There was amazing club representation as we said an emotional farewell to Raymond. ‘One of the good guys’ is a phrase I have used and have heard this used often by others. There must have been 25 Wheelers, or more, lining the square in St.Keverne along with nearly 100 motorcycles gleaming in the sunshine, many of them with a photograph of Raymond attached to the fronts of the bikes. At 11.00 the funeral car passed by followed by Raymond’s family. We could see his Falmouth Wheelers top draped across the coffin and with a fly past of 2 Jets from Culdrose it was a very moving moment. The motorcycles followed the cortege to the crematorium in Camborne, passing a tribute from Culdrose of colleagues lining the road. At the crematorium there were more Wheelers waiting to say their farewells. A sad and moving day. Dean, along with the rides committee, will be organising a memorial ride for Raymond and this is looking likely to take place in June. If you would like to be involved in helping to organise the ride please contact Dean. Amanda is putting together tributes to Raymond and if you would like your memories and stories included please contact Amanda.
It has been put to the committee that we have, as part of the website, a ‘Not forgotten members’ page where we can put our own thoughts and tributes to Wheelers that are no longer with us. We will have a meeting with Chris, our Website Guru, as to the best way to incorporate this into the website.
Sticking to committee business we are very happy to welcome Phil Samuel to the committee as our new Treasurer. As there were enough members present on the OGIL ride yesterday he was able to be co-opted on to the committee. Many thanks go to Phil and we look forward to him being with us at our future meetings. We met as a committee for the first time since lockdown as we would have done normally just prior to a meeting and if you ever have anything that you would like brought to the meeting please speak to either myself, Liz, Fred or Phil.
On the note of future meetings, I have been in touch with Bev from Woodlane Social Club and she has said that it does not look as if they will be opening up before October which is a shame as I was hoping that we may have been able to meet in the flesh at the end of September. I personally don’t have any ideas, apart from a very large field and a megaphone, as to how we could hold a meeting for real before Woodlane opens up again. So that we are still keeping in touch, can I remind everyone that there is a Falmouth Wheelers WhatsApp group which you can join if your phone has the facility for this. I know a lot of members are part of the group but if you would like to join just let me know and I will arrange for you to be added. I know that you can get WhatsApp on to a laptop too if your phone is not compatible but I don’t think it’s a simple process. I would like to be corrected on this as I would quite like to add it on my laptop.
One of our members is leaving Cornwall for pastures new. New Zealand Dave is making the exciting move to the Dordogne in August. Selfishly I am hoping that this will open up new places for the Wheelers to visit on our French trips so if he thinks he can escape us he will be very much mistaken. We wish him well on his new venture and look forward to visiting him in France in the not too distant future. Weather permitting Dave is aiming to be out on Sunday for a medium distance ride.
Whilst everyone has been on lockdown and riding on their own a lot more we are hoping that there may have been new roads ridden or re-discovered areas that would be suitable for future pathfinder rides. It would be great to be able to resume the pathfinders as soon as possible as they really are the best way for getting everybody riding together. If you have a route and would like some assistance with setting the pathfinder contact me and we can find a buddy to give a helping hand. It is good to have a back marker to ensure that we are all going the same way.
Now that the cafés are opening up it has been quite a topic of conversation as to which ones are getting it right and which are not. I have been given a few names of cafes that members can recommend for their distancing and hygiene/safety processes.
I have been to The Fat Apple Café in Porthallow which has plenty of outside space and a few tables undercover for the damp but not cold days. They unfortunately didn’t have a particularly good one way system but people were stepping out of the way when needing to pass. Poldhu beach café has always been spot on with a strict one way system and clear 2 metre markings. Roskillys has been recommended too along with the Van at St.Mawes though I am not quite sure where the van is situated as I have not been there. The café at Perranuthnoe, always a favourite, too has got it right. They have an in and an out clearly marked with a collection point for food and drink and even the key to the toilet is in cleaning gel. I have heard too that Stepping Stones in Perranporth have strict rules and guidelines making it a pleasure to go to with little stress. Spread the word if you find others that can be recommended.
Robin has been out riding the Tour of Kernow Audax route. This is a permanent Audax route which can be ridden at any time. The description seems pretty straightforward – 450km permanent cycling event starting from Any location along the routeCornwall. The rider has 31 and a half hours to complete the route and it only costs £3.00 to enter. I was unable to see the route when I googled the event but I understand that it involves the Tamar and I should imagine Lands End. As Robin was attempting to ride it all in one day he has said that he ‘Sadly failed to work the ferries into the distance so was 45 miles short – managed 240 miles which is the furthest I’ve ever ridden in a day. Started ride with Steve Pond who did 100 miles before going to work! And Chris joined me at Perranporth for another 100. An amazing ride which I am sure Robin will be having another go at soon. There is an excellent report by Robin on the Website already. This ride can also be undertaken in 4 days and at just over 100k per day is very achievable. Put like that it sounds like a very tempting ride and if you were to camp along the way it would make some adventure. I’m certainly up for it next Spring or Summer and will look at making a plan.
I have tried to find the current Cycling UK guidance on cycling relating to Covid 19 and their guidance seems to still suggest riding in groups of no more than 6. I know that we are trying to keep to that guidance by splitting up into smaller groups if we exceed a group of 6 which is good and ensuring that we socially distance when we are at the café stop. Don’t forget that you are required to wear a mask from Friday 24th July when entering a café or take away. This already applies to the King Harry Ferry. The government guidance does seem to be changing on an almost weekly basis and I am aware that exercise classes out of doors are going to be able to take up to 15 people. We need to make sure that we are being as safe as possible and keeping others safe. We can use our own judgement as to whether it is sensible riding with a group. We must be seen to be adhering to the rules as we do not want to bring the club or cycling in general into disrepute. If anyone develops any coronavirus symptoms please ensure that you contact all of those that you have been riding with so that they are able to self isolate and also alert others that they subsequently have been in contact with. Please may I take this opportunity to say Thank You to all of the members of Falmouth Wheelers for keeping to the government guidelines and as such I am not aware of any members having coronavirus symptoms or illness.
Kath