Date: Wednesday
4th November 2009
Riders: Stephen, Paddy, Sam & Paul
Departure time: 19.40
Arrival time: 22.00
Distance: 14 miles (I think!!)
Weather: Mild, dry and clear
Four less hardy riders set out on Wednesday
as the weather was much better than the night before. Unluckily
for me I chose the
night the routemeister in chief decided to ride out!! We set
off from WP and headed down to Meavy with the intention of climbing “earthquake” up
to Ringmoor cottage, but the routemeister changed direction and
decided on the roadway to the cottage, one I have to say I found
as tough as the off road experience, as usual I watched the little
red lights disappear into the distance as they forked left at
the top and dropped down to Sheepstor disturbing lots of sheep
along the way!
Out of the village and up towards the tor and
here I have to hand it over to Paddy as I forgot the route as
to how we ended up at the Dartmoor Rescue Group Car Park!!!!.......
(Thanks Paddy!) Turning right up the eastern side of Burrator
Reservoir and then right up to the path that handrails around
north western side of Sheepstor. At the end of that we turned
right uphill, following the path, then the Roughtor Plantation
wall onto the moor between Yellowmead and Cockoo Rock. Then down
the hill to Narrotor Brook and Deancombe picking up the track
at Middleworth Plantation and following it down to Norsworthy
Bridge. Then up the lower end of the Boneshaker bearing left
up the track to Leather Tor Bridge and then following the plantation
up to Keith’s Bridge on the River Meavy. Then we crossed
Keith’s Bridge and followed the edge of the plantation
up to the B3212, along that to the Dartmoor Rescue Group car
park and then down from there to Routrundle on the old railway
line. (I will buy a local OS Map next time promise!!..)
From the Routrundle we headed past the farm
to Crips Tor and down to Ward Bridge, then some bright spark
decided to take the
bridlepath up to Stoneycroft rather than the gentler road to
HQ. From Sampford Spiney we dropped down to Walkhampton and
back
to HQ for one minute past ten just in time to call our new social
secretary to join us for a pint. I do think he is taking his
position a little too seriously as the biking is suffering....!!
