Club night Dec 2018

Dermot presents flowers to the Town Arms landlady

and thanks her for providing the room for us

Chris has to guard his mince pie

Club night really was our last get together for 2018, it was good to see a reasonable turnout and to see Stan and Rosemary whom have not been able to come recently. Chris had purchased flowers for the landlady which Dermot duly presented. Mince pies and cream were brought up which we all enjoyed. There were 5 draw prizes, including 3 cakes, one of them being a Christmas cake which I won!. So another enjoyable evening for us and we now eat and drink too much until our next meeting which will be fish and chips at the Welcome Fryer on the 6th January, see you there folks, Merry Christmas.

Calendar for 2019

Annual dinner and prize giving 081218

 The Devon section knows the riding season is over for the year when the annual dinner takes place, and this happened on Saturday the 8th December. For the first time, the Jubilee Inn was the venue which is situated on the the old A361 between Bampton and South Molton. The venue was tastefully decorated and everyone seemed to be in good spirits, in fact we found it to be a very enjoyable dinner with the usual good banter around the table. The toy enclosed in my cracker gave much amusement when it was placed into someones hand, dependent on how it reacted and which way it curled, determined whether that person was anything from  passionate to dead!.  Sandy had produced an excellent quiz even though this year Marilyn and I didn't win it, in fact the honours this year went to Chris and Val, ( hope you two haven't finished all those sweets yet ).
Dermot covered this years runs in his speech in detail with just a few of the more 'interesting' points including some of his own!. Dermot also covered the fact that our monthly evening meetings have seen very low attendance, in fact, embarrassingly, only a small number of people attended the talk by Ivan and Sue Godfrey on their trip down the Rhine on 2 wheels despite publicity in this blog and the VMCC mag.
Prizes were given to Mike for most attendance on a pre war machine, to John T for most points on a post war machine and Chris for post war foreign.
All in all a very enjoyable dinner, thanks were given to Chris for his arranging and to Sandy for the quiz, don't forget January 6th for fish and chips at The Welcome fryer, and so from Dermot and the committee , have a great Christmas and fettle the machinery for next years riding.

Guy Fawkes run 041118

I must confess that the weather forecast in the last few days leading up to this our last run of 2018, did make it look as if the run would be a total washout. In fact, as I set off from Tiverton, there was a persistant drizzle, a foggy mist, wet roads covered in leaves and water running off pretty well every raised field and lane making me question my judgement, ( or sanity ). In fact on arrival at Okehampton station, it was only Dermot, Ian and myself who had filthy bikes as our comrades from the North had run down to the start in the dry.
In the end, it was 12 riders who signed on for the run, amongst those brave enough, was a rider on a honda 90 (86cc ) who managed to keep up well with us so that we all questioned his actual cc.
After a very welcomed cuppa, and a sign on with Mike, it was time for the briefing, here Dermot stepped forward and admitted that for a few reasons he had let Ian take over the organising and leading for today and thanked him for doing so. Ian then warned us about the risk of wet leaves and gave a run down on the route ahead, so with Chris and myself taking the rear marshal slots, we were off on time at 1100.
Our route was out of Okehampton via the little road past the castle giving us all a close view, then on to Sourton taking the road towards Tavistock. After a while, we were lead off to Lydford Gorge and through Lifton, where we turned off to pass the entrance to the fairground museum and over the A30 to pass Roadford reservoir. After some 38 miles, we came to the lunch stop at Brandis Corner where we partook of a very nice carvery. Throughout the morning run there had been no sign of rain but we knew this was on the way so in true Guy Fawkes run tradition, the official run ended there but Ian lead the remainers back to Hatherleigh for some of the North Devon guys to peel off then on to the Okehampton to Bow road where we from Tiverton carried on towards Crediton, by now the rain was steadily falling and the mist we had encountered in the morning came upon us on the last leg over the hills to Tivvy.
After a poor forecast, it turned out to be a very enjoyable run with no misshaps over a great route for which we must thank Ian, thanks also to Mike for his usual stalwart signing on duties, to Chris who on top of everything else he does, took position as rear marshal with me for the day, and to Mike for some of the photo's.

lunch time!.

well we were early!.

train expected

Now, can I urge you to sign up for our annual dinner with Chris if you have not already done so, he must have your names and money by the 11th of this month, also can I urge you please to attend the Town Arms for club night on the 15th November where we shall have a talk by the Godfreys on their trip on two wheels along the Rhine, bring family members, neighbours, people who owe you a favour or money,

The bikes arrive

at Okehampton station

a cuppa to start

a few seconds later!

getting ready for the off

Ian checks in with the pub

and anyone else as it will be very embarrassing if we have a small turn out.

Club night 181018

There was a great evening at the Town Arms on Thursday when Keith ran one of his observation nights, I did say to him on the way up that I had a good idea now what he will be looking for and he would have some difficulty this time catching me out but I was stumped when he asked how many holes there were in the front wheel spokes of a Honda!!. Nevertheless, it was Ray and I who picked up the prize of a box of celebration sweets which we passed around so no one could say they didn't get something, a good night again thanks Keith.
Next Months club night will be a talk by Sue and Ivan Godfrey on cycling along the Rhine, I hope we can rely on a good turn out as it's embarrassing to have outsiders come to give us a talk if there are just a few members present so please come and bring your family members as it will be interesting to all.
Next run is our last for this year, it will be the Guy Fawkes run on the 4th November starting from Okehampton station, please come along.
If you haven't yet booked for the club dinner then do ring Chris to put your name down, the committee are subsidising this event this year by £3 dropping the cost to just £17 per person, the dinner will be at the Jubilee Inn on the B3227 this year.
You will no doubt be pleased to learn that the committee have been able to fill all the run dates for next year, thanks to all who volunteered to take runs whether committee members or not.

November club night

Due to a misunderstanding, our speakers for September 20th did not arrive but they are now scheduled to come to us on the 15th November, they will give us a talk on 'the Rhine on two wheels', unfortunately their two wheels are pedal and not motor powered but if their talk is anything like the one they gave us in Tiverton a few years ago then it will be worth listening too.
This club night would be an occasion when family members could come as well as they would I'm sure find it interesting, we could do with a good turn out so please do come along.

This years Christmas Lunch will be held at the Jubilee Inn, nr South Molton on Saturday December the 8th. 12 for 12.30pm.
The committee have agreed to subsidize the meal by £3 per head so that the cost for the 2 courses plus tea or coffee will be £17. Space is limited, so only the first 30 bookings will be taken.
The Jubilee Inn require your selections from the menu plus numbers attending by Nov the 15th.
To book your place please send me your food choice from the above menu, together with remittance.
My address is
C J Wood
10, Clevelands Park,
Northam,
Bideford,
EX39 3QH

End of summer run 090918

15 riders made their way to Kirsty's Kitchen for todays end of summer run organised and led by Chris. On arrival at the café we were met by good old Mike who once again signed us on and turned us upside down to shake the 2 pounds signing on fee, as it was it was worth every penny as Chris had laid on a cracking route and good weather. I was riding a new bike in my stable, a Honda 400T which I had to use today as my TR6 is still ditching oil.

Darol's ego edged up a couple of notches when a younger lady told him he was 'cool' and wanted to know if he was single!, when the run started, I was concerned whether he would follow us or stay in North Tawton!. In the event he joined us to follow Chris back to the main road and head off to Okehampton. Once through the town, we were led on the old main road through Lewdown and Launceston, ( Lanson as cousin Merv would say). As I followed the ride, I must confess to musing about some of the place names, now the village of Portgate was transited through and I couldn't help wondering how it got it's name?, after all it's miles from the sea so no port and no gate across the road, perhaps then it was that Port was sold here in great quantity during smugglers times and the village was the Gate through which the contraband flowed!. Then I'm sure we passed through a village called something like Sourscott!, I did not see a miserable Scot or a set of bagpipes as we went through!, ah well on with the route.

After Lanson, we headed for Kilkhampton  via Red Post which I was pleased to see back in full action once again, finally we pulled into our lunch stop The New Inn where we were well looked after with a varied menu some having just soup and others everything up to a roast.

As we got ready to set off for the run to Torrington, something happened which to me was straight forward but others couldn't understand, in fact Dermot says he is looking forward to my write up on the subject so here goes. When I came to sit on my steed, I noticed a pair of gloves on my saddle, I asked everyone around me but no one in the car park owned up to them so I surmised that one of the riders who had set off home must have forgotten them and I felt he would soon be doubling back for the gloves, so I told Ian that I was going to find who's they were and headed back toward Bude expecting any minute to see someone heading back to collect them, I would have stopped them, delivered the gloves and turned back, but by Bude there was no sign of a returning rider so I turned back and made my way to Torrington common arriving just after the run. As I was explaining my actions, Chris reached into my Hi Viz and pronounced they were his!, so mystery solved, it was a question of my knowing what I was doing and thinking that I had made the back markers understand that but perhaps not conveying fully to Ian and Dermot so they did as well!.

A great day out, well done to our Honda 90 rider who did not hold us up at all, to Chris and Mike and to Ian and Dermot for back marshal duties. Next run is October 14th for the Autumn run from Sainsburys Barnstaple.

The new boy ready to go

Kirsty's Kitchen for coffee

we fill up main square

and the New Inn car park

Dermot waves ( he's happy! )

Yes we were here honest!

That's not a second ice cream Roy is it!.

Fish n chips 010818

Another great evening at the welcome fryer in South Molton for this our last fish and chips of 2018, already!. Our numbers were a bit down as we have a few in the Caribbean ! on holiday, ( well perhaps they may wish that ). It means that they missed a partial strip by our esteemed Chairman at the very start of the evening ( ok it was involuntary ), however he would not repeat the performance for the camera, ( spoil sport ).
The conversation was the usual putting the world to rights with the other end of the tables concentrating on Brexit!, how they managed to eat fish and chips whilst on that subject I don't know.
OK now the next turn out for us will be at Atlantic village on the 12th of August where we will be lead by Roy to points yet to be discovered so come along folks.

Too late! floor show over

this is the non 'brexit' discussion group

this is the 'brexit' discussion group

Evening meet extra

Gordon was so happy, that he wore his best hat which he usually only wears to weddings and when sleeping.

Evening run 160718

On a wonderful summer evening last Monday, 10 of us arrived at the Anchor Inn Exebridge for an evening by the Exe river. As usual, the world was put to rights over a very wide assortment of subjects and the world was found to be the better for it ( or would be if someone would listen ). The main game of the evening was ' who will be last to put on a coat'?.

Next run will be August 12th from the Atlantic village Bideford , this will give those up north a few more minutes of beauty sleep, before then though it will be a fish n chip meet at South Molton on August 1st at 7pm, come and join in for this very popular event.

Chris shows us he can still stand

where has all the water gone?

no other bikers for Dermot to 'talk to'

Ron Ley run 080718

With temperatures of 30 degrees promised, I was pleasantly surprised to get even the 12 riders and 3 non riders turn up for the Ron Ley run of 2018. Maurice can always be seen at this run as it is in memory of his brother whose run this is, unfortunately his steed was off the road which meant he was one of todays non riders.
It falls to me to organise and lead this run and it had to be slightly rerouted, as the original run which I had worked out and Ray had kindly driven me round on the previous Monday, could not be adhered to due to the midday lunch break not being available.
Chris had warned me on the morning that the link road was particularly busy and advised steering clear if possible, in fact, the run did go for a short distance on the way out but as we joined at a roundabout this was not a problem.
Ian and Mike agreed to cover the back marker roles for the day, so after a briefing from me, the riders set off dead on 1100. I lead out of South Molton and on to the A361 for a short distance before turning off to the B3227 towards Bampton. After another short distance, I turned off again left to Molland, then it was up on to the lower moor to wend our way to Withypool, here we had to be patient whilst two horses made their way over the bridge before we could cross.
A turn off in Withypool led us on to the B3223 for a very short distance before a turn off to Exford and here we had a turn on to the Porlock and Cloutsham road. I must say the views on the top road before dropping down to Cloutsham were wonderful. The Cloutsham road is very steep in places and has a ford which Chris informs me caused his BMW to slide a bit off a slimey stone, excellent horsemanship resulted in him staying mounted. At Webbers post we turned back sharp right to climb to Dunkery where another wonderful view beheld us. Dropping down from Dunkery led us on to the B3224 and a mile later we pulled into the Rest and be Thankful car park at Wheddon Cross where we were once again really well looked after.
The afternoon run was on to the Taunton road B3224 before turning right on to the lovely spine road leading to Bury, here a left took us on to the A396 as far as the round house at Exebridge. A short run on the road through Exebridge led us to our next turn on to the road to Oldways End, here a turn right and left took us between the Botteraux and Yeo mills to meet the B3227 for a few miles then turning on to the Bishops Nympton road allowed me to lead the run over the A361 link road and on to Bish Mill to finish back at Quince in South Molton.
It is always very rewarding for an organiser if things seem to go well, the Markers do not leave their post, no on breaks down, no one falls off and everybody turns up at the end venue having had an enjoyable day motorcycle riding. Thanks to Ian and Mike at the back and to Quince and the Rest and be Thankful, now our next run is to the Anchor Inn in Exebridge next Monday evening, do come chaps as this is another of our enjoyable evening ride outs.

those dining in

those dining out

the bikes caught sunbathing

some bikes find shade

Skittles evening 210618

This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the Town Arms, enough people turned up to make 2 strong teams which were lead by Sandy and Margaret. The success of the bouncing bomb theory was investigated and specsavers had a rush of enquiries the next day but this must not detract from the excellent social evening it turned out to be, there was even free burgers supplied and Richards wife sent wonderful cakes whilst Margaret brought lovely ginger biscuits she had made.
Richard was the top scorer for the night and Sandys team the highest scoring team, well done all.
Next run will be the Ron Ley run on the 8th July from the Quince honey farm South Molton.

Dermot attended the Town Arms on the 24th June in case anyone turned up for the cancelled girder fork run, he was joined by Cyril and Roy and they enjoyed coffee and biscuits for their troubles, I have attached a couple of photos he has sent me.

Steve eyes up the challenge

free burgers and cakes WOW!

girder coffee

not girder but pre 1960

news flash

Hi folks, just a quick note to say that due to lack of numbers and eligible machines, this Sundays girder fork run will not now take place, so our next run will be on July 8th from Quinces honey farm in South Molton.

Evening run 180618

Due to illness, misty weather and possibly the England match, only 6 riders arrived at the Jubilee Inn for this evening ride out, this was a great shame as the Jubilee had opened especially for us and had laid on a very good free buffet. It was however a very enjoyable evening and much discussion and banter over a large range of topics took place. Apologies were made to the landlady for the low numbers attending which she took in good faith.
The A361 link road had been closed when we left Tiverton and the traffic was diverted through to the Black Cat, ( the way we were going ! ), however, traffic was light and caused us no problems.
Our next evening meet will be at the Anchor Inn on the 16th July, I hope this event will attract more riders else we will have to consider if the work to organise these events is worth it.
Our next ride out is the girder fork run this Sunday 24th June from the Town Arms South Molton, this ride is also open to any pre 1960 motorbike.

Which bike will Keith take home

not so many tonight

Dermot at Hogwarts

good grub and pleasant company

Dartmoor run 100618

15 riders turned up at D & S supplies Winkleigh for this years Dartmoor run organised and led by Ian. We rather swamped the small café at D & S but they coped very well and since the weather was good, we mostly found ourselves outside chatting in the sunshine. 2 riders from near Whiddon Down joined us, I think for the first time, we had a good chat, they came on a Triumph and a BSA.
John and Mike kindly agreed to be back markers for the day so Ian gave us a briefing which included a warning about 'moor care' and at 1100 we all set off.
The morning route was very enjoyable, many riders telling me that they had not been on some of the roads before. Once we got on to the moor, it was a very pleasant ride through Postbridge before turning into Princetown for lunch at the Old Police Station. I must say that the service here was quite fast considering the number of people they had to serve.
After lunch, Ray declared that he had ridden far enough ( I thought he had done very well actually ), so I elected to follow him back to Tiverton. A few other riders also had to leave at this point but the remainder, I am told, travelled on to Hexworthy, Venford reservoir and Holme before arriving for a finish at Whiddon Down.
Thanks to Ian for a great route and to John and Mike for back marker duties also to Mike, Liz and Ian for some of the photos and the afternoon brief,  a very enjoyable day.
Now don't forget the evening run next Monday 18th, it will be at the Jubilee Inn on the old A361, Keith has been in touch with them and they have agreed to put on nibbles etc and wish to take photos of our bikes so please come along.

The bikes arrive at D & S

A lovely Triumph Dermot!

Back at Whiddon

more of Whiddon

what we do best, chat!

waiting for the trip home

we are inside eating

getting ready for the afternoon ride

more at the lunch stop

the weather is still good