lads.IOW sounds good for cycling. When we went there recently (OK, four years ago - and the only reason I know that is because the World Cup was on) the traffic was busier on the East side of the island, which is more built up, so it might be worth doing the other half - depending what Geoff's leaflets say.
Also, it might be cheaper to book the ferry online (Red Funnel from Southampton, Wightlink from Portsmouth or Lymington) and Car + passengers could be cheaper than 4 pedestrians, no really.
The house is sold, btw, and we have a new phone number:434052. Not sure if broadband is done yet, probably not.
Tim: Also known as the "German Tank Problem". Speaking of which, broadband ought to be sorted out to resume CC next weekend. Steve: Not tried too much but as Paul is an adult at 16, £37 on foot is the cheapest so far. More effort required. nick: I thinking of getting a , although I think they've been obsoleted now so may be either scarce or cheap.The current camera we have is a DSC P72 which we've been very pleased with. But there is an increasing amount of arbitration going on, Lesley taking it to Spain etc..
I think the W7 is an uprated P72 really, and the things I found myself looking for were:
- good quality pics, I have been very pleased with the other one and dpreview seems to think they're ok
- optical zoom
- lens is gets hidden behind shutter when camera not in use (some leave it exposed and they get fingerprinty)
- able to take ordinary AA batteries (a lot of them now seem to have rechargeable only)
- not too flimsy but small enough to fit in pocket
- decent lcd display on the back
- memory stick compatible (will work with other camera and Ella's PSP and our PC which has a memorystick slot)
Not too bothered about pixel count - the current one is 3MP and that seems pretty decent, only notice fuzziness when I've had stuff enlarged. But more has presumably got to be better.
I specifically wasn't looking for SLR - I like the idea of it but in practice I'm not sure if I'd be bothered to carry a camera around if it was too big.
nick: I found "Isle of Wight Ferries" will do 3 adults and 1 child as foot passengers return from portsmouth to ryde for £43.40, doesn't seem too bad. Was your quote for four people? Steve: Slight change of plan, Paul need to get back for Saturday morning so we will head off late Friday night. We won't now be visiting camp so as to allow 2 full days at yours. D. is okay with this (so she says). Will arrive at yours around 9pm Wednesday night having eaten.On the camera front I am disappointed with my Canon Ixus 50 on the picture quality front. With bright areas you get purple fringing . Other then that it's lovely to use. I've seen D's Dad's pictures from a compact on my PC and they show a similar issue. The problem is that you are viewing them nowadays a lot bigger than you would've before. There is a good reason why SLRs are the size they are - it is to enable the lens to correct this sort of stuff. I don't regret getting it as it is small and light but for decent results you need some thing like this.
Tim: I salvaged a day's leave last week so I might be able to take it this week instead.If you lot are cycling Thursday, maybe I could get Friday off. Should be able to have the car...
Any good?
nick: wednesday evening -> friday evening is fine. What day are we planning on IoW, is that Thursday? I don't know if we should be planning on taking the car.. if it's got bikes on top then maybe it won't fit.
Anyway, I think it's best to leave it until Wednesday evening to book, then we can discuss options rather than try and anticipate all the possibilities beforehand via the blog...
nick: I wasn't sure if there might be a height restriction for cars on some of the decks...I just got my timetable for next year, and I have a class on the evening of the Merton and Webb show which I will need to miss. So it had better be good!
Tim: Maybe there is, fair enough. But they get lorries on there and you could probably take the bikes off anyway. Or er something.Meanwhile, I thought the evening in question was the Saturday?
Steve: When you book the ferry you have to say the height and it doesn't seem to affect the price. It may mean that you are put in a different bit of the boat. I'm not sure we need the car unless it's a lot cheaper - car parking charges and generally more hassle I reckon.Well done for getting the day off Tim. Nick will probably be a bit subdued after riding the day before :) I fancy a few days indoors with this heat to be honest. Weather looks okay for Thursday on IofW - cooler than Basingstoke.
Tim: No it's not a lot cheaper, so just an issue of where you're going to park and what sort of route you've got in mind.Nick's in charge of the route, is he??
Steve: Well done Nick for the hospitality and Shrek research. Sorry to say that we have your helmet and belt-thing here - they were in the boot. I'll get them posted although I guess you don't need them in Spain (he says hopefully). Have a good holiday. I've checked my work email and am wound up already before I get there :) We're off to Wales this coming Saturday - taking road bikes I reckon (did my usual 19 miles today). nick: Don't think that can be my belt-thing, I have that here (if you mean the karrimor black thing). No rush for the helmet, I think I have a spare and in any case won't need it for a while.Hope you have a good time in Wales
nick
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