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Post Info TOPIC: The three fellows.


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The three fellows.
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Bob, Brian and I, on our trusty Yamaha TTRs went riding in convoy today.

It was talked about at a previous social evening last Tuesday and originally we agreed that Thursday would be the day. Sadly, the weather man took it into his head that Friday would be a better day. cry

Bob arrived at Brian's early and they had done a few lanes before landing at my pad around 9am. Unfortunately they had used a damp lane and before he knew it Bob saw a lovely trout.

Desaturation was attempted .........
Mwdscf5452.jpg
.... before the three of us wended our way.

The usual lanes were used between Budleigh and Otterton.
The lanes were a little "claggy" but took us safely to East Budleigh, then through to Otterton.

A ROAD outside Otterton has some new steps:-

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at the foot of which was an unscheduled halt.

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Out with our tools wink and we Three Fellows soon had a way through.

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We decided to go to the view, which was suitably enhanced by the three Yamahas at the top. biggrinbiggrinbiggrin

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We returned downhill, and along a road which incorporates a small stream which was flowing well in this season's drought. Brian is seen leaving the raging torrent here:-
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Our next lane was in Colaton Raleigh.

This lane leads to the ford, but just before it we were arrested by a closed gate. This is the first time I've met this gate but I'm used to the string barrier which precedes it.

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As Brian was opening the gate I'm sure I heard a mutter to the effect that coffee and pasty would be nice. hmm Enough said - next stop at Ger's.

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Ger actually stood chatting with us, reminiscing about days of yore when horses had tails, lads had plastic bags and using both they would enjoy being towed around damp, grassy fields. This chat lead onto trolleys, motorbikes and machinery. Ger impressed us with his recent acquisition of an apple squasher which he was in the middle of renovating.

Mwdscf5471.jpg
He says that he intends coupling it to his Harley by adapting a belt to drive the contraption's drive wheel. confuse

We left Ger to get on with his renovating as we had a task to perform elsewhere.

Last Sunday, on one of my wanderings, I had been baulked by a fallen hazel tree, so - via the Stoneyford lanes we reached Back Lane.

Our passage was still arrested by "tree down":-

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So, the tree fellers once again utilised their equipment and attacked the boughs with gusto.

In short time the way was made, ........................
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...............  but only sufficient timber was removed for safe (motorcycle) passage.

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We continued our run along the remaining Stowford loop of lanes.

The Woodbury Common rut is where I had a momentary lapse of concentration blankstare being fixated with the right hand depression whilst travelling in the long, water filled central rut. I saw two badgers on this section and being TEC meant that I was somewhat delayed in lifting blue machinery before I caught the others.  cry

Crealey water splash was next, to clean the bikes. I resisted the temptation to explore upstream again, as I had before, and enjoyed splashing through the unusually full Grindle Brook. It's surprising how the stream's volume increases in drought conditions. confuse

The three of us reached the safe haven of TTR Towers, where we took turns to wash the day's drought from each other .........
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 ............ and were treated to tea, coffee and orange, with biscuits, by Mrs. TTRfan. smileaww

The weatherman was right to delay yesterday's ride. Today's excursion was eventful, rewarding, educational, damp but really wonderful. thumbsup.gif

Thanks Brian. Thanks Bob. Thanks for the refreshments, Trish.

Here's to the next time.

Martyn



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East Budleigh. Devon



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Looks like a fun, eventful day out!
Those lanes are a lot more interesting than those where I live.

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The lanes were certainly "interesting" today Mark!

Rather than "The Three Fellows" I reckon it should be "The Tree Fellers" biggrin

Here are a few pics of a couple of lanes that Bob and I did on the way to meet Martyn. The first lane is just across the road from me and aptly called "Muddy Lane" - you will see why! It has never dried out even in the hottest driest summer confuse

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In the next pic, you can just see Bob coming around the corner through one of the many water splashes. I was beginning to wonder where he was. Apparently he had decided to have a rest and lie down in a rather large puddle with his TTR on top of him hence filling one of his boots with cold muddy water biggrinbiggrin

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The next pic is of Bob styling it on one of the few open lanes that we have over a local common.

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Next up was to pick up Martyn at his place. I love nosing around other guys sheds and garages and Martyn has some very nice kit in his. A 1930s BSA, a Tiger Cub, a Bandit 1200, a Triumph of some description and his trusty TTR.

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I haven't taken pics of all the lanes or we would never have gotten around the planned route but I did manage to get a few. Martyn was keen to expand on my route with a few extra lanes so he took over the lead. The vegetation is very lush after the rain but the lanes aren't overgrown - yet...

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The next pic is of Bob about to descend a set of railway sleeper steps that had been installed on an old road that runs by a holiday park that is being developed.  Great fun going down but we didn't test our trials skills by trying them upwards no

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Martyn has included pics of the next obstruction but here is one showing the cleared lane.

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One of the lanes we rode runs a few hundred yards along a river bed. Martyn has a pic of me climbing out so here are a couple of Bob dropping into the river bed and and checking it out at the other end.

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The fields of oil seen rape are in full flower at the moment and, where we passed them, the lanes were filled with a beautiful scent. The primroses are over but the bluebells and red campions are coming out to take their place.

The next pic shows a lane winding through some deep old Devon hedges bordered by bright yellow fields of rape. I have arrowed Martyn and Bob's helmets in case you missed them wink

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Another ford pic with surprisingly low water level.

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Next up was the essential coffee and pasty stop at a friendly biker's store. He was pleased to show us around. This is his bike garage with a fiesty KTM alongside a gorgeous Harley.

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Further into the garage was a very old BSA of some description undergoing a full resto. 

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Tucked down the side of the garage was a rather nice BSA B33 (I think). 

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After clearing yet some more fallen timber on the next lane, we had enough room to squeeze through. 

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One of our lanes is a single rut across a common which gets quite deep in places - but not here where Bob is posing!

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But it was deep here!

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We finished with a lane we call the "bike wash" for obvious reasons.

First up for videoing was Bob.

http://rides.webshots.com/video/3018721410057350080mbmbGi

Next was Martyn who fell for Bob's trick which was to say the left hand side of the ford was the shallowest biggrin

http://rides.webshots.com/video/3034631530057350080BfhNSW

Although the route was only 40 miles we rode a lot of different lanes with very different characters. Great day, weather stayed dry and the company was good. Slightly worrying when I added up our ages - the total was 195 years disbelief

Roll on the next ride!

Brian



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Great report and pictures! Makes me want to get out ASAP

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Pete Brown

Keighley, West Yorkshire

'94 Yamaha TTR 250 Raid (with Open Enduro headlight, grrr...)

'54 plate Suzuki GSF 650S (Bandit)

Previously Yamaha YBR125, Yamaha TY125, Yamaha TY250



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Great write up and photos, looked a belter of a day.

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COMING THROUGH A FIELD NEAR YOU.



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Looks fantastic, Will have to get some trail riding in Devon at some point!

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Love the pasty pic Brian


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great pics and report fellas

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Looks like a fun day out smile



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