Devon TRF Group is hosting its annual trail riding event (the Axe to Exe) in a couple of weekend's time and I am likely to be called upon to guide a group of visitors along with my brother Trev who will be my TEC (Tail End Charlie).
Trev hasn't been out on the lanes since our trail riding trip to France last June and my last outing was at the beginning of December so we thought we had better get some practice in!
Having recent refitted the emissions gear to my WR250R I also thought it would be good to give it a proper test run.
By a nice coincidence a friend who hasn't ridden locally for two years invited us to join him so it was game on! I managed to get together all my riding clobber except for my neck warmer and had to use a tube thing which was a poor substitute. I ride with the neck warmer throughout the year not to keep warm but to stop brambles from taking chunks out of my neck. The warmer bears ragged witness to its effectiveness!
Ready for the off, me posing behind my WR250R and my brothers TTR250 in the foreground.
We have a great selection of lanes close to home and were able to ride 62 different lanes in the 66 miles we rode
We interrupted our ride to check on progress on repairing a washed out ford and found only the organiser, his dad and one other member there so stopped for a couple of hours to help out.
It was a beautiful day to be out and about in the warm sunshine. Lots of daffodils still out along with primroses, wild garlic and some bluebells in the sunnier banks.
There was still a lot of standing water and signs of fallen trees and washouts following Storm Katy's attack last weekend and we found one of our lanes blocked by a fallen tree. It was soon cleared enough for us to get through following some enthusiastic use of a couple of pruning saws - an essential part of every trail rider's kit!
Lots of fords on the route but mostly small 'uns.
There is quite a big drop on one of the lanes near Ladram Bay. Here is a photo of a nervous Trev ready to descend with the sea in the background.
A muddy patch in the same lane. There was no way we were going to get to the lunch stop with clean bikes and boots!
One of our lanes (The Viewpoint) offers lovely views across to Sidmouth and further up the coast to Lyme Bay.
Although most of our Devon lanes are correctly sign posted following years of being "persistent" with Devon County Council there are still a few that aren't. Here is a County Road or UCR signed as a Footpath
All this led to a well-deserved lunch at Ducky's cafe on Beer Beach. Crab sandwiches (instead of my usual pasty) for me! The crabs are landed here and cooked in a shed just off the beach so my sandwich filling hasn't travelled far.
Handy to be able to park behind the cafe owners Beemer just off the beach and lovely views up the coast.
Great day out, excellent company, just how it should be
Brian
PS The bike ran fine. I don't think I have lost any power so has anyone checked their WRR on a dyno before and after stripping off the emissions gear?
What a superb looking day out you guys have had. You really are in a stunning part of the country and seem to have very much made the most of it.
From fords to fallen trees. From crab sarnies to beautiful beaches, you had it all. A true riders paradise and great inspiration to anyone still yet to get out this season.
Having just returned from a wonderful day out with SteveT, his brother Martin, Silver frame Simon and Honda Trev, you have really have set the bar high for a proper ride report Brian. I shall endeavour to put together a little report of my own later today in thanks to them for such a superb day out too.
Thank you for the awesome photographs Brian. They make me want to jump straight back on board and get out again immediately.
Happy trails as always,
Paul.
P.S Sorry but no dyno testing ever done for me. Think i'm a bit to impatient to wait for a slot at the test center when i have a project that i want to crack on with .
