Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: guest7 on January 16, 2011, 01:42:43 PM
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Can any of you give me directions to the John Ebbrell memorial bench near Talybont on Usk?
Mr Ebbrell was a very fine motorcycle journalist who helped bring about the TRF and also championed the Dragon Rally. When he died (reversed over by a truck!) a bench was placed near Talybont in his memory. I've never seen it but I thought it would be a good target for a day's ride.
GC
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And talking of which, Mr Ebbrell did two fantastic articles in the Motor Cycle (Sept. '62) about riding through the famous Welsh passes on a 199cc James Captain sidecar outfit with his wife in the chair!
I thought I might recreate the route this spring. Basically the start was from the Hereford road, to Llanthony and over the Gospel Pass. Then it was on to Tregaron via a stretch of the Sarn Helen roman road. From Tregaron he headed north through Llanidloes and on to Dylife on the Macynthlleth mountain road. The pub he stayed at in Dylife is still there and does B&B so that seems like a good stop-over opportunity.
The second leg of his trip took him over Bwlch y Groes and the Sychnant pass, but I don't have the full details of that leg yet.
Of course if anyone fancies joining in then PM me and I will send scans of the articles
GC
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By 'eck, just how long did it take him to ride the passes?
The little Captain must have needed a re-ring at least at the end of it !
An eccentric hero :)
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The little Captain must have needed a re-ring at least at the end of it !
Is 'The Little Captain' a euphemism for a part of Mrs Ebbrell's lower body? :D :D
More seriously he was very pleased with how the little outfit handled the trip.
GC
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Sounds like it could be fun - send me the details GC....
Steffan
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From a BSA website:
"Aged 3 I emigrated from Ireland to the UK in a sidecar attached to a James Captain, also on board 2 adults and an older sibling."
GC: Which rings were tighter: the bike's at the top of a climb or the others downhilling through twisties.... marginal brakes etc... ?
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I spoke to someone today who has seen the memorial, apparently you take a small road out of Talybont on Usk, follow it until you get to a gate, go through and follow the track for half a mile.
I think I have correctly marked the spot on THIS (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=310840&Y=218960&A=Y&Z=126) map
I might take a saunter up there next week.
GC
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Sounds like it could be fun - send me the details GC....
Steffan
I picked up the copy of the second part of the article yesterday and I have scanned both parts. I will get these printed off and if anyone wants a copy let me know. It's not the most in-depth touring article you have ever read, but it is charming, especially if you are familiar with the roads.
One of my favourite bits is when he has to turf his wife out of the chair for the climb over Hirnant Pass, he says (less than gallantly) "I waited at the top for Eileen to trudge up the 1 in 4.9 gradient".
He probably had a fag whilst waiting and then told her off for being so slow ;)
A James Captain outfit, I ask you!
Cheers
GC
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John and Eileen Ebbrell in flatter surroundings:
(http://www.theimagefile.com/tx.aspx/UK4238824450.jpg?auth=1295510400.4238824450.4.3.11.acf1070e9131c94569a8eca36d09f8800490e331.1277887108)
Of course we know that all the time she's thinking "Can't we ever stay in a fucking hotel? you twat!" :D
GC
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I might take a saunter up there next week.
GC
Give me a shout I might join you
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Late spring, which gives me time to get my TS125 back together and running.
Steffan
You could email the scans - save postage
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Hi #1, Can you send me a copy of the article, I may not be able to join you but it would make a nice weekend run with a stopover.......in a B&B......
Posh & Becks of the Thumper Club indeed.
Dave
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Dave and Steffan, the scans don't make much sense electronically (two page layouts and all that) so I posted hard copies to you.
I'm guessing that between us we have already ridden all the roads mentioned, but it is a sweet little article.
GC
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If anyone wants to see the article in PDF format, click HERE (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/one.pot/temp/botharticles.pdf) for a download.
The last two pages are supposed to be read side by side so you may need to flick between the on-line pages to make any sense of it (or print the pages out and read them as intended).
GC
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Had a quick glance......will have a better look when I come back of Hols !
Looks really interesting....have fond memories of Watsonian Bambini Sidecar :D
Would be interesting to take a canter on an outfit or a small bike to get an idea what it might have felt like travelling those roads in the '50s and 60's.
Jethro
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GC,
thanks for scan - off-line for a week now but I will get in touch when back in Cardiff the week after and perhaps I can pop over and we can discuss further - many familiar roads there.
2Ts rule!!
Steff
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Hi #1, copy arrived today, will read it thoroughly tonight and plot the route, I've done all the passes, but only the Gospel & Sychnant heading south.
I would start at Llanthony and head north........it would make a nice weekend run on my new classic looking bike.
Looks like I owe you a couple of drinks for your effort.
See you soon
Dave
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Brilliant read Mr Carrick. I think that we have done most if not all the passes but to do them over a weekend on low powered machinery would be a splendid tribute.
Richard
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Hi Gc,
Mol and I took a trip up along the road on your map today, never been up here before, superb views of the Beacons. The Tee junction at the end of the road seems to lead off into a private house, not welcoming to visitors, and continue as atrack for about 1/2 mile, there is nothing up that way. On the junction is a grand table and chairs in Old Red Sandstone, could be the memorial? Here are a few of the photos I took this afternoon, well worth a visit.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/IMG_0769.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/IMG_0766.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/IMG_0763.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/IMG_0762.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/IMG_0774.jpg
Furry
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Great pictures John, cheers for posting them.
As for the Ebrell memorial, I got my info from Dick Jones (a Cardiff bike mechanic) so perhaps you can compare notes when you see him.
GC
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...to do them over a weekend on low powered machinery...
I've never owned any other type of motorcycle ::) :D
GC
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Me neither now I think of it. 65 bhp was as good as it ever got.
23 for a while now.
Richard
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Hey GC, a quick Googlesesh from your description gives THIS ROUTE (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=51.99211,-3.09714+to:Church+St%2FB4350+to:tregaron+to:Llanidloes+to:dylife+to:bwlch+y+groes&hl=en&geocode=FVKiFwMdNIbS_w%3BFS5WGQMdzL3Q_ykviwYeKStwSDEAQ_XMI4sNEw%3BFXqLGgMdpEDQ_w%3BFRjRHAMdOvfD_ynfnuYucwlvSDFcCHem8EcXsQ%3BFaNOIAMdOPvJ_ymPnQj7j5JvSDGRpnCMNtPFkQ%3BFWqcIQMdidrH_ylx-kazWIxvSDH5QiuMVdVDTA%3BFRqNJQMdoePI_ymLqDpWDF1lSDH5BS4WhNw_8Q&mra=ls&via=1&sll=52.44764,-3.419495&sspn=0.875493,2.39502&ie=UTF8&ll=52.345408,-3.290405&spn=1.755049,4.790039&z=8) but I'm not sure about where Sarn Helen fits in? It would seem to be too Southerly to be a good way to go, unless the original route was from Hay down to Llanvi-Cruc, then across and up?
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I believe that Sarn Helen is a byway or BOAT, you probably should check with the local highways authority to make sure that it is open.
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Hey GC, a quick Googlesesh from your description gives THIS ROUTE (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=51.99211,-3.09714+to:Church+St%2FB4350+to:tregaron+to:Llanidloes+to:dylife+to:bwlch+y+groes&hl=en&geocode=FVKiFwMdNIbS_w%3BFS5WGQMdzL3Q_ykviwYeKStwSDEAQ_XMI4sNEw%3BFXqLGgMdpEDQ_w%3BFRjRHAMdOvfD_ynfnuYucwlvSDFcCHem8EcXsQ%3BFaNOIAMdOPvJ_ymPnQj7j5JvSDGRpnCMNtPFkQ%3BFWqcIQMdidrH_ylx-kazWIxvSDH5QiuMVdVDTA%3BFRqNJQMdoePI_ymLqDpWDF1lSDH5BS4WhNw_8Q&mra=ls&via=1&sll=52.44764,-3.419495&sspn=0.875493,2.39502&ie=UTF8&ll=52.345408,-3.290405&spn=1.755049,4.790039&z=8) but I'm not sure about where Sarn Helen fits in?
I had doubts about that too, I will take a good map down to my mechanic mate who retraced the route some years ago and compare notes. My thoughts are that Ebbrell just stayed on the Ffarmers road.
GC
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Keep us posted if you don't mind? I've done parts of that, but not all. Would be a good little run out for a day.
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I believe that Sarn Helen is a byway or BOAT, you probably should check with the local highways authority to make sure that it is open.
No its not. I have been over it in two feet of snow. The road is made.
He is missing one or two I can think of too.
If you started at Llantony then Sarn Helen the route north is pretty self evident.
Steff
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Quote "a bench was placed near Talybont in his memory. I've never seen it but I thought it would be a good target for a day's ride. "
Hi, I have had a talk to "Trickie Dickie", the Honda mechanic GC mentions earlier, the bench is beyond where GC has it marked on his map, past the end of the tarmac section and on 1/4 mile up to a gate, 150 yards after the gate is a large horizontal board on a wooden base with a brass plaque on it with a memorial to John Ebbrell, further on down this track is a cairn memorial to another TRF founder.
Furry
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Thanks for confirming that John. I'd go there this weekend if I had a bloody bike! :D
Even for me it's getting close to the wire for a Dragon ride. It all hinges on how Gareth's CB250rs does at the mechanics (the self same Tricky Dicky). If it gets its output shaft seal replaced and it can all go back together in time then he will be using that and I will ride his DR650. If not I'm without wheels :o
I also want to do that Ebrell Passes ride soonish and I've got another blinding weekend ride mapped out.
GC
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Hi,
Been up on the DR today, lovely ride in the sun amazingly. I have found the seat with it's plaque, further on than expected along the top road GC shows, it's at the junction of the old dramway line to Tal y Bont and the top road on Tor yr Foel. Some photos from today.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080033.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080034.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080035.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080036.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080037.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080038.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080039.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn177/bmwr75/P2080041.jpg
The inscription on the plaque reads:
In memory of John Ebbrell
(Trail Rider)
Who sometimes passed this way
Remembered by friends
Furry
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FJ, I think you need to change your settings on Photobucket, the links are coming up as not found.
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Hi Shedbrewed, aye there was a problem, solved now, ta
Furry
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Great piccies John, thanks for posting them
GC
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Hi Shedbrewed, aye there was a problem, solved now, ta
Furry
Not a bother, pictures look great. What fantastic scenery.
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John and Eileen Ebbrell in flatter surroundings:
(http://www.theimagefile.com/tx.aspx/UK4238824450.jpg?auth=1295510400.4238824450.4.3.11.acf1070e9131c94569a8eca36d09f8800490e331.1277887108)
Of course we know that all the time she's thinking "Can't we ever stay in a *******ing hotel? you *******!" :D
GC
Perhaps I should ask her?
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Good pics.
I wonder what was at Carrick Cemetary though? I have a vision of part corroded bits of XBR stuck in the ground like the set of some zombie based rock video with a couple of Optimus 111's doubling up as the eternal flame.
Andy
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John and Eileen Ebbrell in flatter surroundings:
(http://www.theimagefile.com/tx.aspx/UK4238824450.jpg?auth=1295510400.4238824450.4.3.11.acf1070e9131c94569a8eca36d09f8800490e331.1277887108)
Of course we know that all the time she's thinking "Can't we ever stay in a *******ing hotel? you *******!" :D
GC
Perhaps I should ask her?
MMMMMmmmm Does someone know more ? ;D
Jethro
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I will speak to Pancho next time I get my hair cut. I think he was involved in placing the memorial bench in situ.
Rob
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Good pics.
I wonder what was at Carrick Cemetary though? I have a vision of part corroded bits of XBR stuck in the ground like the set of some zombie based rock video with a couple of Optimus 111's doubling up as the eternal flame.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Never got to see the final destination, Mol and I passed this signpost on our way back from the Islay ferry on the Mull of Kintyre and I thought of Carricks I knew, no connection with the Ebbrell seat at all.
Furry