Date: Saturday 10th July 2010
Route: Postbridge, Combestone Tor, Postbridge.
Riders: Colin, Keith, Paul, James, Steve, Neil, David, Alan, Martyn & Stephen.
Depart: 10:40
Arrive BBQ: 13:30
Arrive Postbridge: 17:15
Total Distance: 25 miles
Weather: Early cloud, mild, sun later.

Annual Summer Ride & Family Barbeque 2010 (or, Westy's 'Off Day')

With the forecast for our BBQ day being somewhat in the balance all week, it was nice to wake up to a dry morning with the promise of some sun in the afternoon. After my usual faffing around in work, it was good to get saddled up early and off to WP. I had left Debbie instructions on how to find Combestone Tor with the proviso not to worry as the ladies of Willowby would most assuredly know the way. As it turned out, these directions proved invaluable!!

Riders started to roll up at WP and cars loaded when a message came through from Horrabridge of a puncture. This delayed our departure to the point where Paul and Alan were all alone at Postbridge thinking they'd been stitched up! Eventually the ten gents set out trusting the Routemeister-in-Chief to get us to the BBQ on time. Being as the A to B route was too short, a loop had to be inserted, and what a loop it was.

Through Soussons Down, clockwise around Challacombe Down where Westy had his first off, the type of which I've never witnessed before. For he didn't actually come off his bike, it was just that his head and shoulders were on the ground with the wheels in the air!

From here we made the big climb to Birch Tor. As we sat on the tor waiting for David, taking in the magnificent views, the tranquility was shattered with David booming out 'Routemeister! Routemeister! Routemeister! Combestone Tor is in the other direction'!! Naturally we carried on in the wrong direction, but soon turned left to enjoy the fast decent towards the Warren House Inn. We continued downwards to the very tricky track through old mine workings back to Soussons Down. David was delayed along here due to a couple of offs, which none of us either witnessed, heard or felt!!

We then retraced our tracks almost back to Postbridge. With the clock ticking we were not going to make the BBQ on time. The options were back to the cars and drive to Combestone Tor, or cycle there and risk the wrath of the ladies! Someone, (who should remain nameless but has a double-barrelled surname and is well over six feet tall) suggested a route to the BBQ! So we set off again past a bull giving him a very wide birth, through Bellever Forest, up a hill and across a track to the Ashburton road. We did the remainder on road going past the Forest Inn then up a proper b*****d hill and into the welcome bosoms of our families. David arrived some time later having stopped in said Inn for a couple of pints! (They were non alcoholic, honestly)!! And David would like it to be recorded that although a car was sent out to pick him up, he did get back on his bike and cycle up that final hill.

The BBQ was fired up, the kids were rock climbing and the gents just recovering (at least, I was). At one point I narrowly missed being hit by a flying champagne cork and it only became clear to me some time later why some gents were drinking alcohol, for of the ten that set out from Postbridge, only four were going to cycle back!

So with the cars packed up with the remains of the BBQ, the four 'Full Men' donned helmets and followed the Routemeister off road down to Dartmeet. We did our first of three stepping stone crossings of a Dart river then cycled up another steep hill to Brimpts Farm and followed the East Dart to our second crossing. Colin then had another off, falling sideways into the undergrowth, with damage only to pride. Going past Babeny Stables we were faced with a tough looking rocky ascent. No problem thought Colin, big mistake thought I! In no time he was off again, remounted then off again!! At this point I'd just had enough. I told him to please stop making me laugh so much because it drains me of all my energy!!

We passed another farm then out onto open moorland before our final crossing of the East Dart. Another rocky, rooty ascent followed before we made it into Bellever Forest and after one more hill had a nice couple of downhill miles back to Postbridge where Stephen treated us to something as good as a Jail Ale, a Willeys ice cream!

So we loaded up the cars and I got back home by 6.00pm, just time for a cup of tea and a shower before starting work. Thankfully a short, quiet shift which was just as well. Thanks must go to Stephen for planning the whole day and to Paddy for the loan of his BBQ and as always many thanks to the wives/partners for issuing the pink chits and organising the food and looking after the children. A great day had by all and we didn't lose any children or see any loose women!!!

Reporter: Keith