Devon and Cornwall Trip - Hares and Tortoises

Filling my trusty XR with Hampshire plop with just days to go wasnt a great start to this much awaited trip but the investment of enormous amounts of cash and pride swallowing fixed the problem I bought a Serow.Unbeknown to me in my desperate quest for an emergency bike that had an engine with moving parts, our great leader Don was engaged on a similar mission to find an emergency bike that actually had an engine...

Nestling into the western slopes of Dartmoor Langstone Manor was a great place made even greater for us because we got an upgrade from a caravan to the Manor House.Never mind chaps.

We were joined by Don and his deceptively dodgy XR and Andy and his about to be abused KTM 200 and while we quaffed beer and swapped stories we did wonder about the progress of Chris who was riding his Serow all the way up from Wiltshire.Would he find his way through the thick fog that swirled around the moor? Would he survive the crossing of Great Grimpen Mire unmolested by baying hounds? And would he make it by the time they stopped serving food?Yes, yes and no though fortunately Dons charms were able to extract a chicken curry out of the kitchens just after they closed.Shame Chris is a veggie.

Trail riding started the next morning just after seven.Yes, really.A nice run over the moors to Ivybridge for breakfast (and some obligatory XR fixing) where we were joined by the rest of the Wiltshire crew including Fraser on a pink two stroke, Pete on his XR and Keith on his XRthe less said about the Husaberg the better.We were then joined by the Tamar Valley Group (TVG) all of whom had very odd names.Its all a bit intimidating really as one is led around by folk with inspiring names like Fixer and Bosun when we only had one person with an odd name between us and besides, being named after a famous duck is hardly macho and inspirational is it?

The group split and John and I joined the scenic group.Knowing the area a bit I knew there were more lanes you could shake a stick at out there and knowing how gorgeous they would all look at this time of year (a riot of pink, blue, white and yellow with the campions, bluebells, stitchwort and buttercups and primrose) I thought it might be nice to see them without an MT43 imprint up my backWe were led by Andy (okay then, Fixer) who most certainly knows his stuff.We rode countless lanes to pop out in wonderful places like Noss Mayo, Newton Ferrers and to see the coastline, BurghIsland, the River Erme and even to take in Salcombe where folk in expensive sun tans swanned around in Porsches.The sea was a bright blue and sparkled with bright diamonds, palm trees swayed lightly in the breeze and it seemed quite surreal to be bumbling through on a scruffy little motorbike covered in red mud wearing a selection of clothing sourced from Freecycle and the British Army.

We met the others back at Ivybridge just before six and headed home for the one hour food window.So, end of day one, just about 12 hours in the saddle.And sadly the Serow is starting to impress me XR cover your ears.

Day 2 dawned later than day one and we headed out just after 8.Todays breakfast was interrupted by Dons XR shedding some chain rollers and by the time our leaders for the day met us he had decided to bike share with Andy, who was suffering the effects of mild over exuberance from the day before.We chose the scenic group again as I was keen to avoid being (again) carried up Morden, Muchlarnick and Pink Panter the beast of Bodmin Moor.Having seen someone ride these feet up on a Honda Dominator (this is true) makes one feel a tad inadequate though I do gather that Group Testosterone didnt do so well up them either.Infact Chriss Serow was actually the only bike to get to the top at Morden but this may only be because it is the easiest one to carry.

Our group enjoyed a splendid day out, covering well over 100 miles (about 130?) and seeing everything from tidal fords, rocky climbs and moorland tracks.We learnt about the American camp at Plasterdown, the tenacity of Devon County Council over the road at Willesely and above all we learnt never to lend Don your bike.Andy, you must truly be a friend.Or mad.We also had an unfortunate meeting with a car as we left Tavistock, our run leader Bob taking his foot rest off on the cars bumper and Pete on a splendid 1986 KTM (and I thought it was only me that campaigned elderly enduro bikes) took the cars mirror off with his arm.Good on them for carrying on and giving us a splendid day after such a bad start.We also got tangled up with about 8 quads and some solos.There wasnt a rider amongst them and as the quads spinned and revved on the track at Lopwell Dam and as the solos got stuck (where the Serow had chugged effortlessly just moments earlier) I think we can all say it made us feel ashamed that others would see us with them.

Hats off to the TVG though for the way they stopped and spoke to folk we met, their knowledge and their kindness to us.They escorted us back to camp with just half an hour of food ordering to go another nearly 12 hour day of trail riding.

There are plenty more lanes in the Devon and Cornwall area and we all reckon well be back to sample some more sometime.Fixer (I still think this sounds like Watership Down) says they have a member who does B and B and led runs in North Devon sounds like a seed of an idea?

Oh and the verdict on the Serow?Disturbingly good.Almost like cheating.

S and J