Motorcycle Explorer August 2014 Issue 1 | Page 10

Feature: craig whitney - taffy dakar The first hardy souls began arriving on Wednesday, hell bent on setting up camp and getting some mud on their tyres in preparation for the festivities ahead. By Friday evening, the arrivals were in full flow, with almost 150 mud- pluggers and green lane enthusiasts rocking up for a weekend under canvass. Some rode in, some brought vans and trailers, while quite a few sported rather more luxurious camper vans, notably the Irish contingent, from the Paddy Dakar, the sister event held in Doone, each September. The campsite venue was The Ancient Briton Pub, a well-known local hostelry, oft frequented by bikers, hikers and other ne’er do wells and beardy types, not to mention quite a few boggle eyed families and kids seen inspecting the extensive race paddock that sprung up in the beer garden! All the comforts of home awa