CULM VALE FOREST GLADE 2010
It was a bit of a busy week on the run up the Culm Vale Forest Glade camping weekend with the car MOT and two bike MOTs but with everything sorted Wednesday night I was able to get away on Thursday.
My route down was via the Rollright Stones, the name “Rollright” is believed to derive from “Hrolla-landriht”, the land of Hrolla. They are located north of Chipping Norton, just off the A3400 on the road to Little Rollright. Here are a couple of websites about the stones http://www.rollrightstones.co.uk and http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=140 also make sure you cross the road to look at the King Stone and what is a stunning view across the valley.
Arriving at Forest Glade mid afternoon on what was a very sunny day an ice cream was in order, soon after, it was up with the tent. As I was on the FJR I was using the new lightweight tent from Terra Nova “Laser Space 2 which I purchased late on in 2009, the tent was first launched in late 2008. While not cheap it proved to be a bargain as this year it has won an award for its design from Camping Magazine, so the price has increased.
Friday and I took a ride to Lyme Regis and then to Seaton so at least I can say I have seen the sea. I called in to take a look at Blackberry Camp (Hill Fort), an ancient settlement on Southleigh Hills. Then I made my way to Honiton to pick up a few supplies. Once back on site it was a case of cook my evening meal and have something ready for Lesley who was leaving after work. The midges were out in force during the evening but had gone by the time Lesley arrived at 9:30pm. Lesley said it was a bit of a wet ride for 190 of the 250 odd miles and late on in the night the rain arrived at Forest Glade.
This was the first rally for John’s new outfit, Triumph Thunderbird 1600 and EZS Munro, he had only picked it up the weekend before. The Munro didn’t have the usual extra fuel tank fitted and the gain in extra hip room in the sidecar was surprising and if I was to own one I would opt for this model and if required, fit a fuel tank externally low down between the bike and sidecar. John has got some finishing touches still to do, but at least he is up and running and these can be done when spare time allows.
Saturday and we didn’t go on the run out this year as our daughter, son, daughter in-law and bump were coming to visit for the day. All too soon it was time to help out with the BBQ which was followed by the raffle (didn’t win anything), once again Joyce sold me a load of duff tickets.
By the evening the midges were back out in force, probably the worst midge invasion I have known at Forest Glade and what with the midges feasting on my head two evenings before, by late evening on the Saturday my head felt like a golf ball.
Sunday arrived all too quickly and it was pack up time, I had to leave early to get back home to go to work in the afternoon, so it was M5, M42, M6, A14 and relatively traffic free. With a full 25lt tank on the FJR I left at 9am and arrived home at 12:45 some 250miles covered in 3¾hrs, pity that travelling on the motorways is not like this all of the time.
Martyn
The family Rodd