The
Saundersfoot
week, September 2015.
(Click any
photo to see a larger picture - then just follow the slide show.)
Thanks
to Rob, John and Terry for their photos.
Following hot on the heels of the Cornish week, a number of us headed
to Saundersfoot for the annual road trial weekend followed by a week of
ride-outs. Those who went were:
Bruce and Di - 1975 Honda 400/4 and 1943 Triumph 3HW
Rob Jones - 1976 Honda 400/4
Howard and Carol - 1983 Lomax
Terry and Dilys - 1981 Moto Guzzi
Bill and Jean - 1925 Indian and 1974 Moto Morini
John and Ruth - 1962 BSA, BSA A10 and a Honda 400/N
We arrived on Friday and Jean and myself, along with Howard and Carol
booked into the house that we had rented. Everyone else were staying on
the Broadfield Holiday park, which was the base for the event.
Saturday
- the trial day
We all congregated in the harbour and got ready for the 10am start.
Leaving for the run
Lunch stop in Rhos
Back at the finish in Saundersfoot after a hard ride on narrow lanes
with some 1 in 4 hairpins to test the riders and bikes
The
evening dinner took place in the Merlewood hotel, although not all of
our section riders made it. After the meal there was a band
entertaining until quite late. The trial results were available and
Bruce and Di managed to win the Post Vintage class, with our Rob taking
the Runner-up spot in the Classic class.
Sunday
This
was the day to meet back on the Harbour for the Concours d'elegance and
the presentation of the Concours trophies. There were a few special
awards and Terry received one as he had been riding the event
since 1958 - doesn't look a day over 25.
After the presentation of the awards there was a short run before a
stop at a local pub for lunch.
Monday
This
was the day for Chris Thomas's west Pembs run around the Castlemartin
peninsula. We set off at around 11am and headed to Pembroke town
and out towards Angle. At Angle we took a dirt track that
was part of the beach in several places before arriving at Tor point
and the 'The Old Point House' pub for coffee. The pub was
closed
and after waking the Landlord, who said that no one had told him we
were coming, jugs of coffee were provided; the landlord did say
afterwards that there was a note in his diary but that he just hadn't
read it:
From
Tor point we headed out across the Castlemartin ranges only to find the
main road closed due to the Army carrying out some gun practice. I
wasn't too difficult to find our way around and we were soon at
Bosherton where there was a pub and cafe to choose from for lunch.
Rob,
along with Howard & Carol decided to visit St Govans Chapel
which
wasn't very far from the Bosherton cafe. It consists of a small chapel
built halfway down the cliff face and reached via a set of rock steps.
St Govan was an Irish Monk and a hermit who lived in a cave on the side
of the cliff near Bosherton, he died in 586 and the chapel
was built over the cave in the 14th century.
From Bosherton, It was a short ride back along the ridge way to Tenby,
re-fuel, and back to the campsite to put the bikes to bed.
The evening was spent having a meal in the bar at Broadfields, after
which we had a quiz. It
was very much like our Black Bag nights. There were two bags, one
red and one green and we had to identify the items inside by feeling
them through the bags. Myself, Jean, Howard and Carol won the green bag
with 10 out of 10, but only correctly guessed 3 items in the red bag.
Can't remember how the others got on, I'm afraid.
Tuesday
Today
we had a 100 mile run to St Davids and back. As we had had enough of
the small Pembrokeshire lanes it was decided that we would use
the main
roads
and ride straight there. It was cold and raining as we all set off with
Val Newton joining us in her Lomax. We made Haverfordwest easily enough
but found the main road to St Davids closed off in the centre of town.
After a drive around we eventually found our way out and onto the road
to St Davids. Val pulled up alongside me at one point and suggested
that
we stop in Solva for coffee - sounded good to me and as we headed north
the rain stopped and the sun came out, which was a blessing. I was
first to arrive in the Solva car park and the attendant pointed me to
an area where the bike could be tucked away at no charge. That didn't
last as two lomaxes and a dozen or so bikes all piled in - so we all
ended up paying £1 each to park. The attendant pointed us to a small
cafe where they did bacon rolls. Can't beat a mug of tea and a bacon
roll.
From the cafe we rode down to the harbour to have a look
around:
From
Solva we headed on to St Davids for lunch and arrived at the small car
park in no time at all. Lunch wasn't on for all of us,
although
some did frequent the pasty shop, whilst the rest of us sat in the sun
and watched the world go by.
We decided that we would take a different route back from St Davids,
via the Cleddau Bridge. That involved a rather silly toll for a
motorcycle of 35p, but included the Lomaxes, which pleased them. We
rode through Pembroke, Lamphey and Tenby back to Broadfields.
Some of us decided that we'd frequent the Dragon Palace Chinese
restaurant for
an evening meal, as it is probably one of the best Chinese restaurants
in Pembrokeshire. We weren't let down at all as the food was first
class.
Wednesday
Today was a day off the bikes, which I was grateful for as I had
problems with walking on my right foot. All down to kicking the Indian
up on the weekend and that had damaged my big toe joint - which was
since aggravated by gear changes on the Morini. So the evening run to
Laugharne
for fish and chips was done in the car. Rob and Terry rode however, as
did most of the others. The fish & chips were ok and whilst we
were there Val Newton walked in with a birthday cake for young Terry.
It was a good evening, although Rob was having more charging problems
with his Honda and had a fingers crossed ride back to camp.
Thursday
The final day of riding and today the route headed towards a woollen
mill for lunch followed by a visit to the pretty bay at Mwnt. I was
still suffering with big toe problems so Jean and I stayed back in the
house. Everyone else had a good day, I was told. The evening
meal and entertainment in the Broadfield bar and restaurant was
provided by Huw
Evans from Laugharne who was described as a 'vocal artiste'. He was
good and had us all guessing who was the original singer of
the
song. Our table didn't do too bad at identifying the original singers,
although a few caught us out. For sure, an excellent evenings
entertainment.
Friday
Bruce
and Di had returned home on Thursday, as they had to get their bike
ready to ride the Levis Cup Trial; whilst the rest of us loaded up and
leisurely drove home after a excellent event, held mainly in decent
weather.
BP
