This section of our website features a recent ride report from our members, updated monthly. Links to older reports can be found at the bottom of the page.
Trail Ride for those with a Disability 18.7.09
On Saturday the 18th of July, Devon TRF was involved in supporting an event aimed at giving trail rides to those with a disability. The following words are from Dave "Xtriple" Towers, photographs by Rob "Snafu2" Drake:
It was a brilliant day! We set off about 9:30 and met up with Rob, Liz, Alex and his good lady at JD Racing (where I blagged coffee) and had a mooch around there - Rob fell in love with a white KTM 125 and had to be dragged away salivating..... We arrived at Dunmere Woods about 12:00 to be met by dozens of guys from Cornwall, Essex and Wales TRF who had all come down to help - my award for most distant traveller looked in doubt..... Tents had been set up and the BBQ was in full swing (no veggie burgers though!), and Bob "Captain Slow" Turner (Devon TRF and Teign Valley Trail Rider member) was on hand to point us in the right direction to park the trucks.
I unloaded the bike and took all the helmets (we took six spares - which were much used throughout the day) up to the staging area. I took Sammy (our littlest) for an exploratory lap - about two miles of forest access roads, beautiful scenery, lovely lanes but slippery with tree sheddings and mud, nothing tricky at all which was very sensible. Nice to see all the "No Motorcycles" signs that we could ignore with impunity..... Rob asked me to go pillion as he hadn't had a passenger on the loose for about thirty years - I said I hadn't been a passenger for about thirty years so be careful, Sammy was again co-opted by Liz for an explore. Rob set off slowly and my fear diminished so I started steering the bike with my feet - right turn so lots of weight on the left footpeg - don't BMW's run wide when you do that! Then I insisted on pressing all the buttons on the 'bars - indicators, horn (which doesn't work) kill switch etc. Not having succeeded in getting Rob to bin it, as we were approaching a tight right, I put my hands over his eyes..... My, doesn't Rob know some colourful language! Having acquainted ourselves with the track, we had our first passengers of the day. A little girl maybe 10 years old, starting off nice and slow, I quickly get the message "faster please" so a little quicker - "faster please" - this was a message repeated often throughout the day!
All the passengers were lovely, the Downs Syndrome lads really loved it - talking incessently throughout the rides, laughing and waving to all.
"Faster please!"
We kept on catching up with Dave "icanhopit" Ledger (Devon TRF member) who was ferrying folks round in his Suzuki Vitara - the only vehicle of the day to spot a badger (Devon TRF-speak for a very mild mishap)! We also kept on catching the truck and trailer full of people sat on straw bails who were being weaved all over the lanes by Barney and other drivers - great fun for all. Everyone had a great time - all the passengers, without exception, had a hoot - big (huge!) smiles all round.
Everyone who took part as pillion/passenger recieved a framed certificate with their name on it to say they had done the TRF Trail Experience Day at Dunmere Woods, and were presented with them at a mid-day ceremony. Then more rides - "faster please" - and we also took some of the helpers round for a laugh.
Nick (Devon TRF member) came down to lend a hand, but organiser Ross had everything under control. Lorn (Devon TRF member) was on helmet duty all day, handing them out and then trying to get back lids - some of the lads wanted to hang onto them as a keep-sake!
A brilliant day for everyone, and we finally got home about 7:30.
Just before the rain started, luckily it didn't last long:
Liz testing her pillion skills with Sammy before the main event:
Knibbs, a Welsh visitor, returning from a sighting lap:
