“This is an article writen by Mike Davis for the club magazine that unfortunately didn’t make it to print”.
During Weymouth Week the SDVMCC seeks to celebrate all that is good about Dorset
Sunday 10th May
The week began with a parade of 40 or so bikes at the Jubilee Clock Tower, Weymouth seafront.
There is great satisfaction in watching those promenading, smile as they catch a glimpse of a machine that brings back a memory. For me it is a time of inspiration as in a 1934 Velocette MOV 250cc machine – not inspiring? Well, when it comes with its 92-yr old rider, that is inspirational!
The first ride of the week took us to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens for refreshments along the B3157 coast road. A great and well loved biking road which offers wonderful views along the coast for passengers but riders need to keep their eyes on the road. Then on to Lyme Regis entering the town from the west descending a steep incline. A test of brakes and gears. We parked near the Mermaid Theatre. Some took the opportunity to visit Mary Anning’s statue, a pioneer of palaeontology in the 19th century.
The return journey was back along the B3157 provided spectacular views of Chesil Beach, the Fleet Lagoon, and Portland. All have been inspiration for works of fiction such as On Chesil Beach by Ian McKewan, and Moonfleet by J. M. Falkner.
69 miles
Monday 11th May
35 bikes headed north east to the aptly named View Cafe at Milton Abbas. Magnificent views across the Dorset hills while consuming hot beverages. A further ride of about 40 mins brought us to our lunch stop, Compton Abbas Airfield, a grass, hilltop, airstrip with views across to Shaftesbury.
Many Dorset place names include the word Abbas – it refers to land previously owned by the Abbess, the head of the abbey nunnery.
A 40 minute ride took us to Glanville Wootton Village Hall where the local residents supplied us with an abundance of tea and cakes. I do believe most motor cycles were at least 10mph slower leaving the village hall! A slow return to Chickerell.
92 miles
Tuesday 12th May
We set off on a circular route to The Caddy Shack Cafe, Weymouth, via Langton Herring, Abbotsbury, and Winterbourne Saint Martin.
We then took abot an hour to ride to Forde Abbey up and over the Dorset Ridgeway, and through glorious Dorset countryside.
Forde Abbey is a former Cistercian Abbey dating from the 12th century.
A half hour ride brought us to Mapperton House. The highlight was Rod Hann being interviewed
for Mapperton Live, the house’s promotional station on You Tube, to the delight of an audience…. us.
83 miles
Wednesday 13th May
The weather was beginning to turn, but this did not prevent riders setting off for The Pig Shed Cafe, Dewflock Farm, near Dorchester. The Cafe is the weekly Wednesday meeting place of the SDVMCC from 10am for a chat over coffee and nibbles.
We dragged ourselves away from The Pig Shed to ride 40 or so minutes for lunch at The Cake House Cafe, Creech. This was not our daily tea and cake stop, but our lunch stop. The cake refers to the animal feed that was previously stored in the shed – sheep cake.
From Creech we rode west through Bovington to Athelhampton House where tea and cake was served in abundance in the Long Gallery. The Doomsday Book records a residence owned by the Bishop of Salisbury here. The current hall was built on the site in the 15th century.
Again, I am sure the bikes were slower after this stop.
78 miles
Thursday 14th May
The rain did not prevent us from riding out to Warden Hill via Hardy’s Monument – not Thomas Hardy the author, but Sir Thomas Hardy, who served with Vice Admiral Lord Nelson in the Napoleonic Wars. Yes, he of the “kiss me Hardy” fame.
Our lunch stop was Henstridge Airfield via Cerne Abbas, where it was just possible to discern the Cerne Abbot Giant – No Mow May did not assist him in displaying all of his appendages!
The final stop of the day was Toller Percorum where volunteers in the village hall plied us with tea and cakes. A slow return to Weymouth!
91 miles
Friday 15th May
The final run of the week was relatively short with a 40-minute ride to The Crafty Barn Cafe, Milton Abbas. This was followed by a run to Leigh for a sumptuous lunch provided by Rod and Carol Hann.
70 miles
I have come to the conclusion that VMCC members are powered by tea and cake judging by the consumption of said items!
Thank you everybody who assisted in organising the week of runs. We covered 483 Miles in total
Pictures of the week’s events can be viewed at https://southdorsetvmcc.uk/wp/posts/
Mike Davis
