South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Hey, not posted in a while!

Who fancies a ride out on Sunday? Setting of from Weston-ish area and planned on going to Southampton, but today I drove up to Stratford for work and the roads were pretty nice and perfect for biking! Not been to either before on the bike so I'm looking forward to either!

Cal

Tiz Shakespeare 400 centenary year, so Stratford could be manic.

Also a cold snap due, so south is prob. better choice.

True, either Southampton or Poole! Was thinking cross country to the A36, then either carry on to Salisbury and Southampton or down the A350 to Poole harbour/holes bay! Bristol bikers disappeared again, now Norfolk riders. Won't be travelling over there for a ride, norfolking chance! (Pun intended )

If the weather's ok I'm in.

If you're at bridgwater want to meet at highbridge or something? Then go across the m5 from there?

Weather looks good.I'd be up for the Salisbury/Poole route if that's what you choose.
I'm in Blandford so I'd probably head north and link up with you somewhere on the A36 if you're planning a stop somewhere along there.

Yes, sounds good. Unless we come over to blandford then Salisbury along the A354 to double back to Poole past Bournemouth?

Don't deviate on my account. I can ride north and find you if you're heading down the A36/A350. The A354 Blandford to Salisbury road is very boring. The A30 Shaftesbury-Salisbury is much more fun and you could take a loop up Zig-Zag hill, over Cranborne Chase and back onto the A30, but I find Zig-Zag is an evening run. You'll likely be hampered by traffic on a Sunday.
Without altering course where were you planning your first stop?

I might drop the Salisbury leg out of the ride as the person I was supposed to be meeting over there can't make it now. First stop after picking up pebble in Bridgwater could be anywhere between Shaftesbury and blandford really. This will be my first planned long ride, I usually just wing it and enjoy the day without the drama of taking a wrong turn. And as well as Poole I was thinking swanage as I've heard good things but never actually been.

Probably returning through Dorchester and Yeovil.

If you want to go to Poole you could do in reverse what we did on Red5's run last week and go to Poole first and take the Sandbanks ferry across to Studland and drop down into Swanage from there.
How about meeting up at Tescos in Shaftesbury for petrol then up to Compton Abbas Airfield cafe for a brew and onwards to Poole from there?

Was going to suggest oli's cafe on higher Shaftesbury road for a brew if we met around blandford. Yes I would be a decent meeting point though, you can lead to the cafe as I'm not sure where that is. As you've probably guessed my rides aren't organised, just a start point and an end point. Haha

Yea sounds good, never been on the ferry either and have been told to by friends in the area. How much is it?

Just got to wait to hear from pebble to see if we're meeting at Bridgwater now.

Ferry is a £1. Don't let me alter your plans. I'm happy to stop wherever you like. The route to Compton Abbas takes you up Zig-Zag which is a bit of a laugh, but it is likely to be clogged with metal snails on a Sunday. Still the road up the top is good fun.
Also, if you do go for a Shaftesbury fuel stop, there's the Ivy Cross petrol station which is the big Esso garage on the first roundabout you come to if you're coming into Shaftesbury on the A30, which I'm guessing you would be from Bridgwater. Can't miss it. Easier to find than Tescos.

KwakKwak88 wrote:If you're at bridgwater want to meet at highbridge or something? Then go across the m5 from there?

Sure, What time and whereabout's in Highbridge you want to meet?

Sounds like a plan Cal, so I'm in, might be able to help getting to the airfield and meet Gimplet there