Yes I know that by now you may be tired of reading about the Gabycon that happened last weekend. However I enjoyed it so much I had to just have to write it down and share it with you.

Having gone through in my mind all the items I needed to take for the final time, I loaded the car. This year would be slightly different due to the bike I was bringing along with me. However I had checked a few days before and found that with the front wheel removed it would fit comfortably on the back seats.
So with no hold-ups I set off at two thirty in the afternoon for the trip from Portsmouth to Dorchester. The trip was uneventful, only taking just over two hours. This being Friday afternoon the weekend traffic was heavier than I anticipated but I arrived at the B&B at four forty.
A check on the web had found one in the centre of the town, with a glowing reference as ‘a hidden gem’ of a place. How right they were. The owners, a lovely couple of architects, I discovered, had a lovely Victorian town house with three rooms which they let on a more part time basis than as a business.
From the Aga in the kitchen to the lovely en-suite bedroom, I could tell I was going to be spoilt this weekend.
After a freshen-up and a change, I set up the laptop and used my new mobile broadband ‘dongle’ for the first time. It worked well but had a content control in place, by the time I found the customer service number they were closed for the day. Ah well.
A check of the e-mail from Maddy confirmed we were due to meet at Judge Jeffrey’s lodging house at eight pm. I arrived fifteen minutes early and sat and waited for the others. They soon arrived and we began chatting away while we waited for our table.
Maddy and Angharad, two witty and erudite individuals ensured the conversation was lively, funny and warm hearted. During the meal plans were confirmed for the ride to see the Cerne Abbas giant in the morning. When the restaurant gave us a subtle hint of the time by putting all the lights on, we realised we had better reconvene in the morning.
After a good nights rest and the usual ablutions I enjoyed a nice breakfast. I started with Dorset cereals, along with fresh raspberries from the garden, picked only ten minutes before. This was followed by wholemeal toast with home made plum jam, along with plenty of tea.
All too soon I recovered my bike from the owner’s garage and set out to meet the others at the Thomas Hardy statue. Now, I am used to riding along the sea front early in the morning with little or no traffic. My lack of experience in traffic soon became apparent as it took me three stops to make my way to the others. Both Maddy and Ang ensured Bev and I kept up, indeed Ang, wonderful woman she is had a rear view mirror fitted ‘just in case’ I fell behind. I had exceeded my normal five mile daily limit but had managed to keep up; mainly due to the pace they set. We soon arrived at the viewing area to see the giant on the hill opposite. Martin and Ben were waiting for us.
After photos were taken we adjourned to Cerne itself and a cycle friendly café, for tea and cake. After that we walked round the Cerne Abbey, again with plenty of pictures taken.

Somehow, the ride back seemed shorter to me so when I saw the last two hundred yards in sight, although it was uphill I decided to see if I could get it over with as soon as possible. I made it faster than I thought I would, so still wheezing away the more experienced arrived shaking their heads. With eyes gleaming, Maddy said later that there was a certain ride up a mountain in Europe that I should be sent to do, that would teach me a lesson. Ah well.
After a stay at a local café where I consumed a bacon butty and two mugs of tea, I was fit enough to go on. Next stop was Maumbury rings for some readings.
Now, I do not know about you, but having your favourite authors reading their work, on a sunny afternoon whilst lying on the grass gazing up at the few fluffy clouds scudding by, can only be described as sheer bliss.
All too soon we decamp for Maiden castle.
So, after another ride we arrived and waited for Martin and Ben to arrive, via a shop to get an adapter for his European plug.
When we start up towards the hill fort I am once again amazed by the knowledge of Maddy and Ang. From the archaeology to the history of the site, I gain far more of an experience when someone you know imparts such information in a quiet friendly manner.
Now with a group like ours conversations are starting, evolving changing as we walk along in twos and threes, with individuals leaving and arriving in different groups. All in all, a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
Finally we return to the bikes and car and agree to meet again at eight pm at a pub. Thanks to Ang’s willingness to pick us up in her car we soon arrived at the Black Dog pub for our evening meal.
After a hearty soup as a starter and lamb steaks as a main course we were treated to a lovely addition. First we had a preview of the new Gaby book followed by a new story from Angharad’s take on the Gaby tale, with finally a new episode of Jamie and the Peach by Maddy.
All this and a glass of good red wine, was simply wonderful.
We departed to our beds with an agreement to meet again at quarter to ten in the morning. I agreed to do the driving for the day.
After a lovely ‘full English’ breakfast cooked by the owner on her Aga, while I listened to stories of her mostly growing up in the Portsmouth area, taking her degree at Portsmouth University and her thesis on a local architect, who had built villas near to where I live. There are days when you realise that the synchronicity espoused by Jung mat have credence.
Anyway, I managed to arrive on time to pick the others up for a full day’s activity. After a discussion on permutations of getting everyone in the car, Bev, who had to leave earlier than the rest so agreed to meet up with us at Corfe.
We picked Ben up at Weymouth and made our way to Corfe Castle.
We arrived and parked the car and made our way towards the castle. The sky was a clear blue, the sun shinning, no breeze, so all in all perfect day weather wise. As we walked through a small museum, I noted they had a page of occupations for children in 1795. To find entries for eleven year old labourers, six year old flax teasers and eight year old knitters I found it quite sad. Even sadder, was the thought that in some parts of the world it is still 1795.
Walking away, I joined the others and paid the National Trust the entry fee and we walked into the castle. I was surprised to find people wearing costumes of the civil war period. No, they were not ghosts but members of the civil war society re-enacting the time when the castle was destroyed both as a home and a stronghold
Again lots of photos were taken, conversations restarted and plenty of smiling faces. When we finally left the castle, we stopped in the tea garden and enjoyed both tea and jacket potatoes.
Alas Bev had to leave after the meal, so with goodbyes all round we regrouped and made our way back to the car. Before we left we were treated with another reading by Ang from her book ‘Gaby heads south’
So onto Lulworth cove, we paid the costly parking fee and made our way to the cove. Important decisions had to be made, do we have ice creams before we walk round the cove to see the petrified trees, or when we returned. We all agreed to a compromise, so we had ice creams before we left in the knowledge we would have another when we returned. That I made my way around a pebble beach, up a steep side of the cove and down the steps to the area of the petrified trees was surprising in itself, having conversations all the way that made it seem a gentle stroll was more surprising
Upon our return, we kept our promise and had our second ice cram. In my case Irish Cream flavour.
After a walk to the next cliff, we finally did the touristy thing and entered the souvenir shop. Whilst we failed to buy anything some of the items for sale of minerals were fascinating.
We decided to make our way to Chesil beach. Ang directed us to the heights above the beach for a dramatic viewpoint. Once again we were treated to readings from Maddy and Ang.
Our final stop was to Portland Bill. I asked if Bill would be at home and was met with groans. We arrived to see two Lighthouses, the original, plus a new automatic one.
After a short stop we reluctantly made our way to a nearby carvery for a final meal together.
Whilst we all enjoyed the meal the realisation that our time together would soon end cast a slight down to our group.
Ben was the first to be dropped off amid smiles hugs and waves. I then drove the car back to where the others were staying and once again we had to say goodbye. This time my goodbyes seemed even more difficult to make.
This was my third time at Gabycon. I have enjoyed each one and especially all those I have met. Will I go again should there be another? Yes of course I will.
I understand that many cannot make such a trip, but for those who could make such a trip start preparing now.
A special thanks to Maddy and Ang for all the work they put in making this years meeting the best.
What I still find amazing is why has Maddy’s fictional character of the misadventures of a mixed up teenager resonated with so many people, that they will travel large distances to meet others?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbas_giant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maumbury_Rings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_Castle,_Dorset
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfe_Castle_(castle)