A run out

Steve rang to suggest a little ride last Sunday afternoon, at first I wondered how far we could go as the weather forecast was clearly for thunderstorms and heavy rain!, however, after lunch with no sign of rain imminent, we set off. I led through Bolham and the Black cat to turn off towards Minehaed, at the round house, we turned on to the Exebridge road and passed the Anchor Inn looking quite forlorn due to the lockdown, then on to Dulverton. The town was quite quiet unlike a normal Sunday on a decent day at this time of year, but then on through the town to turn off the road just before it rises off the valley floor towards Exmoor. within a few hundred yards, we came across Marsh bridge and pulled in here for a break. Marsh bridge has a very interesting history and is well worth looking up, it was originally built in the 18th century and has undergone many changes over the years, I suppose the biggest change was when its central pillar was removed and a metal bridge was slung over.

After some 20 minutes during which Steve found that we had parked next to people he knew, we set off up past Marsh bridge cottage towards 5 ways but turned back to Molland, then past the Black Cock to take us to the B3227 and home.

Steves pressie

Steve` informs me that he was given a V twin engine for his recent birthday as a present, after some careful consideration, he wondered just where he could build it and in true motorcyclist fashion he decided the family's dining room table would suit!. The photos he has sent me show the results of his efforts:

Exmoor meet

Whilst having a casual ride on Tuesday, I rode on to the B3227 and turned off to Molland, once through the village I rode up to five ways and down to lower Willingford bridge where I stopped to admire the scenery. Whilst watching a family having fun with their children in the water, along came a fellow motorcyclist who I recognized as our own Chris on his BMW, we both partook of the coffee we had brought and had a pleasant hours chat in the sunshine. On the way to the moor I passed a group of motorcycles on a trip out and it occurred to me that a couple of club members would be in their right to have a ride out to a spot and sit 2 m apart to pass an hour or so and catch up.
On the way back, my bike started to misfire and Chris' speedo packed up!, ah the trials of classic motorbikes, oh well back to the garage.

lonely at first

then along comes a friend

When we were young

In the early 1980's whilst browsing in a used book store I came across a little book entitled The MOTORCYCLIST'S POCKET BOOK.
Published in 1954 and costing five shillings the book is full of useful advice on a a range of motorcycling topics from buying a bike to foreign touring.
I have picked out a few of the snippets of from a bygone age.

 

                                                                           

From the Buying section. Regarding Trailers
                                                                                 

From New Machines Currently Available

                                                                            

                                         

  From Personal Kit.

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

No Dermot I don't know where you can buy 'waterproof shorts'

On taking money abroad

                                                                          

                                                                              

And on Petrol prices in Europe
                                                                   

                 

                                                                             

Gordons Singapore motorcycle tale.

In 1966 I found myself on an RAF Bristol Brittannia, ( whispering? Giant ), heading out on a 24 hour flight to a new posting to RAF Tengah in Singapore where I was to help run a microwave relay station, ( all very hush hush in those days ). The system was capable of carrying 1750 channels of military and diplomatic sensitive information which would be subject to easy sabotage if sent down landlines, anyway I digress so on with my story.

After a few days to get my feet under the table as it were, I headed to the local bike showroom ( hut ) to purchase a second hand machine. I naturally asked to see what Triumphs they had but was informed that British bikes were few and far between but they would put my name on a list should one turn up, meanwhile the owner felt sure I could find something in his stock to suit. A quick glance along the bikes stood up on the earth 'forecourt' revealed a mostly sorry state of motorcycle machinery, in fact there were only a few that I felt would suit. Of these, a Honda 175cc twin of 1963/4 era with pressed steel frame seemed most likely so I took it down the road for a trial and was pleasantly surprised, such that I returned and took the bike on. Clearly a 175cc Honda was not going to burn up a motorway but since Singapore boasted no more than I bit of dual carriageway I felt it would do me well.

The Honda did indeed do me well, I used it to travel all over Singapore island it being my only means of transport. I visited Singapore city a number of times, the Kranji war cemetery, they had English grass, Tiger balm gardens and a host of other places to many to mention.

I should have stuck with the Honda, but a year later I chopped it in for a Suzuki T10 which I thought would be faster and slicker on the uptake, it certainly looked more sporty and had such advanced features such as a hydraulic rear brake, but it seized a number of times when pushed, I would sit on the roadside for 20 mins or so then restart and set off again. I used the Suzuki to venture across the causeway into Malaya and journey through the rubber plantations and Kampongs to empty beaches for a swim and sunbathe. I travelled to the Cameron highlands and beyond, all very idyllic.

I became aware that my bike was 'rattling' or 'knocking' in the engine department, there being no facilities in my billet for engine stripping, I went to the bike shop to ask what they thought, I was pulled in for a cuppa and the malayan technicians set to work, in no time at all. The engine was out and stripped and I was shown a bent conrod!, I asked when they could get a spare but they just laughed and told me to go look around the shops for an hour or two. When I returned the bike was out for a test ride which after another cuppa was returned with a smile and a small bill, apparently much heating and hammering fixed the conrod!.

Since those days I have steered clear of 2 strokes and when offered one a few years ago I did not hesitate...no thank you.

I wonder if I'm still on the waiting list for a Triumph?.

Dermot's Tale

Interesting tale Dermot. Strange how the humble GTP can convince an otherwise sane person that only single cylinder machines are worthy of the term Motorcycle. Or was it the shopkeeper?