Without the usual hard work of Routemeister it was left to a group decision where to go. Another GOWCC virgin joined us, Nick, all the way from Yelverton Villas on Meavy Lane. After 10 mins fettling, Glen called it a day and took his bike home broken leaving the remainder to follow Greg/Julian’s cobbled together route. A quick canter across the aerodrome to Longash, angling off across the moors through the bracken to find “Greg’s Leap”, down to the cycle track viaduct above Grenofen (Magpie) Bridge. As the “6” rattled down the great pathway through the bracken, imagine our surprise as the “copulating couple” in a very compromising position had six burly bikers dash past. I think we were as surprised as they, but importantly, none of us fell although Colin appeared a little wobbly at the bottom!!!!

Then, down the switchbacks to the Walkham and on down towards Double Waters, where Sam proposed, and Greg seconded, the “Best Controlled Off” of the year thus far. The concerned 5 picked him up dusted him down and once breath had returned to his body we were able to continue. Sam was really pushing it out and I think will be sore today as a result, but clearly has Julian’s “Nutter-in-Chief” title firmly in his sights. It was a great crash, if only he had picked a soft moss bed to land on rather than the pile of rocks in the middle of the track!!! Then on to Double Waters except this time with a cheeky climb up onto West Down (shortly after Paddy’s puncture) and a great rattle back down through the bracken to the Tavy and onto Double Waters. Onwards and upwards up Bastard Hill, then rather than the track to Coppice Town we took a sharp left at the top, remaining off road but keeping as high as possible all the way back to Longash and the canter back across the aerodrome to HQ where Colin left us to tend to his high speed wounds. Newcomer Nick, whilst always welcome, broke ranks and had a pint of TRIBUTE!!!! He has much to learn about GOWCC but redeemed himself with his second pint of the night.

Routemeister joined us at HQ after a gentle 40 min road ride (don’t worry……..he had shaved his legs!!!!) and was gutted to hear about our “discovery” whilst screaming down “Greg’s Leap”.

Report by Paddy