(Cambridge) Weekend chill out place.

[Mobi]

Heading up to Old Hunstanton this Saturday with a couple of friends. Should be lovely wind with and no people about.

[Dunc]

Heading up to Old Hunstanton this Saturday with a couple of friends. Should be lovely wind with and no people about.

Thinking about doing the same at some point this weekend but not sure which day yet. Saturday looks like there'll be intermittent sleety showers but better wind then Sunday. Still undecided but may see you there!

[Mobi]

Hopefully the sleet will stay away. Got to get out somewhere before I exploded.

[Mobi]

Exploded???

[therealslimady]

Hunny's a bit far for me (and too wet) but thinking of getting out in the fields soon if anyones up 4 it?

[AJH1973]

HI all,
What's the best way to check if Lode is open? Not been down before but heard great things about it and am itching to get the buggy out for it's first run of 2010!!

Cheers
Alex

[wayne (L)]

out in haverhill sunday

[Dunc]

HI all,
What's the best way to check if Lode is open? Not been down before but heard great things about it and am itching to get the buggy out for it's first run of 2010!!

Cheers
Alex

We usually check with Mark (Sparkie) or Doug (the field owner). Unfortunately we have to play it by ear until the summer months so sessions over the winter/spring will be and have been few and far between. The biggest thing we need to remember is not to trash the grass and keep Doug happy by.... well.... not trashing the grass! lol When the time comes and we get the go ahead to come back it's all worth it. Good things come to those who wait as the good guys at Guiness tell us. I think a few of us might be heading to Old Hunstanton this weekend if the weather plays ball. Just keep watching this space!

[Sparkie]

Lode is still shut for everyone at the mo.
There might be some different arrangements this year.
Its probably gonna be some open days down there rather than every weekend.
Its a bit to much up keep for Doug and he ended loosing money last year paying for the toilet and not collecting money from everyone.
I Think anyone going down there when they shouldn't be would probably close it for good.
We'll have to wait a bit and see when the first weekend is gonna be.
Shame really but lets not spoil it for good.

[AJH1973]

Lode is still shut for everyone at the mo.
There might be some different arrangements this year.
Its probably gonna be some open days down there rather than every weekend.
Its a bit to much up keep for Doug and he ended loosing money last year paying for the toilet and not collecting money from everyone.
I Think anyone going down there when they shouldn't be would probably close it for good.
We'll have to wait a bit and see when the first weekend is gonna be.
Shame really but lets not spoil it for good.

Thanks Dunc/Sparkie for the replies. Fingers crossed that Doug will be able to open the site again- It sounds like it would be a real loss if it couldn't be made to work!!

I can't get up to Hunny this weekend so it looks like a quick blast down at Empingham road fields may be in order tomorrow- given the forecast will need the thermals on though!! LOL.

Cheers
Alex

[Mobi]

Did any of you lot head down to Old Hunstanton yesterday. Saw some people in the distance flying up and down in buggies. I managed to take a big chunk out of my shin when my board sank in a bit of wet sand and spun round. Think i might start wearing shin pads.

[Uncle]

yeah it is a shame that Doug doesn't feel that running the field is affordable as a kite spot during the year, and a real shame that its because of the loo's.

Having looked at the prices of loo's i can totally understand how Doug lost out over the last year. On ave its £30 per week (or weekend really) so he would need to have 6 kiters to turn up each weekend in order to break even, not easy. Add to that the hassle of then going to the field each weekend so he can collect money off kiters makes it a massive hassle.

I dont blame doug to want to keep it to set weekends, it will then create more demand and also make it a better atmosphere as more kiters will turn up!

[DubStep]

What about if Someone made a website/facebook page and the open days could be posted on there? With some rules/guidelines. Also It would be possible to forecast that weekends takings.
Just chatting crap really- but this spot sounds lush and I dont want to lose it!

[Afro]

Shit Box - buy at Firebox.com

[time for tea]

would people be happy to pay a membership fee for flying at lode ?, that way doug would get some money up front .

[Dunc]

are people be happy to pay a membership fee for flying at lode ?, that way doug would get some money up front .

Depending on how much it is but i would certainly consider it.

[Mobi]

Why not set up a club for example "Lode Powerkite club". Set a monthly/seasonal membership like "time for tea" said is a great idea. It looks to me by reading the post over the last 6 months, there has been alot of interest with local kiters (me being one of them) for there to possibly be a small club which would generate enough money to cover costs of toilets. I'm a little naive to it as I never went last year so don't know if he has other costs.

[Tjah1087]

i think the biggest cost is his time, he owns this amazing site for kiting, but doesn't kite himself. He has no interest in running a club site every weekend.

[LeonR]

Depending on how much it is but i would certainly consider it.

Same here really, or pay more on each visit etc..

Can sombody weld a metal box up to a concrete lump in the ground? then we can put the money in it so Doug can collect it when hes ready?



If the website idea was to be taken into account at any point and some help is required, send me a PM

[knottysace]

i thought about asking him how much he wanted for the field a month and runnung it as a club. don't know if he would be up for it let's just hope for the best and wait, but i want it to hurry up and get sunny.... i wish this rain would just fuck off.

[AJH1973]

Hi all,
I'd be more than happy to pay a membership fee (or monthly direct debit etc) and would also be more than willing to help out with any admin i.e. tracking payments etc! I was an accountant in a past life (not that I admit to that often) so can look into how we could set a club up. Not sure on how the whole public liability insurance stuff would work though or if all users would just need to show BKSA insurance or equiavlent and sign a disclaimer. Actually as I'm writing this I'm starting to understand why Doug may not want to keep the site going as openly as it has been.

I've not yet managed to get down there yet but all the reviews can't be wrong and it sounds like Doug has a perfect set up but doesn't have the same drive that us kiters do! No offence Doug if you read this just mean that you clearly have more pressing things to spend your time on.

Cheers
Alex

[Mobi]

i thought about asking him how much he wanted for the field a month and runnung it as a club. don't know if he would be up for it let's just hope for the best and wait, but i want it to hurry up and get sunny.... i wish this rain would just fuck off.

This is just it. Andy has it right. If Doug is happy for us to use his field, then he doesn’t have to do anything. We organise between us our own club, which are very simple to start. This means sorting out our own amenities i.e. toilets. We organise collecting the money and paying Doug monthly.
Might be worth talking to the boys from Essex Kite Park and how they set there’s up.

All just a thought fella’s .

[stevie g]

why don't you just join Rougham plenty of room (all in one field) fly more or less whenever you want insurance included £20 a year.

[Tjah1087]

Because its a quarter of the size and 4 times further away?

[stevie g]

all depends where you are, does size realy when you can fly there all year round !!!!!!!!!!