< Web Page 3031 25th May 2024 Adventures by bike First Picture: Dead Mans Wood

Second Picture: Hayling Sand Dunes

Third Picture; Ports Creek

Fourth Picture Portsdown Hill Talking to Willie Westcott the other day he came out with the statement that we would not have grown without our bicycles. Most of us had two one for everyday use and one fixed wheel one for use on the local dirt tracks, one on the hill and one on the old allotment site that was on the site where the school was eventually built. Locally we would tour the local chalk pits the two in Drayton Lane and the one in Gillman Road. The large chalk pit at the top of Drayton Lane had a an area where, those who were brave enough, could cycle over the edge and down a slope to the bottom. Quite an exhilarating experience but you also stood the chance of falling off and we all did at one time or another. The smaller chalk pit up this lane only supplied a dirt track but was patrolled by the hermit who lived in the green corrugated iron within the small pit. The pit at the top of Gillman Lane was a totally different matter. This was overgrown and creepers and ivy covered the wall and we spent many hours climbing through the branches seeking out birds nests and cutting secret tunnels through the undergrowth, Whilst talking about this area I must mention the little thicket just on top of the hill. This had memorial stones I it and was known locally as Dead Mans Wood even though no bodies were interred there. The undergrowth was covered with moss bracken and ferns between the trees. On a visit back there a couple of years ago, it is now part of the golf course , the trees are still there but the ground area has been manicured and is far too tidy. Very disappointing. The hill was our playground especially before they built the naval estate. We would spend days on our bikes and cycle out to Hambledon, Droxford and Old Winchester Hill. We would also go in the other direction Havant, Emsworth and Torney Island. I suppose the most popular ride in the summer was to Hayling Island to spend time on the beach, in the sea and among the now long-gone sand dunes. A great time was had by all. We took a packed lunch and a bottle of Corona. After a day on the beach we them faced the cycle home and believe me if just a minute piece of sand remained on your lower body and lodged itself between your skin and underwear when you reached home you could be suffering with a very sore undercarriage. One other thing the bike came in useful for was fishing. I would tie a garden fork to the cross bar along with my fishing rod and my tackle in my duffle bags and cycle down to Portscreek. The down side was that I had to cycle there in my wellies because the bait we had to dig, lugworm, lived in the mud in the creek which meant wading out there with the garden fork and digging them out by hand. Then it was onto the Eastern Road bridge to start fishing. I was never very good at this part of the operation in fact I only ever remember catching one small fish and dozens of tiny crabs in the whole of my fishing career. Griff Writes Ah! Jetex that's a name that brings back memories for me. As Peter mentioned in his last blog that these Jetex motors were very common in the 50's 60's 70's as a power plant for model aircraft and plastic bodied racing cars. Wynn's toyshop in Drayton use to sell these Jetex kits and if memory serves me correctly they were 2/6d. (12-1/2p) for a basic kit which was at least weeks pocket money for me at the time. Solid fuel pellets within an aluminium case and you lit the fuse that you had to pull out without burning your fingers to enable the motor to provide rocket thrust of about 8 to 10 seconds through a pinhole exhaust which was just enough thrust time to get your model aircraft airborne trailing a puff of white exhaust smoke. Many a happy flying day for me at the Farlington Eastern Rd. playing fields. Jetex kits are still around and making a nostalgic comeback but the price is around £40 for the full set. That's inflation for you. Regards to Everyone Melvyn (Griff) Griffiths. Stay in touch Peter GSSEDITOR@gmail.com /b>