Discussions last night about Martin's need to make sure he's got a little bit more speed for West Wilts on Sunday. Whereas I may have had a chance of beting him on an identical bike, he'll be absolutely gutted if I beat him when he's got more speed.

I got a great voicemail left today. Listening to it, it went like this:

"John, it's 12:30. Listen!"

[sound of shuffling]

[sound of bike trying to start]

[sound of bike still trying to start]

[sound of something likt Muttley cursing]

[sound of bike trying to start]

BRROOOOM!!! BROOOOOM!!!

[sound of shuffling]

"It works!"

[CLICK]. Hang up.

That was, obviously, Martin who wanted to share the moment that the 260cc engine - carefully positioned in the PR3 frame with the help of a hammer - took her first breath. Well, took her first not-set-the-place-on-fire breath.

She goes out on the trail tomorrow, to take her first steps. Her first little faltering and tentative 'anfdul. A bit of gentle riding in the morning - we have 2 Level 1 half-days people, and 3 Level 2 full-day people.

Which means that I am off in the afternoon on my own. I will take the maps this time. I also need to take my spanners in my bum bag - we will try to avoid tatoos this time.

With the lighter nights coming in, I took the dog out for a walk up the hill near us and I also took my map and compass. The best, the most reliable way, to learn how to navigate well is to navigate lots. Take your maps with you on terrain you know well. Study the maps. Study the land. Study the maps some more, it is amazing what you will see that you didn't see before.

I saw a line of pylons. Oh look, they're on the map. I saw a line of telegraph poles. Oh look, they're on the map too. And that bit where they cross over - right there - then that is where I am. Quick check on the GPS, and I was right to within about 2 feet. Superb.

So let's try it again using triangulation. What you do is take three bearings, to three separate things, and draw lttle lines on the map. Where these lines cross, then that's where you are. You end up with a little triangle, the so called "triangle of error":

The ideas is to make this triangle as small as possible.

So, bearing in mind that I am in a field that I know well - and I already know where I am to about two feet - I thought I'd do it with the compass this time. Like, triangulate.

Nice hill over there with a trig point on it - bearing number 1. Get it plotted on the map. House in a gap between the hill and the next hill. Second line drawn. Where the pylons cross the road about a mile away. Third line.

So, em, that put my triangle - all of it - right at the arse end of the next field. I have some work to do here. I think that I didn't adjust properly for magnetic north and grid north. Some more practice needed.

Or, I could always blame it on the dog. The field was full of sheep and lambs. Being a sheepdog breed, she was very interested in the sheep. She was curious, but a little bit nervous. Inched towards them step by step whilst I'm, em, "navigating".

Next minute, she leaps six feet into the air and starts singing. Well, it sounded like singing. I drop the map and turn round to see her landing unceremoniously on her ever-expanding arse.

Ahh. An electric fence. Don't sniff electric fences.

Shock and - one, two, three - aww!

Download the Manic Mission Information Pack for the full story ...