Date: Tuesday 16th November 2010
Route: WP, Lake, Yennadon, Lowrey, Burrator beach, Boneshaker, Crazywell Pool, Raddick, Deancombe, Handrail, HQ.
Riders: Westy, Paddy, Nick, Keith & Rob.
Depart: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 22:10
Distance: 14 miles
Weather: Cloudy & mild with rain on it's way. Very windy.

Mudfest

Tonight saw a rare outing for Rob and with the forecast for storms approaching we eventually decided on our third choice route which was to take a fairly gentle trip to Burrator and do some loops so if the rain came early we could abort for home (or to be more precise, HQ).

As we headed up Yennadon it was VERY noticeable that the Routemeister was absent, for I was at the front of the pack! Yes Martyn, it was Sod's law you couldn't be here tonight! We turned left at Lowrey Cross and what we were faced with was a taste of things to come.

The forestry machines had been in doing what they do best to nice off road tracks, turning them into virtually impassable, deeply rutted mud baths with plenty of slippery branches thrown in as well. And it wasn't long before I took my first said bath! The one good point of muddy offs is that you are guaranteed a soft landing!

After a tricky loop by the reservoir, where Nick's nose was attacked by a branch, we headed up the Boneshaker and carried on to Crazywell Pool. Quite an eerie sight, this pool of many myths and legends. Down into Raddick Plantation and onwards to Deancombe then into the forest where again the track was all churned up.

Having somehow missed the turn for the Handrail, I quickly took up Nick's suggestion of a road return to HQ as the other three ploughed onwards. We all arrived at HQ before the rain arrived, but I had to get home in the wind and rain. As I went up the dreaded Golf Links Road, the wind and rain chucked everything it had at me! Despite my two muddy offs, I arrived back at HQ2 clean!

Reporter: Keith