Date: Tuesday 23rd February 2010
Riders: Stephen, Greg, Keith, Martyn, Steve, Paddy and Paul.
Departed: 19.45
Arrived HQ: 21.45 & 22.05
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: Mild & dry

Route 1: HQ, Lake, Dousland, railway track, Burrator Dam, Sheepstor, the real Edward,s Path, Ditsworthy, Drizzle Combe – detour to the standing stones – Ditsworthy Warren, Eyelsbarrow, Nun’s Cross, Boneshaker, Leather Tor Bridge, Shagger’s van, Lowery cross, Iron Mine Lane, Lake, HQ.

Route 2: Lake, Leather Tor Bridge, Keith's Bridge, B3212, Railway, Lowrey Cross, Leather Tor Bridge, Burrator, HQ.

A Ride of Two Halves - Part 1

Need I say more! Not a route you could give to anyone and expect to see them in HQ before breakfast.

A fine pace was set to join the railway track above Dousland. Two issues confronted us here that divided the group early on. Firstly, Martyn’s soggy bottom had taken its toll on his performance and secondly, Keith had a lump in his trousers he couldn’t shift. As a consequence the group parted with Paul, Stephen, Steve, Paddy and Greg heading off to the high moor, to search for soggy bottoms and lumps of their own.

We picked various routes down to the Dam from the railway and headed at a fair lick to Sheepstor and the Scout hut. We picked up the real Edward’s path which ticked our first soggy bottom of the night. After a long slog and a bit of route finding we found our way to Dittsworthy Warren house. The next stretch past the standing stones and onto Eylesbarrow saw Steve B try to ride most of the way without his cerebellum. He put it down to his new pedals or some other nonsense. Needless to say he spent a lot of time horizontal, feet in cleats.

We had a few stream crossings but Paul remained very quiet through all. Obviously lots of concentration by the aquatic master. Along the high moor motorway with a tail-wind made the drainage channels a bunny-hopping paradise. A new descent was followed down to the boneshaker which tested our nerve, shocks and lights. A split at Raddick plantation saw some road returns, some via Leather Tor and Yennadon Down, but all souls returned safely and exhausted to HQ.

During the pints that followed it became apparent that a season with GOWCC had affected Martyn quite profoundly, and I quote: “ I do actually like road cycling – (finger to lips) don’t tell anyone.”

Reporter: Greg

A Ride of Two Halves - Part 2

Or, to be more precise, two sevenths and five sevenths. The start was briefly delayed as Paddy fixed a rear flat tyre. Westy had no pink chit and as we headed out of WP he was struggling to get a bed out of his wagon! The Routemeister had proposed two routes, a hardman and a halfman. All seven of us headed out on the hardman route, but at the top of Iron Mine Lane Martyn, who was still felling the draining effects of the weekend's Soggy Bottom, opted for the halfman route and I was more than happy to join him.

As the hardmen sped into the darkness we headed for the 'Shaggers van', over Leather Tor bridge, upwards to 'Keith's bridge' then through the Dartmoor Rescue car park which was full of Dartmoor Rescuers cars. Looped back to Burrator on the old railway (there appear far more gates when there are only two of you), over Leather Tor bridge again but this time turned right to ride around the reservoir then take the road back to HQ to arrive at the nice civilised time of 21.45.

I told the bar staff that there were five more to come but the slow ones were some way behind us!!! And the old tradition of two pints and home seems to be changing, although naturally having done the halfman route, I did finish the evening with a half!

Reporter: Keith

President's Footnote: Tonight may have set a couple of new trends for the GOWCC. Firstly, two routes, the hardman option or the more gentlemanly one!! And liquid intake seems to be increasing at a similar rate to fitness!!!