CTC West Holme and Tolpuddle

Lawrence on Brough

We meet at Merley Bridge on once again a slightly overcast day, with the promise of rain later and head off for West Holme via our usual route. At the garden centre we find that no-one else has come to coffee to join us which is unusual but perhaps the weather forecast has put people off. However, we enjoy our coffee and chat while also deciding what to do for the second part of the ride. Kathy is not feeling so good so decides to head home with David and Doreen leaving me to join up with Derek, Bob Chitt, Dave W and Jim Mac to continue onwards to Tolpuddle. From West Holme we head west following the Frome river valley through East Stoke, Wool, Bovington Camp and up to Clouds Hill. On the way to clouds hill the home of TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) we pass the point where he had his fatal motorbike accident riding his famous Brough Superior SS100.

Memorial stone

Clouds Hill

From here we continue on through Briantspuddle and Affpuddle to Tolpuddle where we sit under the shelter and have our lunch. Tolpuddle of course is now mostly remembered for the Tolpuddle Martyrs a group of 19th century Dorset agricultural labourers who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. This is seen as many as the birth of the modern trades union movement a fact celebrated every year at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and Rally. We decide to decamp to the Martyrs Inn as the shelter is decidedly draughty and a hot coffee beckons!

Shelter at the site of the Martyrs tree

Martyrs Inn

After lunch it's time to head for home and by the time we get to Bere Regis the promised rain still has not arrived and we push on back to Wareham where Bob invites us to his place for a cup of tea. As we sit in Bobs conservatory discussing his upcoming trip to South africa the rain arrives announcing it's arrival by loudly drumming on the roof. We hang around for a while in the vain hope that the rain will clear but it is obvious that it is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future!! So its on with the rain capes and brave the elements as we all head for home. At the Bakers Arms the dual carriageway is closed due to a serious RTA so between here and Creekmoor we ride along passing miles of stationary cars. I might be wet but at least I'm moving.

I finally get home doing my best impersonation of a drowned rat, wash off my bike and rejoin Kathy who is looking very smug as she sits in the warm and dry!