Leaderboard

They weren't using rifles; in all the footage there's not one rifle crack. They were using bolt action .410 shotguns, most likely with solid slugs.

Here's a long one, so clear the diary and make yourself a cuppa... Last Tuesday evening, I prepared my riding kit. First – off to the petrol station/garage to refuel the bike. Back home, the helmet and boots were cleaned; and the riding clothes were laid out ready to go. My topbox plate adaptor didn’t arrive on time, meaning I had to adapt a backpack to being waterproof (not that I needed it in the end) by placing a thicker garbage bag in it to act as a liner. I packed the minimal clothes and toiletries needed for the trip, rolled the top of the garbage bag, zipped up the back pack and prayed the weather forecast would hold true (which it did). Doh! I forgot to purchase the disc and level locks! The chain I purchased is too big and heavy to carry in the back pack and unfortunately, the padlock bar is too thick to pass through front disc holes and the gate is too short for the rear disk length between the holes and the rim of the disc. So, the only security I had on the bike is he Honda HISS system (relatively easily replaced) and the steering lock (easily broken). Never mind. I went to bed early-ish on Tuesday night, ready for the 3am start to the day on Wednesday morning. Being about 13 years since I have really ridden, including London, I hit the sack with a mix of excitement and fear. Consequently, I was restless and didn’t get much deep sleep. The alarm went off at 3am (I normally wake about 2:30), only two hours after I last looked at the clock. Both my body and brain were totally disengaged, so, while aiming for the snooze button, I hit the alarm off button. I next saw the clock at 4:15am. Ship! Got up, brushed teeth, showered and left the razor untouched. Raced downstairs, got suited and booted for the ride. Helmet on, cover off the bike, started her up, gloves on, stand up – no time to check the oil or tyre pressures – which I did a couple of days ago and it hasn’t been ridden since. Around a tight bend from the parking and down our steep driveway. The sky was overcast, but everything was pretty dry. The temperature was about 8 degrees C, I would say, and pleasant. The two mile drive from our village via the country lane, past farm and woodland was slow on account of not wanting to meet a deer in the same way I did with the car the prior week. Onto the A358 and headed south into Taunton. I was also taking it easy along that route for the same reason, but once into Taunton, I picked up the pace a bit. From North West of Taunton to South East of Taunton, I can’t honestly say if I stayed within the speed limit. It was around 4:45am when I entered the M5 motorway, heading northbound at junction 26. That was probably the quickest I had ever done it and the traffic was surprisingly light – lighter than the 3:00 – 3:15 am time I normally leave. The bike effortlessly reached just slightly north of 70mph and I was settled in nicely. Although in the now 12 years I have been down here, I have never seen an animal carcass on the M5 or M4, I was focusing my attention on the sides of the motorway as well as ahead and behind. My alertness was piqued for animals along almost all of the ride on the motorway.. and then specifically for foxes in London, where they are protected and are more prevalent than cats. Heading north on the M5 and the east on the M4 was fairly non-eventful. The bike has a sensitive throttle and excellent engine braking, and I am still getting used to it. So, I found holding a speed a little difficult to start with as the needle oscillated between south and north od 75 indicated mph. The traffic was heavier than I am used to, but flowed well for most of the way. When I drove my car, I would normally stop at Leigh Delamare services (junction 17 of the M4 motorway, west of Swindon) and Heston Services (east of Heathrow – within London). If I was tired I would stop at either Membury (Junction 14 of the M4) and/or Reading. As I was in a rush, even though my lower capacity bladder (at my age – not because of a medical procedure) was indicating it may be a good time to empty as I was coming up to Leigh Delamare, I decided to continue. Again, when driving, by about Membury services (junction 14), and definitely by Reading services (about junction 11), I am normally yawning and feeling a little tired (aka fatigued), especially after interrupted sleeps. However, obviously, the body decided rather than force myself up at 3am like I would previously have done, that the extra sleep was needed, and I was feeling pretty good. The sun started rising as I passed Reading and the traffic was getting heavier, but still moving nicely. From Reading all the way to Heston Services (junction 1-ish), it is variable speed limit, with fixed speed camera everywhere, so I sit on about 72 – 73 indicated. Passing the M25 exit (about junction 3 I think), the old bladder was filling again, so I decided a stop would be in order. Parking the bike amongst the sea of bikes was a doddle, and before I knew it I was on the road again, aghast at the traffic that had built up. It was bumper to bumper all the way into London form there. I was filtering through traffic, but to the tune of revving motorcycle engines and beeps behind me. I was obviously slow, and so pulled in to let frustrated comrades pass while waving a fist of defiance to the car at me. It is an especially close camaraderie we all share, I figured. Up until this day, my commute was to drive from home to either North Sheen or Mortlake station, both of which are benign suburbs with little real change since I left London. I would then jump on an overland train to Waterloo, and either take a bus or tube to Liverpool Street. There has not been much development in the North Sheen/Mortlake/Richmond/Barnes area, and not much on the Strand in London, nor the Underground. Around Liverpool street, there has been some development, but no changes to the road layouts and traffic calming since I emigrated to the South West of England. Well, the Embankment, Battersea, Clapham, Vauxhall, Borough, and London Bridge area have changed immensely. And the road layouts and traffic calming have also changed immensely. I spent from 7:30am to 9:30am uncertain of position. All familiar landmarks had been replaced, road layouts changed, roads were simply cut off from anything but buses, bicycles and taxis. The speed limit was 20mph everywhere – even arterial roads where I have still yet to see a pedestrian. The result: total mayhem. I think it is the law of unintended consequences, but the pedestrians, even when devoid of phones, seem to be without a brain and just appear in front of you out of nowhere. Bicylists have no regard to their nor anyone else’s lives. I am not talking of a minorities, as in the old days, but a majority. It was more chaotic than many South East Asian and East Asian countries – and a lot more dangerous. I am guessing with all the restrictions of cars, people think they don’t need to think, be observant and follow basic rules of the road. Finally I got through London Bridge, heading north up Bishopsgate. Suddenly a policeman hailed me over and reminded me only buses, bicycles, and for some reason, as if taxis are not cars, taxis are allowed to travel north on Bishopsgate between 7am and 7pm. I apologised and explained it was 12 years since riding in London and all of the changes, with the accompanying signs had bamboozled me. He asked me to do a U turn, and explained I can expect a request to contribute to his majesty’s services thanks to a camera not far behind me. So, I had to head towards Tower of London, follow the ring road around towards London Wall. Unf, I took a wrong turn and ended up on the road parallel to the road that leads to London Wall, but south of it. And the continuation of that road past Bishopsgate has been cut off to normal traffic, which meant heading south down Bishopsgate and doing it all again. Each time was at least 15 minutes with the traffic and the calming. I finally got to London Wall, onto Finsbury Square as by 10:30am, there was no way there was going to be any of the free parking on Finsbury Circus. I paid the whole £1.69 for street parking for the day, engaged the steering lock, said a small prayer no one would steal it (I am an atheist), and went to work. In the evening, I arrived to find my steed lonely as the few that were willing to pay for motorcycle parking seem to have long gone. As I took turned left onto Moorgate, I came up behind a moped who was vaguely going in the same direction as me. I followed him through a labyrinth of London laneways and streets and somehow, we were at Blackfriars Road. Excellent! This was a route that I used to take home beforehand. I headed west on Blackfriars road towards Elephant & Castle, did a left and then a right to a road heading away from Elephant & Castle and towards the Imperial War Museum. There were two mopeds waiting at the red light. My route normally would be right to head away from Elephant & Castle, left to go past the Imperial War Museum and Left again to head towards Stockwell and either continue that way, or right towards Vauxhall and head to Richmond that way. However, the mopeds turned left down a little street prior to that which the war museum is on. I thought they must know a shortcut so followed them. They did know a short cut, but it took one through emergency access only gates and I did not want to do it. So I persevered looking for a way out of that maze and onto the street I wanted to go down. I ended up tailing a newish looking Bentley, which was driving slow. He made a left turn at some street which turned out to be the entrance to a gated development. The security guard waved him through and wave me though. I figured that would be easier to exit through than try a U turn so I followed. The Bentley came to a stop must have gone through the gears to Park as the reverse light came on momentarily. The driver leaned out of the window and motioned me forward. He was a young bloke and I thought, he was going to give me a right-bollocking. With a smile on his face he complimented the bike. I explained to him it is the oldest I could find that was ULEZ compliant and it was the first time in 12 years I had ridden in London. He was quite nice, actually. And I duly complimented his car, but resisted the urge to suggest swapping them. We exchanged pleasantries and bid each other farewell as I took off to find my way home. Fine number two is probably coming in the post because in this maze of suburban streets, it suddenly became no traffic except for those with permits that live there.. in the middle of the street – not even an intersection, and with a car inspecting my number plate at close range, it was not practical to just stop.. So, I did a U turn ant the nearest opportunity and escaped. I finally found the route I wanted to take and apart from some road works, it was smooth sailing all the way. Although the 20mph is a joke on the main arterial roads. I had a ueue of cars a mile behind me, so I pulled over and decided to follow – they were all doing 30mph until they came to speed cameras; police cars didn’t bother them. And yet, somehow, in roads where there are few if any pedestrians, it didn’t seem necessarily more unsafe than at 20mph… in fact, quite the opposite. I stopped about three minutes from the pub to fill up the bike. I got to the pub and parked the bike in the driveway. The next morning, I was out by 5:45am. Normally, that would mean just missing the train and a half hour wait. But, the ride was wonderful.. nary a car on the road as peak hour seems a lot shorter in London than it used to. I followed my old route into work knowing the changes in landmarks and road layouts. And I got to Bishopsgate before 7am, meaning I could ride north up it. Finsbury Circus had only a couple of bikes on it already. I parked up, and it was fine. After work, on the bike, but had to plan the escape as at this time of year, I will only take the M5 and M4, especially after hitting the deer on the A303 with the car (now written-off). I decided I would stay on the south side of the Thames until near the end of the embankment, but I left it too late (Wandsworth in the end) and on crossing the river, had no idea where I was and proceeded to be temporarily uncertain of position for about 10 minutes before finding myself near Putney. So, a quick U turn and I was shortly on the A4 which leads to the M4; but not before falling prey to another resident permit traffic only street where they made a big song and dance about cameras. Fine number three should be heading my way. The ride on the M4 was fine, and although the bladder was letting me know that a pitstop may be a good idea, I lasted until Sedgmoor Services just before junction 23 on the M5.. About ¾ of the way home, I reckon. The traffic was light, but heavy enough to not worry too much about deer and badgers. My bladder probably would have made it home, but the Bike’s tank was indicating it was getting quite thirsty.. which did peeve me off a little as fuel at Motorway services are usually 25p – 30p per litre more expensive than normal petrol stations/garages/forecourts/service stations (take your pick). I stayed at nominally 70mph, sometimes going up to 80, sometimes down to 60. I arrived home 3.5 hours after I left, which is about an hour shorter than when I had the car, mainly because I can get through traffic better, but I didn’t stop at any of the services for dinner, which I normally do. I let the bike cool, out the covers on, and that was job done! Observations of the adventure were, inner London is crazy now, and the so called traffic calming is making people very stressed and making very stupid decisions. It would be interesting to see the accident stats before and after all of this crap; The bike itself is comfortable and rides well. But, it is thirstier than I expected. Round trip was about 420 miles thanks to getting lost.. taking wrong turns, etc. It should normally be about 400 miles. But I loved every minute of it, even if I did get frustrated a couple of times. Ask me if I still feel that way when the bills from his majesty’s services arrive, though.

I think randomx might not have measured too precisely on those shooting distances. I've shot a lot of bunnies, and even being able to hit one at 100M is outstanding markmanship. Hitting a bunny at 500M is in the realm of fantasy, you'd need tele sights to even see the bunny, and the amount of bullet trajectory drop over 500M, even in a high-powered centre fire, long barrelled rifle, is huge, and it would need a substantial setup for steadying the weapon, and an excellent knowledge of the wind factor. Even a good steady breeze seriously affects bullet trajectory, and at 500M, that effect is huge.

Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead.