If anyone wants a better route to Minehead avoiding the hideous, tourist infested, Bridgwater to Minehead road, go to Taunton then head out on the A358 past Bishops Lydeard then bearing left onto the B3224 towards wheddon cross. This will take you on fast twisty empty roads to Raleighs Cross. About half a mile or so after that, turn right, still on B3224 for Wheddon Cross for more of the same. At Wheddon Cross turn right for Dunster. Head down more woodland twisties and a great head of the valley u bend before rattling the windows in beautiful Dunster village and out onto the main A39 road into Minehead. It's a few smiles further but worth it. Happy to meet up in the Taunton area as my gaff is not far.

What time are we co-ordinating at Gordano then? 8.30?

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08 Specialized Langster

Yeah that sounds hideously early enough.

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Sounds like I'll be waking my neighbors even earlier!

Anyone wanting to come to my place for tea/ coffee /running repairs will be very welcome. It's sort of en route for the Gordano crew and we can go via the better route to Minehead. I am halfway between bridgwater and Taunton about a mile from the A38. Let me know if interested and we can sort full directions out via PM. Easy to find, main roads all the way. Reckon to leave mine by 0945 for 1100 in Minehead. Buell friendly garage just up the road too.

I was thinking of heading off at Bridgey, then crossing the Quantocks (for nice views etc. etc.). A good place to meet would be Bishops Lydeard at 09:10 (or at Pines Cafe at the top 09:00). Turn right on the A358, then left under the railway bridge, straight on at the cross roads then right fork at the church, then right at the cross roads before turning right on the A396 over to the A39 to turn left for Minehead...

Not 100% sure where you live Hugh, but you could come up to the Pines via Kingston St Mary or Fyne Court...

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08 Specialized Langster

You read my mind or at least a good road map/google earth. You will end up at Pines garage then Bishops Lydeard via Bridgey then Enmore.
That road is OK but there are lots of speed restrictions before Pines and the road is narrow in places and dangerous due to Sunday morning dogwalkers hell bent on getting up onto the Quantocks or desperate to get home quickly and get their pooch, who will by now smell of horse/badger/fox/deer s--t out of the car, so be careful.
Its as easy to meet at Bishops Lydeard if you like or the offer still stands to meet at mine. If anyone is coming from East of Taunton e.g. Glastonbury and beyond, I am just off the A361 a mile east of where it joins the A38 at Walford Cross.
I rang Rich(Restone) tonight and he is still offline. He has been out and about and reckons the roads are a little on the gritty side and havent washed that clean . "Its Uly territory rather than 1125R". He asked me that people either ring him or pm you, daywalker or I if they are not sure what is happening. Its definitely on and he is expecting as many as 15. If its wet it will be a steady tour, if its dry then a little faster.....
Not sure if we can post up Google earth links but I will try, the meeting point is on the seafront directly opposite the West Somerset Railway Minehead Station. If it doesnt work, you can see a quarter circle of white stone tables there. Used all the time for bike parking and a tea/ice cream shop just across the road.

PS the views on the quantock road are mostly obscured by trees and hedges !! and I cant upload google earth files so pm me if you need the location.

I wont be going particularly quickly as I have a few more years to live with bones in tact.

The road over the Quantocks will be cool, depending on how I feel I may go by Hawkridge Reservoir.

So, my money is on either Pines or BL.

To get to the A361 means coming off at Bridgey S and heading through Pethey to Walford Cross which brings back memories of being disqualified for an average of 120mph in the opposite direction...

PM me your mobile Hugh.

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08 Specialized Langster

Looking Dry and sunny on Sunday for S.W. & Exmoor, but friggin cold early on so need to wrap up!

Hey up folks Rich ere, OWWWW ARRRHHHHH. Ride definately on, weather will be sunny 13 deg but a chilly start meet by West sommerset railway minehead seafront 11am.
Please please be carefull, geriatric tourists, kamakasi pheasants and deer , and very gritty roads in places And if you see the double bend sign be prepared for potentially arse clenching double hairpins Still loads of fun to be had and defo agree with hugh the taunton - raleighs cross - weddon cross dunster route is great, reckied it last night mostly clean but pheasant infested......the little bastards always seem to die and lie on the apex of all the best corners
Cant wait to see you all tommorow.

AV IT!

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Buelling is exhillarating
But downhill bike racing is so terrifying it makes your arse grow teeth

Sorting out my shades, winter slacks, paniers, bullbars, gerrycan, and small tactical nuclear device for errant tourists en-route!

'av a good one guy's...and the sun WILL come out

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xxxx

Pash and co , meet you at the Bishops Lydeard Railway station carpark around 10-1015.

Yeah cool...

Everyone else see you 8.30 at Gordano. We have plenty of time so can do A370...

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08 Specialized Langster

Looking forward to this one! See you in the morning.

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Buell S1
Buell S3 (Topless for now)
Buell XB12S
Piaggio X8 400ie
Yamaha XTZ750 Super Tenere (x2)
Suzuki GSXR750WR
BSA B441VS
FJR1300