Dartmoor
Brewery Tour
Saturday 5th September 2009
Riders: Keith, Paul, Neil, Fraser, Stephen, Colin, Julian, David, Simon & Nick*.
*Nick suffered mechanical failure, returned home and arrived by car.
Greg could only attend by car.
Distance: 18 miles
Weather: Low black clouds, some light rain.
Time: Departed Willowby 10.10, arrived at Dartmoor Brewery between 11.05 and
11.35.
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At Willowby
Park, ready for the off. |
The long awaited and much anticipated
Dartmoor Brewery Tour saw an impressive turn out of ten riders
all looking resplendent in their GOWCC jerseys! There was a
longer than usual introduction of riders, mainly because we
welcomed back Simon, one of the Founder Members, whose family's
sporting commitments had seen him miss just about the whole
summer!
With the tour due to start at 11.00am we thought we had plenty of time in hand
for the ascent, so a few photos were taken in Willowby Park to mark this historic
occasion. We looked a formidable sight as we set off and many heads were turned
as we cycled past the Yelverton shops!
The usual route was taken, up to the old railway from Walkhampton. We regrouped
here as we waited for David, whose two weeks on holiday in the States had helped
him fit in to his XXXL jersey!!!! Then, just yards from the railway, he experienced
the downside of his newly purchased clips and performed a gentle off where
he was happy to take a breather with his bike still on top of him!!
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Can anybody
see David?
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Yes, there
he is!!!!
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As the group got somewhat split
for reasons of speed and photo opportunities, Nick suffered
an irreparable breakdown to his bike. With news coming through
by mobile to the forward group at the top of the rocky short
cut, a decision was made for the President and Routemeister
to go ahead and convey the news to the Brewery. We were welcomed
by Tina, the Brewery rep, who organised the day and was
the main reason we got the jersey sponsorship. So as Nick
was
freewheeling back to Walkhampton and trying to
organise
a lift to Princetown, the first two pints were being poured
at the Brewery by the joint owner and Head Brewer, Simon.
Gradually the other seven arrived along with Greg who had to drive up. The photographer
from the Tavistock Times had also turned up and he was quite keen to get the
picture in the can and go home. So top ups of the pints were needed before we
posed with a Jail Ale banner and a few bikes. Right on queue Nick roared through
the entrance in his car and casually joined the end of the lineup!
With the publicity shot over it was time for the tour proper. It was conducted
by my old St.Austell rep, Mark Shackleton. He had recently jumped ship to Dartmoor
Brewery and with his experience from many years in the trade, gave us an informative
and entertaining tour. We retired back to the office/bar area for more refills
of he glasses, a few welcome nibbles and more chat.
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Fraser, Simon,
Colin, Julian, Paul, Keith, Neil & Stephen on the old railway. |
The party was finally broken
up mainly because some of us had arranged to meet our families
for a picnic! A number of routes back
were taken, some road, some boneshaker, I did a bit of
road then cut into the Burrator Forest to
arrive at the north end car park just as the ladies arrived. We
laid out our rugs and soon everybody was tucking into the
wonderful fare provided by the ladies. In all there were
six children, three ladies and five gents. A fine way to
sober up the gents and tire out the children!
The four gents with bikes couldn't resist a quick detour
home, so off up the Deancombe Valley to skirt Sheeps Tor
before dropping back down to the reservoir. A few bruises
were picked up on the way.
A great day all round, the brewery appreciate our support
of their beer, love the jerseys and the publicity they
provide and
the gents greatly appreciated their hospitality and actually
need no encouragement to drink their beer anyway!!
President's footnote 1: I awoke this morning a little apprehensive.
For having arranged this brewery tour, if it had not gone
well I would have become known forever as the person who
'could not arrange a piss up in a brewery'!!!!
President's footnote 2: Just as I got out of the shower,
I got a call from work that they needed help! I put some
clothes on (club dress rules) and the first person waiting
said 'three pints of Jail please'! The next person said
'two pints of Jail please'!
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Mark has his
audience enthralled!
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Next week's
supply for the GOWCC!
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Reporter: Keith
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