Anyone who stayed at home because of the weather, missed a great day out, todays 'deepest Devon run' was Keith's to organise and lead and what a cracker it was, there was a great route, good company and an excellent venue for the lunch break. Course being latterly from the training fraternity, Keith decided we should all practice our riding in the rain skills so he arranged some of it to fall on us most of the morning!, we must have done ok as he switched it off for the afternoon. In his pre run briefing, Keith advised us that the lanes after Down St Mary were a bit windy, what he neglected to tell us was that all the horses with bowel movement problems had used those lanes that very morning!. There were 13 riders who left Bickleigh Mill after a nice cuppa, there would have been more but I understand that 2 riders from the North had to give up with water in the electrics, one apparently a BMW!. Keith decided against leading us past the Castle on the way out as he thought the road to badly silted so we found our way climbing out to Cadeleigh, there are some nice views here but not today. Pennymore, Thelbridge and Black Dog were ridden through, I like these names, they are so Devonshire!, then we went on to Morchard road and Down St Mary and Hatherleigh before arriving at the Bull and Dragon at Meeth, here we were greeted very well and served with an excellent meal. The afternoon run took us over the Umberleigh switch backs before arriving back at the Corn Dolly for a final cuppa and split for the homeward journey. Thanks to Keith for the excellent run, to Mike for his usual signing on duties and to Ray for agreeing to ride back marker with me, now the next run is next Monday evening 20th for a meet at the Anchor in Exebridge, then August 9th at The Black Cat for the Social run, hope you can make it folks.

Keith wondering how many will come

He's smiling they've come!

Hats on, let's go

Do we have to leave the coffee shop?

Well Ian's eager to go

Evening run 22nd June 2015

14 members turned out on what proved to be a wonderful evening to ride a motorcycle, the roads were dry, the temperature was just right for old bikes ( and riders ), and the company and venue excellent. Ray provided the evening entertainment when he pulled his mudguard almost off his Matchless when he used his super strength to put it on to it's stand, however, with much assistance from the gathered supervisors, he was soon rebuilt!. The Exeter Inn did us proud by allowing us to take over the room off the bar which we filled up, ( it could be that they didn't want a bunch of bikers in their bar of course! ). Nice to see our two newest members attending, both having ridden bikes to the venue. After an

Ray spannering

the first supervisors arrive

and yet more come

the venue

a drink at last

hour or so of very serious worldly contemplation, the group departed for the run home, a very enjoyable evening.

Ron Ley run 14th June 2015

Judging by the number of riders who said they enjoyed the run today, I would say it met approval. 20 riders signed up for the run at the Quince honey farm for this years Ron Ley memorial run. Ron was a very early member of the Devon section VMCC and this run has taken place every June for many years. After a cup of coffee and a bun, there came the briefing, we had one member who was on his first run with us, we welcomed Richard who had managed to borrow a mates eligible Honda and was looking forward to see what it was we all turn out for. Today it was my turn to organise and lead the run and so it was that at 1100 we set off through South Molton to head out on the Exeter road for just a mile before turning onto the Twitchen road, this crosses over the link road on a very safe bridge and sets off towards Sandyway. After a few cross roads, we turn onto the road to Withypool, with good dry and often sunny weather, the run through Withypool saw many people sitting at tables waving to us as we went through, ( least I think they were waving! ). The route then was on to Luckwell bridge before a turn to Dunkery beacon and Luccombe. The views over the top today were grand as the North coast came into view before the brake test dropping down to Luccombe, here we turned to Wotton Courtney and finally to our lunch stop at the Lion Inn at Timberscombe. Here we noticed that Keith and Cyril were missing so efforts were made to ring them with no avail, I later learned that Keith's bike had damaged it's clutch cable and Cyril was getting a trailer to fetch him home - tough luck Keith.
The afternoon run was over the top from Timberscombe to join the main road at Bury, ( here I had toyed with the idea of making everybody go through the ford but on the day it seemed better to give this delight a miss ). The route then was to turn off to Exebridge and then a left towards East Anstey, here we had sheep wandering around on the road more than we had seen on the moor!. Another left turn saw us on the Rackenford road before crossing over the link road again this time on a different bridge, the run swept past the cabin where we find ourselves on a Wednesday and finally back to the Quince for tea and coffee through Ash and Bish mills.
Thanks to Mike who books us all in and this month saw to it that we left our E mail addresses as part of our Chairman's plan to improve communication, ( if you would like to be included in the E mail drop, please give your details to a committee member who will pass it on ), also thanks to Ray and Dermott who wilted before my request for back marker duties. Next run is a meet!, at the Exeter Inn Chittlehamholt on June 22nd 7pm, then the girder fork run on June 28th at the Town arms South Molton. Thanks for coming folks today, sorry there are not as many photo's as usual but I had lot's to do today.

Guess where the riders are?.

These riders leave their bikes under cover!.

Still no-one in sight

Ray's ramble 20th May 2015

Ray should have paid a bigger bribe to Devon highways in order to keep the road to Witheridge from South Molton open!, no matter, as he turned all 11 of us around and we found another way to get back on route. The day had not started too well as Ray had also had a rear brake seizure only half a mile from home, this was soon sorted out as the seven riders from Tivvy looked threateningly at his ariel and with a small adjustment to the brake we were off. The weather for the day was dry even if we were all glad we had wrapped up warm

note the shadows from the SUN!

Ariel goes fine now

Now let's get a coffee!

well that went well

Keith's pleased now with his Triumph

against the cold wind. Ray's route led us up to South Molton then back the road towards the cabin before turning off on the road to Chulmleigh, a left turn at the next 4 X way lead us into and through Witheridge and on towards Tiverton. We were turned off the Tivvy road to pick up the road to Cadeleigh and then back to Tiverton on the Exeter road. The route was then through Tivvy and out on the Bampton road, then to the Black Cat and a return to the cabin, just over 50 miles was covered and everyone seemed to enjoy the run. Thanks to Ray for the route and to Keith for bringing up the rear and to all who turned out, next run is June 14th for the Ron Ley run starting at the Quince honey farm, see you there folks

Scrumpy run 10th April 2015

All the planning for this the 35th Scrumpy run paid off when 30 riders took to the North Devon roads for an excellent run on a dry day. One of the highlights of this run has always been the ride through the valley of rocks and this year was no exception, but the views out over the coast is also much appreciated. There were only a few breakdowns, Ray found a piece of metal which ended up in his tyre causing him to be lifted home and an Enfield suffered from spark plug problems. A number of non eligible bikes followed us to boost the numbers to nearly 40 but we were down a bit due to some of our Cornish cousins being double booked, we were pleased however to see Mike from Cornwall who had ridden up 99 miles from home and Colin and Chris from Burnham. We were visited by the town crier at the start and were pleased to welcome the Mayor at the end of the ride to give us a short talk and present the cups and shields, we do appreciate the riders coming back to the start at the end of the run and stay whilst the Mayor deliberates and gives out the prizes, also of course, to eat the sandwiches etc: the town council lays on in the theatre afterwards. The cups and shields presented were: Ron Chugg cup for oldest bike and rider - Ray Rowcliffe, Ilfracombe shield for Mayors choice - Ian Loram ( Norton 77 ), Scrumpy run shield for best machine voted by a guest - Mike Edwards ( 1946 Matchless ) and Bridge garage cup for entrants choice of machine - John Tribble ( 1956 BSA A7SS ).
Now it just remains to thank Maurice for the route, to Chris and the committee for the work that goes into this event also to people who came to help us set up the site who are not committee members particularly John C, the Mayor and the café who supplied us with coffee, I hope you find the photo's give a good reflection of the day, some have come from Keith who was strategically positioned on the run. Now don't forget Ray's ramble on the 20th from the log cabin or the Ron Ley run on June 14th from the Quince honey farm,

The early tele's line up

lunch at the Blue Ball

The Mayor and Chairman deliberate

John enjoying the run

Roy concentrates

through the Valley of the rocks

with a blue sky you are bound to have a grin



Mike gets a shield

Ian has to carry a shield home

see you all there I hope folks.

Fish and Chips 25/04/15

how hungry are you?

The Devon section must like Fish and Chips as they turned out in good numbers on Saturday the 25th April for a meal at the Welcome Fryer in South Molton. This is our second such a meal this year so far and there is still one yet to come in August, both have been well attended. It was good to see 2 new members joining in as the conversation flowed. I did consider sending the chatter to the house of commons, I am sure it would help as the world was put right in the conversations I heard!. Don't forget the Scrumpy run on May 10th at Ilfracombe and an advance reminder of Ray's ramble on May 20th from the log cabin, see you all there folks.

Chairman and Secretary hatch a plot

Orders please

 

 

Mike tells me that 28 riders signed on for the April fools run organised and led by John, some of us had a good ride to get to the start including 5 riders from the Cornwall section who came to support us - thanks guys. The weather was promised to be mainly dry all day though cloudy and a bit windy. Dermot and Mike agreed to do back marker duties so after a briefing by our newly elected Chairman and John the run leader, we were led away on time. The route was quite rural over the first 10 miles or so but then passing through a part of Morewenstow, we found ourselves sweeping past the gates of GCHQ Bude, nobody was arrested or Alienised so on we went down the coast passing Sharpness point before turning back in land through Stibb, Red post and Stratton towards Holsworthy. The route then led us to a coffee stop at the Roadford lake where we could take stock and have a cuppa. Setting off again, we passed under Brentor Church and through Lydford when Johns BSA began to give some troubles, he bravely led on through Okehampton to the end of the run at the services east of the town. Many thanks to John for an excellent route and to the 2 back markers who fortunately had little to do, also to Sal and Barry for some of the photo's. Now our next event is club night on the 16th which is one of Keith and Cyrils looked forward to observation nights, and the next run will be the Scrumpy run on May 10th so see you there folks

Time for a chatter and leg stretch

Merv sees us in

Setting off

They're all in the cafe

4 Triumphs in a row