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Somerset Ride to North Devon coast
18th May 2014
(2 versions)
Magic's piece
It all started with the monthly meeting at Banwell. Padre had strayed across the border from Wiltshire and joined us as well as a new member by the name of Col. Ivor kicked it off with discussions on the forthcoming Rally at Tonna, a quick chat for those going to Germany and Clive gave some details as to a one nighter at Muchelney. Regrettably Karen and Jimmy were not present and we wish them well so Tonker agreed to do his infamous run to the Lynmouth area of north Devon. We all admired the new bike Linda was riding and liked the new wheels. It was a bigger and better bike than her old 535 being a neat and tidy 750 Virago.
Eight bikes started off towards the A38 southbound and after a quick fuel stop, off we went down the M5 to Bridgwater and the A39 with a comfort break at Williton. Then we proceeded past Minehead and up Porlock Hill to descend in to the Doone Valley via Oare and the infamous ford! Back out of the valley to the top of Countisbury Hill and on to Lynmouth whilst admiring the coastal views. A lunch break at Lyndale Tea rooms was a welcome stop. Once back at the bikes, Mark discovered he had a fuel leak which was sorted with the aid of a knife and a cable tie. Resourceful lot the Scrumpies!
Then it really started! The hill out of the town is quite steep with several hair bends on the way up to give the exhausts a noisy rattle. Through The Valley of the Rocks along a toll road, hang a right and drop down to The Hunters Inn at Malmesmead. Just take care as there is gravel in the middle of the road! Then more lanes back to the main road. Only Tonker could guide us down these lovely lanes and through the ford! I can’t even find some of the lanes on a map! Many thanks Tonker for a great run in the sun.
A total of some 150 miles all in the sun for a very pleasant change!
Magic
Colin's version
I had just joined the Scrumpies in Somerset and after a welcome as warm as the tea, 9 hands went up for a north Devon rideout, me included. Tonker promised a lot of everything.
All admired Linda's new XV750 and kindly avoided to comment on the dirt and rust on my (85) XV700.
A stunningly sunny day, we might have started to fry, but the route kept us air cooled through a Somerset, North Devon coast and wooded valley delight. As my first time it was thoughtful of Tonker to include a christening soak at a ford.
Extreme hills and bends led eventually to the bike park at Lynmouth and into the welcoming arms of Lyndale tea-rooms who were happy to please.
Once Big Mark had zipped up his petrol leak,
we journeyed on for more of the same. I watched my oil light shine red for a full minute as we climbed the ski slope out of town. After toll charge running, tiny lanes and some radical braking methods we made it to the Hunters Inn at… god knows where.
We waited while Big Mark searched himself for circlips and Magic demonstrated how to make a pack of fags disappear (by leaving them in Lynmouth!). We eventually made it to an A road and my tank glugged down a full refill. We hadn’t passed a garage in 2 hours. I couldn’t remember to call my wife, some couldn't remember their card PIN code either!
A blast back across Exmoor tops with us running as wild as the ponies and the sun at our backs was a welcome change. We split into two at Bridgwater to accompany Padre some of the way home.
Of my time that weekend, those six hours were spent pointlessly riding around, the rest was just wasted.
Colin Gray (New Boy)