Thames Valley Motorcycle Lodge No.9885

2019-10 October Ride Out

October 3rd-7th to Teba, Spain

Back in 2015 whilst at the West Kent Motorcycle Lodge consecration in Kent, I was convinced by other Thames Valley Motorcycle Lodge (TVML) brethren that I should join them on one of their regular bike trips to Teba in the Andalusian mountains north-west of Malaga.

Ten of us subsequently travelled to Mark and Lindsay Coma’s villa in Teba in October 2015 for an awesome 5 days riding BMWs and Triumphs in the mountains, through beautiful valleys and down to the coast.

On returning home, I made a promise that when I became Master in 2019 I would return to Teba with the Lodge for another ‘Ride-Out’. And so it happened. This this year from 3rd – 7th October, 6 brethren went to Teba: WBro Clive Hitchen, WBro Marcus Hilsdon, WBro Andy White, Bro Andrew White, WBro Ian Hopgood and WBro Bob Hopgood (Ashdown Lodge).

2019 10 03 01After an uneventful flight, landing in Malaga at around midday, we were picked and taken the 70km to Teba, settled in to the villa, chose our motorbikes for our 1st ride-out and had a very challenging ride on some seriously twisty mountain roads (I do so hate downhill hairpin bends) to Serratto, El Burgo, Yunquara, Pizarra, and back via Alora and Ardales.

That evening it was up to Teba town for some well-deserved food and drink with the locals.

Friday morning arrived with Mark’s wife Lindsey making us the now traditional bacon and egg baps before a ride to Ronda, and then onto the wonderful fast twisty road to Gaucin and on to Arcus de la Frontera. We wound our way up through the narrow streets to the stunning viewpoint. There we had a lovely Tapas lunch, before riding back via the very scenic A372 through El Bosque and Grazalema.

2019 10 03 02

 

Friday evening it was up to Teba town for another round of drinks (and food of course). This is where the ‘Where’s Wally?’ or more accurately “Where’s Ian?” conversation stared on TVML’s WhatsApp group. We all thought Ian Hopgood would be one who would make it to Teba this year.

Later that Friday evening who should stroll around the corner of the bar in Teba town with a big grin on his face, none other than Ian?

His plans had changed back home and he decided to book a late flight for Friday to join us for the weekend. Then there were 6!

Saturday ride out was to Puerto Banus on the coast for lunch, after first having Breakfast in El Burgo then riding the fantastic mountain road from Algatocin via Jubrique and the cork forests and down to Estepona on the coast. Then a ride back using the A397 to Ronda road, which is amazing and often used for new bike and car launches.

Sunday ride-out was a late start after a heavy night in Teba town :), so a late lunch overlooking the lakes at Ardales, then through El Chorro and on to Almogia then onto El Torcal for an amazing view and a look at the famous rocks, see:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=el+torcal+film&qpvt=el+torcal+film&FORM=IGRE

Monday was a shorter ride out to El Burgo for breakfast, then on to the viewpoint over the Red Mountains before riding the newly tarmacked A366 to Ronda (like a racetrack with views across the valleys) and on to Grazelama for a coffee. Then onto Marcus's favourite route anywhere: the mountain road from Grazalema to Zahara, an amazing mountain road where it is reputed that the final scene in the Italian Job was filmed: the bit with the coach hanging over the cliff. You come down the mountain road through tight hairpins, so keep your eyes on the road, and get a magnificent view of the lakes slowly getting larger as you wind your way down. Then lunch in Zahara overlooking the lakes before a proper blast on the fast-twisty roads past the lakes and back to Ronda before heading back to the villa before our flight home.

I addition to a memorable and very enjoyable long weekend, as TVML are regular visitors to Mark’s villa in Teba, Mark waived one of the brethren’s costs, so we could give a donation to a charity. The £230 for Ian’s stay was donated by TVML to the Wokingham Salvation Army where Clive works as a volunteer helping to run their new Employment Plus Job Club for local unemployed and homeless.

TVML 9885: www.berksonbikes Mark & Lindsay Comer (Teba): www.bmwmotohire.com

Clive Hitchen WM - TVML No. 9885

RideOut Calendar

Untitled

Latest FULL Programme

14 05 23 - Weymouth & Portland Bill  - Ian Hopgood - 07768 601780

21 05 23 - Pinewood Classic & Custom Bike Show, Crowthorne, Berkshire

04 06 23 - National Arboretum, Staffordshire - Richard Orton 07983 721818

26 06 23 - Cassington Bike Night, Oxfordshire

02 07 23 - TMYC Sonning, Berkshire - Boat, TR and Bike BBQ - Richard Orton 07983 721818

06 08 23 - Compton Abbas Airfield, Salisbury (Dave Angus Memorial Ride) - Colin Wills 07587 154007

03 09 23 - Wye Valley Tour, Welsh Borders (possible 2 days) - Marcus Hilsdon 07774 920918

01 10 23 - Brooklands, Weybridge - Clive Hitchen

03 12 23 - Reading Toy Run (Marshalling)

TBA 23 - Triumph Factory, Hinckley, Leicestershire - Ian Hopgood - 07768 601780

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Bike Nights/Cafes

H Cafe - Benson, Oxon

Ryker's Cafe - Box Hill, Surrey

Blackbush Airport, Camberley, Surrey (Weds lunchtimes)

Pinewood Bike Night - Crowthorne, Berks (Fri & Tues eves)

Poole Bike Night - Poole, Dorset (Tuesdays Apr-Sept)

 

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