North Devon x 2

By Steve Taylor

Well, its Sunday morning and it's Somerset's meet and the weather was not looking that good so off I went to Banwell garden centre, will the Lynton ride go ahead ?

Got there, and Magic and Martin were there. Arch and Sue with big Mark came in then Tonker made it (before 11) .Tonker had made up his mind, today was the day, it was on. So five bikes got away from breakfast to fuel up .Then we were on our way, heading to Williton for our first stop of many .

We went down towards Minehead and up over Porlock hill towards the Doone Valley, guess what, there were pheasants in the middle of the road (dirt track), once more we were on one of Tonkers adventure rides. Lynmouth was our dinner stop, Tonker found a giant ice cream.

 We headed then along the coastal toll road where we fuelled up at Barbrook. From there we started to head back across Exmoor and stopped at Big Marks lay-by, this time he was well prepared for a flat.

After a quick photo shoot for the rest of us, we headed to Simonsbath, Exford and then Wheddon Cross for another wee break. From there we headed back towards Bridgwater. At Dunball we said our goodbyes to head home. A great day was had by all thanks to Tonker

And by Tonker

The magnificent seven ride!

except one went home so now we were six.

At our last Somerset meet although not many were there, we decided to brave the weather and go on our much cancelled Lynton and Lynmouth trip. Within about thirty miles we had five heavy downpours on us. But did it deter the stunning six ( did it eck) and still we ploughed on.
When we got to Williton the skies cleared, the sun came out, Warm, 'happy days'.
We had a nice potter down through Minehead, out through Porlock and up the hill. Then a little detour through the Doone Valley, I'd forgotten how nice the scenery was. (some may disagree with me here) as we seemed to get strung out over about half a mile , but all arrived at Oare safely, some riding through the ford and some using the bridge.
On the way down from the top of the hill, as I was leading I must have put up about a hundred pheasants, obviously just released from the the pens from a local shoot, still nice to see them about!
We rode through country lanes back to the top of Countisbury hill and then into Lymouth . After a small shower at the car park , we found a cafe for lunch. A little promenade down to the sea, and back to the bikes for the second Leg. Up to Lynton and out through the valley of the rocks, past a cricket match going on ( what a stunning setting for a pitch) More lanes, hairpins, sheer drops of the cliffs and views over the bays. By now I thought they had had enough of my detours and took them back to the main road, mind you it took us half an hour to get there(lanes were quite narrow)
We all fuelled up at Barbrook, and went across Exmoor so that Big Mark could see his favourite car park.

Exford , Weddon Cross for our last stop before going over the Quantocks and back to Bridgewater to say our goodbyes. There Archie & Sue , Magic, Mark, Steve Taylor and myself went our separate ways.
I can only speak for myself but after a wet start I really enjoyed my day, and all the more for the good company.

Tonker.