Date - Tuesday 27th October 2009
Riders - Paul, Colin, Keith & Alan
Time of Departure - 19:40
Time of Arrival @ HQ - 22:01
Distance - 15 miles
Weather - Mild & dry with very little wind
Only four riders including "El Presidente" and "uno
Residente" took advantage of the superb early evening conditions
to circumnavigate the forestry lands on the north eastern and
southern flanks of Burrator. Bereft of the 'A' Team and normal
pace setters,
Paddy, Sam, Steve and Greg (sorry Dave you just missed out on
this grouping), I had hoped for a more leisurely start to the
night's
ride, but no..... by the time we eased out of Meavy Lane, Alan
and Paul had decided to forgo the easy life and upped the tempo
to such an extent that by the time we sped through Walkhampton
and powered up Church Hill to finally crest and rest on the Princetown
track, we were all huffing & puffing like the engines that
used to work the track.
A short dog-leg at Routrundle Cross, the
rise to the DRG car park, the short descent through the gorse
into Stanlake Plantation (NE Burrator Woods) adjacent to the
Devonport
Leat brought us or rather Paul to the first challenge of the
night. Despite Paul's steeds affinity for water, he carefully
nursed it
to the head of the drop to Leather Tor Bridge. A new route
for both Alan & Paul, Alan did particularly well to negotiate
this track - his headlamp bounced up and down like Jordan's
assets on
the "Bronco Billy Ride". At the bridge we veered
left into the Raddick Plantation and emerged after a fairly
technical
climb onto the lower levels of the 'Boneshaker'. Paul apparently
must like to live life on the edge, he still risks limb as
he escorted me down to Nosworthy Bridge...what a blast!
On we cycled, skirting Middleworth Plantation to Deancombe,
the slog on the northern slopes of Sheepstor and the third
big descent
of the night through Roughtor Plantation. One or two of us
experienced heavy falls when we last passed this way - The
Brewery Trip/picnic.
This time everyone picked the right route through the boulder
strewn bridlepath but one or two were tricked by the innocuous
looking
puddles that sucked the unwary into their murky depths. More
technical riding adjacent to the Narrator and Beechcroft Plantations
- Keith
and Alan scored well for picking the best route and then the
big decision of the night - to head directly back to HQ or
to cycle
via Sheepstor Village up the unnamed 'mother of a hill' to
Ringmore Cottage and then back down the Earthquake.
Guess which way we
went.... Colin, Keith and Alan went quite quickly, but Paul
absolutely "ripped
it"... he looked so relaxed when we rolled in at the "Earthquake's" base
he could have been smoking a ceegar. That was it, the usual
easy? @** run back to HQ and the usual two pints and a packet
of crisps.
Alan talked about the imminent house move, his short sighted
neighbours and how to take a family skiing for a week for only £25;
Paul mourned the poor build quality of old Wimpey Homes; the
Presidente introduced thoughts for the Christmas meal.... I
munched me crisps!.
Have to say boys.......you missed one good ride!
PS poor old Paddy....only he turned out the following night!!
Reporter - Colin
President's footnote: It should be noted that
when the bar tab wasn't divisible by four, Alan volunteered the
extra pound to cover the cost!
