Was driving near somewhere local and came across a "Public Byway" sign - first one I've seen in the area, so thought I'd have a look. It was narrow, but nothing different to the easy ones we did in somewherelse, so I set off down it.
First alarm bells should have been no tyre tracks, just one track, and no diff dragging line either...
second alarm bells should have been the tree in the middle of the track, I got around it though and carried on.
Bear in mind I had passed trees VERY CLOSE on both sides which had brushed the surf, so reversing was not really an option...
pressed on, knowing I could only go one way... thinking I might be making a phone call to one of our surf owning friends for a REALLY BIG favour....
Carried on and it open up slightly into bushes either side, but still no sign of tyres tracks...
Eventually the track narrowed, I got out and walked the path, yes it was now a path. It dod not get any wider....
Ended up reversing quite a way, before finding some soft bushes to do a 20 point turn, just.
I didn't damage anything, I merely reversed up to them...
And then to top it all a very nice and understanding horse riding gentleman appeared in the direction I was now heading and explained to me I was on a bridleway.
"It says it's a byway" I said, He calmly replied that the byway ended 100 yrds up from where I got stuck.
He was right, but it was not clear at all - there were no signs to indicate the change in classification. we both smiled and wished each other good day. I was embarrased, he was happy to have given someone some vital information.
So, lesson learnt, do NOT go anywhere unclear, or unknown without another driver....
And maybe check the local maps first!
First alarm bells should have been no tyre tracks, just one track, and no diff dragging line either...
second alarm bells should have been the tree in the middle of the track, I got around it though and carried on.
Bear in mind I had passed trees VERY CLOSE on both sides which had brushed the surf, so reversing was not really an option...
pressed on, knowing I could only go one way... thinking I might be making a phone call to one of our surf owning friends for a REALLY BIG favour....
Carried on and it open up slightly into bushes either side, but still no sign of tyres tracks...
Eventually the track narrowed, I got out and walked the path, yes it was now a path. It dod not get any wider....
Ended up reversing quite a way, before finding some soft bushes to do a 20 point turn, just.
I didn't damage anything, I merely reversed up to them...
And then to top it all a very nice and understanding horse riding gentleman appeared in the direction I was now heading and explained to me I was on a bridleway.
"It says it's a byway" I said, He calmly replied that the byway ended 100 yrds up from where I got stuck.
He was right, but it was not clear at all - there were no signs to indicate the change in classification. we both smiled and wished each other good day. I was embarrased, he was happy to have given someone some vital information.
So, lesson learnt, do NOT go anywhere unclear, or unknown without another driver....
And maybe check the local maps first!
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