Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
So another return to the ominous Merkins Cafe near Melksham and the first long trip out on the YB100 this year - 80 miles in all!
One jinx after another Steve Natt who was due to lead the run was having yet more problems with his Puch moped so we were forced to use a scratch run on Beeline, designed by Chris Jones who was also absent.....conveniently camping in the South Hams!! He did warn of a few tricky bits but.....
So on a variety of bikes and scooters, thirteen of us set out - we should have known better - with Colin Hughes and I fumbling our way round trying to follow the route neither of us had tested. We dropped into the Forage Cafe at Wadswick Country Store which looked a bit posh on arrival and then a helicopter landed!! All well to this point and then the route started going funny but we smoked our way up the hill towards Colerne and the Three Shires Stones.
It was as we headed down to Conkwell - not a good to head if you are on an old bike - that the roads got very steep and narrow with grass, moss and gravel in the middle so great care needed. Shortly after this stretch we scattered in all directions.....lost !!
Heading back from Bradford-on-Avon to Merkins the reaction to the route ranged from fury to ecstasy! Actually it was a really good route but the last quarter maybe needs consideration before doing it again.
Thanks to Chris for taking the trouble to design it and letting us get on with it unsupervised 😂
@RobLittleuk
So another return to the ominous Merkins Cafe near Melksham and the first long trip out on the YB100 this year - 80 miles in all!
One jinx after another Steve Natt who was due to lead the run was having yet more problems with his Puch moped so we were forced to use a scratch run on Beeline, designed by Chris Jones who was also absent.....conveniently camping in the South Hams!! He did warn of a few tricky bits but.....
So on a variety of bikes and scooters, thirteen of us set out - we should have known better - with Colin Hughes and I fumbling our way round trying to follow the route neither of us had tested. We dropped into the Forage Cafe at Wadswick Country Store which looked a bit posh on arrival and then a helicopter landed!! All well to this point and then the route started going funny but we smoked our way up the hill towards Colerne and the Three Shires Stones.
It was as we headed down to Conkwell - not a good to head if you are on an old bike - that the roads got very steep and narrow with grass, moss and gravel in the middle so great care needed. Shortly after this stretch we scattered in all directions.....lost !!
Heading back from Bradford-on-Avon to Merkins the reaction to the route ranged from fury to ecstasy! Actually it was a really good route but the last quarter maybe needs consideration before doing it again.
Thanks to Chris for taking the trouble to design it and letting us get on with it unsupervised 😂
@RobLittleuk
