Date: Sunday 20th September
Riders: Colin, Stephen & Julian
Distance: 34.5 miles
Weather: Dry and cool approx 12 degrees
Time: Departed Willowby 08:10 - Returned - 10:50
It's Saturday evening in the Street, three gentlemen with eight
kids between them and all were procastrinating over the proverbial "garden
fence" on how best to acquire pink passes for a road ride
on Sunday morning. Well each of us has a very generous and
understanding wife like all other halves of WOWCC. (Don't let
this get out) and of course we were all allowed out to play,
provided we dot dot dot (completed the chores)!
Anyhow at 8 o'clockish Julian, Steve and myself cranked the
first few revolutions of the pedals as we departed Willowby
Park. Ideal cycling conditions prevailed as we raced across
the moorland road towards Plymouth. I say raced because as
you all well know, there is very little warm up when Steve
is heading the group and it seemed perfectly apt, the road
was filled with vehicles from the tour on Thursday evening
/ Friday morning. All three of us were in the gold and steel
grey, we felt good and proud when we were joined by a pair
of bikers in dayglo yellow. We dreamt (at least I did, call
me Walter Mitty or preferably Bradley Wiggens if you like)
that they were motor cycle outriders heading the 'bubble'.
(You will have to have seen the Tour on ITV 4 to understand
what I'm on about, or talk to Stephen on the next outing).
We were 'Team Willowby' on the Tour of Britain and we were
on a roll.
Anyhow back to reality, we sped through Roborough
and Derriford en route to Crownhill and then St Budeaux via
West Park. We were averaging 20mph, no mean feat but we had
in the main been going down towards sea level. The Tamar Bridge
was shrouded in mist and this was quite literally the low point
of the ride. We headed up through Saltash, up through St Mellion,
a big up to Callington and then up again to St Ann's Chapel.
There had to be a descent soon, and soon was a very SOON! A
little bit disjointed we all hammered down past Albaston to
Gunnislake. Julian left me standing, Steve left a milk lorry
in his wake and I nearly left skid marks when a car appeared
out of the blue. 44 mph was recorded. At Gunnislake lights
we decided to take a breath and headed into the Cultured Drinkers
Den, the Tavistock Arms. Three coffees later and cracked up
after the dry wit of the landlord we headed for home.
Ah home,
if only we could do it without hills, SW Devon's Les Deux Alpes
- Gunny to Tavistock was followed by the Ventoux... Bedford
Bridge to Yelverton. Steve danced on the pedals, Julian and
I slogged it out in our attempt to play catch up but 34.5 miles
and 2½ riding hours later we returned a little pooped
but ready to fulfill our dot dot dots.
You guys have got to get road bikes, variety is what it's
all about.
Reporter: Colin
Presdident's footnote: No comment!!!
