Date: Tuesday 15th December 2009
Riders: Stephen, Paddy, Keith and Martyn
Departure time: 19.45
Arrival time: 21.45
Distance: 10.3 miles or something pathetic
Weather: Overcast, building cloud and the threat of rain. Temp
~ 5°C.
Stephen had put together a mans route but with the possibility
of rain at 2100-ish and the need to pick Martyn up en route put
paid to that. So a hastily thrown together route was assembled
and we headed off down the fence to Horrabridge meeting Martyn
at the speed camera. Back up the hill to join the cycle track
and once on that headed for the switchbacks and the Walkham crossing.
Signs stating the bike path was closed were
given a stiff ignoring and we trundled past heavy machinery
that had been ripping up
the path. And boy had they done a good job. The ground there
is full of clay and as the ruts deepened all four of us had to
work extremely hard to avoid grinding to a halt. As we approached
the switchbacks all did not seem well and the high temporary
fencing to keep people out completely encircled us leaving no
alternative than a team effort to throw 4 bikes over a 10 foot
high fence. Martyn has a steel bike!!! ‘Nuff said!!!
Once over the fence we went down the switchbacks
and over the bridge following the usual route down the side
of the Walkham
to Double Waters with Keith conducting a “step off” his
bike as he stuck in the glue worthy of being on “Strictly”.
Team decision was not to do B’stard Hill so instead of
the usual right and up B’stard Hill, we went left up towards
Long Ash. A decent climb ensued and when nearing the top we stopped
for a breather….which Keith and Martyn had done too some
200 yds previously, unknown to Stephen and I. Giving them a stiff
ignoring, eventually they came the rest of the way up the hill.
We then peeled off right back towards the top
of B’stard
Hill re-tracing our usual route. Not wanting to go over old ground
we decided not to go down B’stard Hill but instead headed
off down hill towards Hatch Mill picking up a road which led
us back to Coppice Town. Once there, we headed home thru Buckland
M’m, Crapstone, across the aerodrome to HQ for 3…yes,
that’s 3 pints…oooh, me ‘ead!!!
Reporter: Paddy
Top Tip: Road/path signs are many and numerous. Some are not
necessary but many are there for a reason!!! Footpath Closed
meant that (spookily), the footpath was closed!!!!!!!
President's Footnote: The mileage reading doesn't
always tell the whole story and with the rear wheel often spinning
in the mud and clay, it certainly felt like a lot more that the
meager reading recorded. Either that or I have the first signs
of the
debilitating
WMF1!!! Certainly the beer went straight to my very sensitive
head, the journey home was tortuous!!
