We have 2 new runs this year with new volunteer run leaders, the first was on Sunday with David stepping up to the plate, and an excellent job he made of it! A longer run but through lovely scenery on mainly quiet roads it was a pleasure. I think we’ll book him for next year. As you can see David enjoyed the experience so if you have an idea for a run let me know and we’ll sort a date. It’s not difficult and full support will be given if required – and you may even enjoy it!
Anyway, many thanks to David, below is his report on the day.
I broached the idea of a run around the Red Posts of Dorset last year, to which the response was “great idea, go and organise it”. Initially planned for May, it was postponed to Father’s Day which brought much warmer weather and 10 riders to the start at the Farmyard Kitchen on the A30 just outside Sherborne. I arrived at 10am to find everyone ready for the off, having misread the start time for the meeting time, but still managed a coffee, a short safety briefing and to distribute the route maps while Andy Rae made a head start.
The first stop north of Sherborne followed the script of posing for a photo, after which we headed off West through Yeovil, Montecute and Crewkerne through a mix of A and B roads with little traffic.
When we turned back east though for the second, slightly forlorn post at Hewood though, the roads got narrower and the traffic heavier. I’d barely seen a car on this road in three previous visits, but these guys were on a mission and I took evasive action. By the time I got to post 2, only Richard was waiting, gentleman ride Guzzi’s! Onwards to the lunch stop at the Stableyard Restaurant at Broadwindsor we encountered another kamikaze car driver but arrived unscathed for an excellent lunch. Glad I booked it as every table was taken.
I led on to post three at Benville Bridge, where on my recce we were forced to head north to the A37 as Evershot was being dug up. We stuck to this route, turning off to go over the hills near Batcombe, where we discovered a bonus Red Post. Our secretary had shared an article about this being discovered and potentially restored, but the location was unclear. Apparently it had been erected only a day or two before and did look very fresh.
From there, down to Cerne Abbas and over to the Piddle Valley before heading to Bere Regis and the last post at Bloxworth. By this time it was approaching 4 hours in the saddle so some headed home. I had planned to stop at The View cafe in Milton Abbas but as the number of people left was small I called Tom to get the kettle on and we sat in my garden reviewing the day.
I learned some things for my next run, maybe this in reverse, but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, the company, and completing the run without issues on my BSA.
David Johnson-Newell
Our next run is on Sunday 28 June – The Chairmans Challenge, 10.30 from No 23 Coffee Shop, Henstridge Airfield BA8 0TN. Of course the nature of the Challenge is top secret so you’ll have to turn up to find out.
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