Each year the Quarrymen engage in a Charity ride. This year was raising funds for LifeLites.org. The ride is called the Graham Taylor Memorial Ride, named for our late and founding president.
Below is a very long, but somehow short, description of our ride this year.
The ride start was at Kinson. Chosen due to having its own car park so that we could gather in an ordered fashion and do our pre ride briefing. Last year there were just two of us at the start (plus our non member doing photos), this year there were eight, getting us off to a great start.
Moving onto Branksome, we picked up another member for the journey and got our photo done before heading to Poole.
Admittedly we were already running a bit behind due to an alarm clock failure for one of the officers.
He was to join us again shortly after getting his regalia.
All fully present and attired we took a very short stop at Poole Masonic Hall.
This location is down a residential street and we did not want to disturb the lucky people still in bed.
The next stop way via the Sandbanks Chain Ferry, moving us to the Purbecks.
Swanage Masonic Hall is a lovely building but unfortunately was also the waypoint that heralded the rain we had hoped to pass us by.
Swiftly moving on the Wareham we were welcomed by some friends who had prepared some refreshments for us.
Although wet, the heat was starting to come on so we were all very happy for a quick fluid (and loo) break.
Cutting back inland a little we headed to the town of Dorchester.
The rain was coming down hard but, as we arrived, slowly started to lift.
You might notice yet another member in the ranks for this photo.
From Dorchester we headed over to Weymouth. By this point the rest of the world were starting to wake up and traffic build a little.
Trying to save time this was a very quick stop before a short run over to Portland.
This would be the last of the short rides so we took a few minutes to gather together and have a quick chat (plus more loo breaks).
This building sits over the road from the original lodge building as is where the Quarrymen attended a Dorset Master event a few weeks earlier.
The next leg was down the awesome Jurassic coast road, all the way to Lyme Regis.
This was to be our food stop and the lodge building was conveniently by a cafe.
We are not sure the chef was taken with us though as there were 14 orders for him to deal with.
Fuelled and ready for more we headed to Bridport.
The lodge is also very close to a fuel stop so we took the opportunity to top up the tanks before heading to out next stop, an hour or so late.
The brethren and families of Beaminster Manor opened up for us last year and this year was no exception. We were given a warm welcome and much needed cold drinks (and cake) to aid the weary travellers on their journey
Heading cross country in much sunnier and very hot weather, we approached Sherbourne.
This is a lovely place and the Abbey up the road from the lodge is the location for the masonic carol service each Christmas.
Another short leg saw many of us homeward bound.
This time to Gillingham which many of us pass through during personal leisure time on the bikes.
A very short hop later to Shaftsbury. Home of a certain famous hill from a Hovis advert.
This is a great lodge and easily missed when passing by.
Like the tardis, it is a lot bigger on the inside.
Nearing the final stages we headed over to the Blackmoor Vale where residents of the street came and chatted to us about what we were doing and the charity we were supporting.
Everywhere we went we enjoyed smiles from the onlookers.
The home stretch saw us weary, very hot and glad to see a familiar building to us all in Blandford.
We have a couple of members based in this building so many of us have visited in the past.
Finally we made our way to the ride end in Wimborne. Only 90 minutes late which is a big improvement on the 2.5 hours last year.
Some headed home and some popped for more cold refreshments next door
This is a great ride for us and we love it more each time. The ride is already being planned for next year with a provisional date of Sunday the 8th September.