Reports
of
Section Runs and Meetings for 2025
Reports are listed in reverse order i.e. newest first. At the start of
a New Year they
will be removed to the page called the 'previous year' on the
Lounge drop down button above.
the
photos use a slide show type of presentation, just click any photo to
start there.
7th May -
Wednesday ride-out to the Forest of Dean railway
On a
sunny Wednesday morning in May, four hardcore steam enthusiasts set off
from
Treforest for a ride out to the Dean Forest Railway at Norchard
Station, just
north of Lydney. Members of our section
are regular visitors to the Dean Forest Railway, and two of our members
volunteer there as Driver and Fireman respectively. After a slow crawl
through
the middle of a very busy Newport (thanks, Bryn!) and a brisk ride
along the
A48 to Chepstow, we arrived at the picturesque Norchard Station. A
restorative
coffee and pasty were quickly despatched, and we duly set off to do our
own
impression of the Railway Children as Pannier Tank loco No 9681 roared
past.
Later, first Bryn and then Andy were invited onto the very small and
very hot
footplate for a journey up and down the line. It was impressive to see
the crew operate the locomotive with skill and dexterity, each
anticipating the
others needs when coming into and departing from the stations on the
line.
After a quick hose down to remove the coal dust from our hands and
faces, we
set off Westwards towards home in the late afternoon. Thanks to Bryn
for
organising the trip and thanks especially to Charlie and Mike for
inviting us
onto the footplate and getting us so dirty in such a short time.
A truly enjoyable and memorable day.
12th -
16th May - Weymouth week
Monday - day 1
The overnight shower had passed by morning, but the
clouds were low and the weather was overcast as some 40 bikes gathered
at
Bagwell Farm for the first ride of the VMCC Weymouth Week. Rob was on
his Honda 400/4 and rode with Simon, from Cheshire, (Moto Morini
Kangaro) and Scott (Honda 500) plus Amanda (Royal Enfield 350) from
Chesterfield. Also on site were John Fisher, and Les and Shirley
and Andy from West South Wales.
The day's route was westward and over the border into
Devon. We took the main road through the old
Anglo Saxon village of Abbotsbury and along the Jurassic Coast to our
mid morning tea stop on the sea front at Charnmouth. The weather was
now beginning to brighten
up. Suitable refreshed we continued through the narrow lanes,
skirting Axminster, and in to Colyton. This is the end of the Seaton
Tramway. Here we enjoyed our lunch and watched various trams arriving
and departing in the bright sunshine.
Our afternoon run took us along the A358 and the valley
of the River Axe. Some of the roads were wet and we could see dark
clouds above. Riding through a long archway of trees we emerged into
some rain but not enough to worry about. Heading west and back to the
coast the sky cleared and our final stop for ice cream in West Bay saw
us all parked up in glorious sunshine. The quick sprint back along the
coast road gave us glimpses of Chesil Beach basking in the sunshine
which reflected off the sea. A good run of some 75 miles.
Tuesday - day 2
Tuesday dawned bright and clear and the weather was
set fair for the day's ride. Over 50 bikes were gathered for a 90
mile jaunt northwards to Shaftesbury. We headed along the coast road
before turning right passing Hardy's Monument. We skirted Weymouth and
took the road to Charminster before cutting across country along
traffic free back lanes. Dropping down hill into Piddlehinton we passed
the Piddle Inn before climbing again towards Milton Abbas and its
Private School. Our tea stop was nearby at The View Cafe. From here we
wended our way through a wood with bluebells and wild garlic in flower.
The road took us up onto the chalk uplands with lovely views down into
the valley of the River Lidden. Then we were on the high ground of
Cranborne Chase and dropping down through a series of 6 hairpin bends
we were on to our lunch stop at Shaftesbury.
The afternoon route headed towards Yeovil before
turning off again onto quiet country roads and through quaint villages
with thatched cottages. Granvilles Wootton village hall was our
afternoon stop. Here the ladies supplied us with tea and homemade
cakes. Very nice too. Fed and watered we took the main road to Cern
Abbas with views of the giant before heading back via Hardy's Monument
and the coast road to Chickerell.
Wednesday - day 3
Today's run was a 70 mile spin around the Weymouth
area. Over 50 bikes were ready to go in the morning sunshine. I was
riding with Andy from WSW on his Triumph. We headed west along
the coast to Abbotsbury where we turned right and began the climb up to
the ridge which gave us excellent views back towards Portland Bill.
Dropping off the ridge we went through Martinstown with its stream
running along side the road and its pretty cottages. After a short time
we arrived at The Pig Shed Cafe for our cuppa. From here we wound our
way through quiet lanes past Came House and Tolpuddle, home of the
famous Tolpuddle Martyrs of 1834 who were transported for early trade
union activity. Taking the lanes we rode through woods with purple
rhododendrons before reaching our lunch stop at Ringstead Beach.
Sitting on the beach we looked across the bay to our afternoon tea stop
on Portland Bill. We reached this via Weymouth promenade, the causeway
to Portland and a steep climb up to the prison where the Jail House
Cafe is located. This has been going for quite a few years and is
staffed by prisoners being prepared for release. We sat outside and
looked back across the bay to our lunch stop. From the jail we had a
run around Portland Bill to the lighthouse before retracing our route
over the causeway and back to camp.
Thursday - day 4
The sun shone brightly on the large group of
motorcycles gathered for the run eastwards. Although the route to the
morning tea stop was on main roads they were still relatively traffic
free. We headed from Weymouth passing the white horse carved into
the hill side on our left near Preston. Taking the main Wareham road we
turn off at Wool to our stop at Holmes Garden Centre for a cuppa, a
look at the plants and the huge koi carp in the fishpond. The next part
of the route saw us on winding back lanes through Creech and Church
Knowle. Climbing a dry river valley we saw Corfe Castle in front of us.
We avoided Corfe and stopped at a view point on the Isle of
Purbeck. Stretching below us was a view to Poole, Brownsea
Island Studlands and the coast. Continuing onwards we entered Swanage
and were able to
park in reserved spaces on the pier. Some 58 bikes were lined up
catching everyone's attention. Lunch was enjoyed on the front in the
sunshine watching the waves lap against the sea wall. Rob, Scott, Manda
and Simon were the last to leave but this gave us a good chance to
speed up along the coast road through Langton Matravers before heading
across the army range near Bovington and past Lawrence of Arabia's
cottage and our afternoon stop at the Rusty Duck Cafe. It was only a
short 15 mile run back to camp but we stopped at Hardy's Monument to
take some photos. This evening we are of to a bike meet on the
Promenade at Weymouth.
Friday - day 5
The final day's run was 60 miles with a lunch stop at
Rod and Carol's. The route took us west along the coast road.
Our group decide to cut down towsrds the sea along lanes through Rodden
to Abbotsbury. We could see the swans on the Fleet and St. Catherine's
Chapel up on the hill. Back on the main road we went through Beaminster
and along a winding B road to tea at Redlands Yard Cafe.
Rod had warned us of a road closure so from here we
used the drop off system to his house. The lanes were quiet and the
villages pretty. From the ridgeway we could see the vale from Crewkerne
to Yeovil. At Rod and Carol's we had lunch and looked at Rod's bikes
and Carol's garden. It was a short 30 mile hop along the main road
beforee turning off to Muckleford, Winterbourne Steepleton, Hardy's
Monument, Portesham and the campsite. Another Weymouth finished.
Great to catch up with friends and riding the delightful roads found by
Rod and Carol. Many thanks both.
11th May
West South Wales run from Val Newtons - Howard and Bill decided to go.
A very
good day out only went wrong at the end when trying to access the pub -
the road was closed, so H and myself headed home. We had to contend
with several heavy showers on the M4 but kept going and missed most of
the wet stuff.
20th
January
We
had booked a table in the Windsor hotel for our trophy presentation
night and had some 17 people turn up. All in all it was quite
successful. The following photos are of some of the trophy winners,
with Bob J
doing the presentations: -
