PW_3_2025

Focus on the SIGs – Motorcycle SIG

Dammed birds!

Talla Reservoir

Motorcycle SIG AGM By Sally McMillan The AGM comes around so fast each year. As has been our practice now for some time the AGM is merely an excuse for a trip away, a weekend or longer, with a meeting thrown in one evening in for good measure. T his year we returned to one of our favourite hotels The Buccleuch Arms Hotel, in Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, having previously used this hotel for our View from Buccleuch Arms

AGM in 2023. It is a biker hotel, run by a biker who also happens to be a member of the IPA, but not the Motorcycle SIG. There is secure parking for the bikes in the rear garden area, and all the facilities you could wish for to clean your bike if you feel the need, all free of charge. The weather was good to us on the way up so Stuart and I took a detour into the Lake District for an ice cream in Bowness on the shore of Lake Windermere. We then travelled up the Kirkstone Pass on the A592 and passed Ullswater before returning to the motorway to complete our journey. Dave, our host at the Buccleuch Hotel can provide routes of the area for bikers to take hence saving much research, local knowledge is always welcome, and time permitting he has been known to lead a ride. On the Saturday morning some of our members took advantage of his offer, whilst some, ourselves included, did another route that Dave had prepared for us. It was a dry sunny day and we had a great ride including the A712 from Newton Stewart towards New Galloway, then picking up the A702 to Elvanfoot. Good fun and very interesting, especially the large road cones placed in deep potholes in the middle of the road under a canopy of trees. Bright sunlight to shade - it could have been rather entertaining, but all negotiated them safely. Our AGM was held on the Saturday evening after a very good meal. Nineteen members attended the meeting and during the proceedings we welcomed a new committee member, Barrie Last, who volunteered(!) to take on the role of Quartermaster. Thank you Barrie. The non members sensibly sat in the garden enjoying a beer or glass of wine, or two. On Sunday Dave again offered to lead a ride, this time we took him up on this, and he led us on a very interesting route, taking in roads that, as visitors, we would never have found but which we fully intend riding again in the future. The food is always great at The Buccleuch Arms the welcome warm, and the roads inviting. On our Sunday ride I saw four Golden Eagles, two Herons, Oyster Catchers plus many other birds that I cannot remember. It is an area of Scotland that many people miss in their rush to get to the Highlands, this is good for those of us who have discovered its charms and attractions.

Stuart, Steve and Paul A702

Group ride

Stuart and Sally at Bowness

Morning stop

Morning coffee

Sally, Paul, Steve, Helen and Roger on A702

Food

POLICE WORLD Vol 70 No.3, 2025

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