The cabin

 

 

Matt has sent a few interesting photo's taken at the cabin recently, thanks Matt. I am posting them in case there is anyone reading this blog who doesn't come to the meet, which is every Wednesday around noon, and have a cuppa and a chat with other like minded Motorcyclists. You don't have to be a member of our or any other club, just come on any bike and join us.
Ray, Chris, Keith and I are back now from our wanderings in France, we had a great time with reasonable weather, seems like you didn't have very good weather here for the Monday evening run or the Thursday ride a bike night, lets hope it picks up for the Exmoor run which is on July 8th, meet at the Blackberries in Bampton for a 11am start, see you there.

Ron Ley run 10th June 2012

The weather was wet with rain promissed all day, I had already received apologies from good supporting members who were otherwise involved for the day so I rode out to Junction 28 of the M5 with little hope of seeing anyone else turn up, but there were 3 bikes already on site with another 2 soon following.  A discussion with those present with me explaining where we were going on this my route led a vote to 'press on'. Tony got to wear a red marshals jacket at the rear for the first time and off we went, me obviously leading.

The route took us towards Honiton as far as Colliton where we turned off to climb through Broadhembury towards Dunkeswell and on to Smeatharpe, both sites of airfields during the 2nd WW, in fact at the lunch time stop, Brian told us that his Dad was a gunner stationed at Dunkeswell. We turned towards Blagdon then swung across the spine of the Blackdowns passing Wellington Monument to our lunch stop at the Blue Ball. This route is a wonderful run when it's nice and sunny but the guys seemed to enjoy it so we tucked into lunch in good spirits.
Rain picked up a bit so the afternoon run carried on through Tone Vale
to bring us out at the back of Wellington, then on to Milverton and Wiveliscombe, here instead of turning up towards the two big resevoirs, Clatworthy and Wimbleball, by mutual agreement, we continued on to Bampton where the North Devon guys carried on and Brian and I turned off for Tiverton and Exeter.
A big well done for the guys turning out, this is the 2nd year running that the Ron Ley run has been very wet, we are overdue a dry one next year.

Skittles May 17th

Unfortunately only 6 members turned up for our skittles evening, 3 wives did also attend so 6 games were played, honour was satisfied at the end of the evening when the final score line was 3 games to each team. This was a very enjoyable evening and it's a shame there were so few people attending, the committee do try to put on interesting evenings so if you have ideas to get more people to attend then please let us know.

Scrumpy run 2012

setting up

The committee were on site before 0900 to set up for the annual Scrumpy run, it wasn't long before the first riders were coming in. The weather was good, and 34 riders signed on, although everyone agrees there did seem to be more bikes on the site. Dick and Keith set off to mark the turn into shute lane and to take photos, then Maurice led the riders out for the run. It was great to see riders from the Cotswold, Cornwall and Dorset sections enjoying the day.
Only one minor mishap was reported to the Marshals which resulted in a rider cutting off home with back brake only. Lunch was taken at Countisbury as usual and riders began arriving back from 14.00.
The Mayor arrived to vote for his choice and to make the presentations at 15.00, they were: John Morey oldest combined age of bike and rider, Tony Petherick

Ian on a British M/C

took the entrants choice, Mike Dickson was the Mayors choice and Dave Barkshire best machine voted by guest, sandwiches were laid on by the Ilfracombe council and enjoyed by all.
 Thanks must go to Maurice for the run and to the committee who have to set up the site and police it through the day before stripping it all out at days end.

Navigator on the lean

Graham gives the sq 4 an outing Liz
clings on

Relay rally 2012

6th May 2012 the date of this years relay rally dawned cold but dry as I set out with Ray for Bickleigh to start the run, there we found Keith and Rod already on site and set up ( pic 1 ),. After a chat we set off for Red Post run by the Cornwall section, there we found Stan manning the tent and also much to our delight was Merv taking videos and pics as usual, in addition we had our photos and details taken by Rowena from Real Classic magazine The weather at Red post was still fine but we were glad to get there as hands were losing all feeling from the cold ( pic 2 ). 

After a good long chat and a nice warm cup of coffee we set off to Abbotsham where we found Chris and Dick manning the fort ( pic 3 ). A good lunch was had here whilst we waited for Steve who was joining us as it was his first relay rally, he was held up by the link road being blocked but after having a good look at the bikes including a MZ and a nice BSA or two we set off for Bickleigh through Great Torrington, Winkleigh, Copplestone and Crediton, here we saw a very nice 3 wheeler which we had seen earlier at Abbotsham ( pic 4 ). We were lucky throughout the day by avoiding the rain as Merv tells me that they had steady rain at Red post from mid afternoon.

Thanks must go to Keith and Rod at Bickleigh and Chris and Dick at Abbotsham. Keith tells me that 45 bikes signed on at Bickleigh from Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, Chris advises that 40 bikes signed on at Abbotsham, 2 having travelled from St Just!. A good day which I'm sure everyone looks forward to, see you next week for the Scrumpy run.

April fools run

Would very many riders turn up for the April fools run which this year fell on Easter Sunday?, that was the worry for the committee but we need not have been concerned as 25 riders and passenger turned up at the Blackberries in Bampton raring to go on the run, this time organised by Ray with a bit of help from yours truly, thanks go to the staff at Blackberries who opened early to feed us with coffee or tea and cake.
I am always pleased to see people turn up with riders who are not now as mobile as years ago and help them through the run, sometimes starting thie bikes, sometimes stopping off at junctions to help mark the way, it's what the club is all about, as I know that some riders without the help would not come, you know who you are so I'll just say...good for you.
The run set out towards South Molton on the old A361 past the Black Cat with Ray in the lead and Chris and myself Marshaling at the rear, before turning off to cross the Link road on the way to Rackenford, crossing the Link road was carefully carried out by all and the run carried on through Witheridge and Thelbridge towards Chawleigh. This stretch of road is a very pleasant motorcycling route, once through Chawleigh, the route took us to cross the A377 at Eggesford before arriving at Eggesford garden centre for a very nice lunch stop. We had a little light drizzle here for a short while and since the group did not wish to stand about, we restarted just after 13.00, minus a few riders who had to shoot off for family commitments etc:.
The afternoon run took us through a tour of Winkleigh then Wembworthy and on to Iddesleigh and Dolton, during this part of the run we passed Noels pad. On arriving at the main road, a 5 mile run into Torrington followed ending at the common for a nice ice cream, yum yum!.
No breakdowns and junction marking perfect so lets hope the standard set on the first 2 runs of the year continues.
Lets see you all turn out for the relay rally and the scrumpy run next month, Thanks to Ray and the marshals for a very enjoyable run.

Now I had taken a number of pics during the day and reviewed them on the camera when I came home, however, when the SD card was plugged into my computer they dissappeared!!, so if anyone can let me have some I will publish them later, thanks.

Club events for 2012