Reports
of
Section Runs and Meetings for 2026
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.
11th-15th
May - Weymouth Week
Monday 11th May.
Rob took his 59 MAC to Weymouth to join in a
week's riding. Leaving Bagwell Farm at 10 we headed west and a
diversion around a closed road on our route. We headed up past Hardy's
Monument enjoying the view down to Chesil Beach and Portland. Skirting
around Dorchester the
lanes gave us excellent views of the countryside. After Hilton we
had a splendid view
of the school and abbey at Milton Abbas.
We headed up through the lovely village centre before stopping at The
View
Café for our coffee stop.
The next leg took us north through some lovely
villages with thatched cottages and on to Compton Abbas Airfield. After
our lunch stop we headed southwest through the lanes until we got to
Glanvilles
Wootton Village Hall. We encountered some rain but not enough to worry
us. At the hall a group of
local ladies provided tea and cakes for our delight. Some of the
local villagers came to admire the
bikes.
From the afternoon stop it was a straight run of
23 miles via Hardy's Monument and the coast road to
Bagwell Farm. The milage was 91 miles.
Photos: - show bikes at the signing on and Andy and
Simon enjoying cake.
Tuesday 12th May.
Tuesday's ride saw us start off on a circular
route along a coastal lane leading to Abbotsbury. We had a view of the
Chesil Bank and the Fleet before spotting the swans at Abbotsbury
Swannery. Regaining the main road we headed via Martinstown to Weymouth
and the Caddy Shack Café for our coffee stop. We then headed
northwest through Bradford Peverell with some nice
scenery until we reach Forde Abbey and lunch. From here it was a short
hop on to Mapperton House for
our tea stop. The house was mentioned in the Domesday Book and has
recently feature in the Saving Country House tv programme. Onwards
once more we went south to Bridport and saw fine views of the coastal
land with the sea beyond. Finally we rode once again along the coast
road back to Bagwell Farm. The milage was 84 miles.
Photos: - show bikes at morning stop. Norton ready to
leave. Bikes at Forde Abbey.
Wednesday 13th May.
The weather was set to be showery but we decided
to do the ride. Simon led on his Morini, followed by Andy Mac on his
Triumph then me on the Velo and Scott on the Norton. The run was to the
east but we left Bagwell Farm westward and through the lanes up over
Hardy’s
Monument. We skirted Dorchester and down to Dewflock Farm for our
coffee stop. The South Dorset Section meet here every Wednesday
morning. Next we headed eastwards towards the Isle of
Purbeck. We travelled throught the army ranges and along a country
lane. The overhanging trees made it look like a green tunnel. We
had a drop of rain before we reached the Cake House Café at
Creech for our lunch
stop. After kunch we returned along the same route before riding
through the Bovington Army Camp. We got held up by red traffic lights
as an army tank crossed our path. We passed Clouds Hill, the home of
Lawrence of Arabia and went to Athlehampton House for our
tea stop. We were served tea and cakes in the Long
Gallery in the restaurant which is part of this stately home. The
final leg took us along the high ground with views of Weymouth and
Portland before we reached Bagwell Farm. The milage was 78 miles.
Photos: - Rob Scott Andy and Simon at lunch stop.
View of Purbeck at lunch.
Rob and cake in the afternoon.
Thursday 14th May.
Today Rob, Scott and Simon were joined by Julian
from Worcester on his Honda. The run took us inland over Hardy’s
Monument and along the ridgeway before heading northwest to The
Emporium Café at Warden Hill. The café is combined with an antique
establishment. After the tea stop we headed eastwards towards
Cerne Abbas where we could see the Cerne Giant on the hillside to our
left. Next we headed northward via the pretty village of
Stalbridge and the Somerset boarder to Henstridge Airfield for our
lunch stop. This was once an WWII Airfield for the Fleet Air Arm.
There were a lot of bikes parked up as the Dorset Section were handing
over the VMCC baton to the South Dorset Section. Rob met up with Andy
Grew, who was in our Section a few years back, for a chat.
After lunch we ran straight into a road closed
sign so played follow the leader along the main roads until we rejoined
the route near Beer Hackett. We passed some pretty cottages being
re-thatched before reaching Toller Percorum and cake at the village
hall. The last 16 miles back to camp saw us riding along the ridgeway
with some fine views inland over the rolling countryside to the north
and to the coast on the south. Total distance was 92 miles.
Photos: - Rod Scott and Manda at sign on. Bikes at
start. Scott, Andy, Jules and Simon enjoying cake.
Friday 15th May.
The weather was set fair for the last day of our
week. Simon, Rob, Scott and Manda set off towards Weymouth. It was
pleasant riding along the front with the blue sea on our right and
through Preston with views of the white horse carved into the chalk on
the hillside to our left. Taking the main road towards Alfpuddle we
headed north and on to The Crafty Barn Café
at Milton Abbas. After coffee
we rode through woods smelling of wild garlic and on to Bulbarrow Hill.
We came off the high ground and headed further west through Plush and
Cerne Abbas and on to Leigh. Our lunch stop was at Rod and Carol's and
here we enjoyed the lovely lunch provided by Carol, chatted to
everyone and looked at the bikes. After admiring Carol's garden and
thanking both Rod and Carol for their hard work we headed back to the
campsite for the final time on the Weymouth Week. The mileage was 70
miles. We were lucky with the weather, caught up with old
friends and enjoyed the routes selected by Rod and Carol. Many thanks.
Photos: - Scott and Manda on the Norton. Bikes at the start x2. Bikes
at Rod and Carol's house x3
23rd
April - 30th April - The Baton relay
During
April the Section took part in the Baton Exchange marking the 80th
Anniversary of The VMCC. On Thursday 23rd April Howard, in
the Lomax, met Rob, on the 1959
Velo at Aberdare. They then travelled to McDonalds, Glynneath and met
up with
Vince on his Honda GB500TT. This was where we were meeting with the
Swansea
Section. Twelve of their riders led by Chairman Barry Fox arrived and
Rob led
everyone up the old road to the New Inn at Rhigos. Here we exchanged
the Baton and
looked at the bikes before heading into the pub for lunch and a chat.
The
following Thursday the Section went off to meet the Gwent Section to
hand on
the Baton to them. Howard and Rob met Dave, on his Honda Trike at
Nelson. From
here we had a good twenty mile ride over Gelligaer Common and
Llangynidr
Mountain to Talybont on Usk. The weather was glorious and the views
over the
common and mountain were stunning. We arrived at the Café in Talybont
where
Richard, Mark and a few others were already waiting. Howard and Mark
exchanged
the Batton and we had a lovely meal and a chat sitting in the sunshine.
11th/12th
April - the Somerset sections Cheddar weekend
Rob and his 1959 MAC went off across the Severn for the 60th
Anniversary Cheddar Trial. There was a good turn out on
the Saturday for the social run. We headed off down the main road
towards Wells before cutting along minor roads towards
Glastonbury. The Tor could be seen in the distance. Heading
through rural Somerset we were caught in one shower but were soon on
dry roads to our lunch stop at Keinton Maderville. In the afternoon we
crossed the Levels and called in to the Avalon Marsh Centre for a visit
to reconstructed Iron Age, Saxon and Roman Houses before returning to
Cheddar. The Sunday Road Trial saw over 40 bikes present,
including a good selection of flat tankers. The long route of 45 miles
took us over the Levels to Taunton and Westonzoyland for some road test
skills. After this, we recrossed the Levels towards Mark and Stoughton
before finishing at Cheddar. We were lucky with the weather. One shower
on route and hail and rain as we finished. Two good days and a chance
to catch up with friends, Les and Shirley and Julian from other
sections.
Here's a few photos of the event.
2nd March
- buffet and presentation evening
2nd
February
Our AGM was dealt with fairly quickly, with the accounts looking very
healthy and the committee being re-elected en-bloc. Nothing much to
report on the previous years activities. The Annual prize giving was
agreed for the 2nd March and a buffet will be provided - please come
along if you can. The meeting will take place in the small lounge at
the Llanharry club.