APMC Run Clifford Arms 2023

Its 9.45 am on a Wednesday morning and I’m riding my Suzuki GW250 through Abbots Bromley towards Blithfield reservoir thinking ‘What a lovely morning for the Clifford Arms APMC run’.

On arrival at the Clifford Arms car park in Great Haywood there were bikes of various ages and nationalities already assembled and after a few quick ‘Hello’s’ with friends it was off into the pub to pre-order a meal to eat on my return.

The start time of 10.30 am approached and before setting off Brian told us that the run would be approximately 45 miles on rural roads and there would be a drink and ‘comfort’ stop at the approximate halfway point. He also said we’d be using the last-man drop-off system with him at the front in high viz and Mick Leach at the rear.

Time to go, turning left out of the car park, then another left to Tixall and eventually another left to Milford and Brocton. Next, we crossed the A34 to Penkridge where it was market day (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and quite busy. I was quite relieved to turn quickly off the main road towards Church Eaton and Gnosall.

Testament to Brian’s planning he’d picked the exact day they were relaying the road through the centre of Gnosall and by the looks of the surface it had only just been done as the tar was still molten in places where the gravel had missed it!

It was really not a pleasant place to be as the traffic was solid, it was a hot day and I for one didn’t intend to go much above the suggested 10 mph as indicated on the temporary road signs. I could hear the gravel obviously sticking to my tyres flicking up on the underside of my mudguards as I moved slowly along. In fact I was relieved when I saw the sign for Norbury pointing to our right as I knew that was our halfway destination and we were back on ‘a better road surface’.

It actually took quite a few miles to finally get rid of the last few bits of gravel stuck to my wheels and by then we were nearly at Norbury Junction, our halfway stop by the side of the Shropshire Union canal. This was a really nice place to be on such a glorious day.

After a quick coffee and a chat etc we were once again on our way towards Norbury village and then eventually Great Bridgeford. At Great Bridgeford we turned right towards Cresswell, then under the M6 and up the dual carriageway towards Stafford. It was straight across the roundabout at the top and on past the Harrier Jump jet ‘parked’ on the grass in front of the MoD establishment. We crossed the next roundabout along a new road, past the fire station and turned onto a new housing estate towards Stafford Crematorium and Tixall.

Here we’re caught behind what must have been the slowest tractor and trailer in Staffordshire. The driver did eventually pull over and let us past but we were now almost back to Great Bridgeford and the Clifford Arms.

The sun was still shining and the food and drinks were beckoning so we went inside for our lunch and I must say my cheeseburger was really good!

Soon it was time to depart, so after saying our goodbyes we were on our way. Many thanks to Brian Amies for planning and leading the route, Mick Leach as the last man and the staff at Norbury Wharf and The Clifford Arms for looking after us. It was another good ride out and once again it didn’t rain!

John Earp.