Ride Outs
Geoff Price will lead Sundays ride, Leaving Ower 10.00hrs
** Club Christmas Dinner **The club Christmas Dinner is on 10 December 2010 at “The Hare & Hounds” Sway. Please get your Names and Deposits to Ted Fleat as soon as possible in order that final bookings can be made
The (Not) Zummerset Border Run: Even though dry only eight riders set out from Ower, but they ran into some steady drizzle on the A36 which forced a stop to don waterproofs. The ride then went through to the A338, then on to Coombe Bissett, along the Chalke Valley,over the hill to Fovant and back up the hill on dry roads to Compton Abbas. Looking west to brighter skies it was decided to head toward Blandford, then past Sturminster Newton,with a stop for lunch at Pulham(The Worlds Most Expensive). The V50 Moto Guzzi began pouring fuel from the left carb,causing Ted Fleat to work whilst the others enjoyed lunch. A dry afternoon ride through Hazelbury Bryan to Winterbourne Strickland, Blandford, then stopping at Cranborne for tea.
Beware The Shropshire Jinx: The Shropshire Jinx has struck once more following the misfortunes of Peter (Achilles) Rolph and Richard (Hoppity) Gulliver the substitute traveller Arthur Dennis has joined the ranks of the injured. Arthur’s misfortune, as descibed by himself, amounts to a large piece of metal falling onto the index finger of his right hand. The skills of the surgeons with the wonders of modern medicine together with the fact that Arthur is a sturdy campaigner means he will endure the agony and continue to ride to Shropshire, thus breaking the Shropshire Jinx. Good news is that Richard will be attending Shropshire be it by car, but it is asked that those attending raise a glass (or two or three or four) to Peter in his absence)
Sept 2nd Mid week Run; Where did the riders go? With twelve riders set off from Ower but an early stop was enforced by one rider running on a flat tyre. Three riders had made it to Three legged Cross and continued on their own whilst the remainder went onto Lulworth Castle, then to West Knighton for lunch at “The New Inn” but not before two more riders were lost as a drop off man failled to wait at his drop off point. He did however make amends by returning to look for the missing riders one of which was the last man.
Thursday 19 Aug; Berkshire Run; Eight riders turned out for the mainly dry with sunny intervals Berkshire Run. A coffee stop at Thruxton was followed by a ride across the Downs near Wexcombe then on through the lanes via Great Bedwin and Chilton Foliat heading out toward Lambourn. On to Great Shefford and Welford stopping for lunch by the Avon and Kennet canal. Unfortunately the lunch stop, The Dundas Arms, does not do sandwiches, a point worth remembering for future rides. The post lunch return journey went around Hungerford then through the showers over the Downs to terminate at Ower. Enjoyable incident free day.
Sun 15 Aug; The Marlborough Run: Only six riders turned out on this cool cloudy morning which fortunately brightened up into an afternoon of warm sunny spells. The ride left Ower and travelling via Whiteparish. Bulford, Upavon, Marlborough then taking the A4 to Hungerford and Aldbourne. It then travelled across the Downs to Ogbourne St George and Mildenhall, stopping at Pewsey Wharf for coffee and “The Horseshoe” at Mildenhall for an excellent lunch. The post lunch journey brought the ride via Marlborough along the A338 to Dulcis and Ludgershall, then down to Stockbridge. A good days riding enjoyed by all.
Sun 8 Aug Jurassic Coast Run; A warm cloudy day, ideal in fact for what was the longest run we have had so far this season. Fifteen riders and one pillion turned out, this included six classic bikes. The riders enjoyed a long scenic route across the Dorset Downs, through Cerne Abbas (Dennis missed the giant again). The ride came a little unstuck at Maiden Newton, as a result of a wrong left turn by the ride leader which led the ride down a narrow lane, to the bewilderment of the congregation leaving the church, before joining the A35 and then unintentionally joining the queues of traffic in Bridport, eventually arriving late for lunch at West Bexington above Chesil Beach. After lunch a smoother run through Abbottsbury, across to Dorchester and main roads to Blandford before taking to the lanes across country to Cranbourne where the ride dispersed, some stopping for coffee, the others heading for home.
Thurs 5 Aug Midweek run; Ten riders turned out including two classics and enjoyed an incident free ride. A cloudy day with sunny intervals, the ride went over the Hampshire Downs with a brief coffee stop at Popham Airfield before continuing across the North Downs toward Odiham and then on to Alton.It then joined the A32 for a lunch stop at “The George and Falcon” at Warnford. The return journey took the ride through Twyford and Romsey with a return visit to Carlito’s at West Wellow for ice creams.
Sun Aug 1st White Horses Run; Only eight riders turned out for this enjoyable Wiltshire run viewing four of the seven Wiltshire White Horses. Those seen were at Pewsey, Alton Barnes, Cherhill and Hackpen. The ride included a coffee stop at Pewsey Wharf and lunch at “The White Horse PH” at Winterbourne Bassett. Approximately 100miles covered on traffic free roads with out incident apart from a little confusion in Marlborough when fast Mike missed a turn and riders became displaced ending up passing each other in opposite directions, all was sorted after a few minutes and the ride continued to its satisfactory end.