Shock news 30th April 2017

Devon section members and readers of this blog-spot will have been long aware of our Chairman's stated aversion to all things multi-cylinder and particularly Triumph, well your editor has to report that following the considerable and ongoing problems with his single engined Ariel he was seen by me entering the cabin two weeks ago carrying a TRIUMPH book!, was he considering such a move we all wondered?, but no, he has written to inform me that he is hoping to avert some derision when he will be seen arriving at the cabin this Wednesday by informing us in advance that he has purchased  a 750cc OHC four cylinder steed of foreign manufacture which he has named 'Balthazar'. I am informed that said vehicle is over 25 years of age so we will see him with this motorcycle on club runs!....what news eh!. I hope this bike will give Dermot the reliability he is so looking forward to particularly as I understand he now has the pick up lorries on his speed dial!.

Fish and chips meet 22nd April 2017

What a busy and successful week for the Devon section!, firstly we had our evening ride on Monday to the Sportsmans Inn, ( see previous post for details ), then on Thursday we had our monthly meet where we were treated to a talk by Darol on the life, loves and motorcycles of T. E. Lawrence, thank you Darol, and finally last evening 26 riders their family members met for a fish and chip supper at the welcome fryer in South Molton where as usual we were well looked after and judging by the noise of conversation, I would say this event was very well enjoyed by all who came. Our next event will be the scrumpy run on the 14th May, could we have help please on the day to set up and marshal, any help for however long would be appreciated, contact Chris or Dermot if you can.

Chris let me get in a picture!

we pretty near fill the place

you're all there somewhere

everybody hungry

the spillover table again!

Evening meet 17th April 2017

The weather was very kind to us for this our first evening meet of 2017, tonights venue was the Sportsmans Inn at Sandyway on the edge of the moor, 9 riders made it to the pub from different parts of the county on a variety of machines, we were genuinely pleased to see that Dermot came on his Ariel after his unfortunate breakdown on the last run. The ride for us from Tiverton did mean riding almost due west for much of the way thus we were facing into the setting sun but this was a minor problem given such a lovely evening with great views on the way. Talk at the tables were the usual 'put the world to rights' subjects but also a mix of some tales from the past of a cautionary note. Ian had to leave early as he had brought his Norton without lights but it did sound great as he fired it up and set off on his way home. During our ride back to Tivvy over the lower moor, I saw a deer fairly close to the road watching us work our way to Withypool which was very quiet, very different from a day scene in the season height. As we dropped off the moor into Dulverton, the headlights just had to be on as it's mostly trees along the valley, in my mirrors it was easy to pick out the older bike as its headlight was far less bright.
Well now please don't

some happy motorcyclists at the Sportsmans

forget club night on Thursday where Daryl will give us a talk on Lawrence of Arabia, then on Saturday we have a fish and chips meet at the Welcome Fryer in South Molton at 7pm.

April fools run 9th April 2017

It's clear that the Romans did not build the roads we went on today or if they did then they were inebriated at the time on Devon scrumpy!. 16 riders came to join Keith on his Spring run starting at the Rest and be Thankful at Wheddon cross, on the way, we came across Dermot who was seen stripping the tank off his mount to see if he could find out why it had come to an abrupt stop, there appeared to be no sparks so he elected to remain with it and urged me to continue, on arrival at the pub, Cyril kindly agreed to ride back down the road to assist.
After a cuppa and a briefing from Keith we set off with Chris and myself doing back marker duties. Keith lead us out of Wheddon cross on the Taunton road for a while before turning off to Gupworthy, turns right and left saw us heading to Watchet, Wiveliscombe and Bampton before coming across the Lutrow Inn where we turned off towards Skilgate and Petton. Now after Petton and Clayhanger we came across the twists and turns which Keith had warned us about in his briefing, in fact there were quite a few sets of these, had we been going downhill at the time I would almost have thought we had strayed on to a downhill ski course!.Finally however we did safely make it to Uplowman and our lunch stop at the Redwoods Inn where we were well looked after.
The afternoon route was through Tiverton and out on the Rackenford road before turning off towards Creacombe and Meshaw for the run to our destination at the Quince honey farm. It remains for me to thank Keith for todays route, to Chris for taking the rear spot with me and to commiserate with Dermot who did return home ok and has found out why he had no spark, I did suggest he bought a Triumph for future club runs but he feels that would not be a good idea though I can't think why!.
Our next outing will be an evening meet April 17th at the Sportsmans Inn for 7pm, please support these evening trips as they are a chance for the people who can't always make a Sunday run, a chance to get a ride out.

the bikes wait patiently

good weather made the day

tha mass of cars have now left

our lunch stop