BMW CLUB EAST ANGLIA SECTION

Long Weekend in Porlock, Somerset

9th – 12th July 2009

Report by Mike Davies, East Anglia Section

Some thirty four club members from East Anglia, Western, Midland, Yorkshire, Oxford, London, Southern and Northern Sections spent a delightful weekend at Porlock, most camping at the Sparkhayes Campsite in Porlock and a few staying at hotels or Bed & Breakfasts nearby.

Paul Brown, previously Social Secretary for East Anglia and now National Social Secretary had arranged this weekend a few months earlier – it is an annual weekend for our section.

I rode down on Friday 10th June and booked into the Lorna Doone Hotel, Porlock, where I had stayed on previous occasions.

I met many of the other attendees in the Royal Oak and after a drink we played “long skittles” in the attached room. Two teams were drawn up and each player bowls three heavy wooden balls at nine wooden skittles, some yards down the skittle ally. The team I was on won this set of games!

On Saturday 11th July, Paul led a ride out to Lynmouth where we stopped for a quick break and for one of our members to buy a pair of slippers!

This is a delightful coastal town with small harbour, various shops and a funicular railway from street level to the top of high cliffs.

Paul then led us off to the Valley of the Rocks a short way up the coast, a dramatic array of rocky peaks. From here we rode on to the Hunters Inn, Heddon Valley for lunch. The route took us along narrow lanes with grass growing along the centre of the road and overhanging trees. I was glad to be on a GS!

After lunch our route took us along more minor roads winding through the Exmoor countryside to delightful tea rooms at Malmesmead where some of us indulged in cream teas – a local delicacy in this part of England. This is in the heart of Lorna Doone country where John Ridd courted and married Lorna Doone in the famous R. D. Blackmore novel "Lorna Doone".

Right by the tea rooms is the very old Packhorse Bridge and a ford, through which we all rode as the bridge was closed for repairs.

From here Paul led us back across Exmoor to Porlock Weir, a small harbour which once was used for fishing boats and now accommodates sailing yachts and the odd fishing boat.

It was a short ride back to Porlock after a refreshing drink.

That evening Paul had arranged a fish & chip dinner for us and thirty four of us sat down in the skittle ally of the Royal Oak for an excellent haddock and chips.

After the meal Paul announced the winner of the Longest Distance Travelled member and this was won by Ian McKecknie from Bridlington – it also happened to be his birthday - Mark Dutton, our Social Secretary, had arranged a cake with candles!

Sunday dawned after a stormy night and most people were packing their tents to return home after a very enjoyable weekend in a delightful part of the country.

I wasn’t returning home straight away but riding on to St Austell to visit my brother and then the next day on to the New Forest to see old friend in Lyndhurst, Hants.

I eventually arrived home on Tuesday 14th having missed most of the rain and covered 761 miles for the trip.

Many thanks to Paul Brown for arranging this enjoyable long weekend.