Date: Tuesday 26th April 2011
Route: WP, Handrail, Boneshaker, Whiteworks, Tor Royal, Princetown, HQ or Railway, Car Park, Leat, Yennadon, HQ.
Riders: Keith, Sam, Gidon, Stephen, Colin, Greg & James.
Depart: 19:35
Arrive HQ: 22:00 or 22:30.
Distance: 18 or 20 miles
Weather: Perfect

Perfect conditions again tonight prompted a route where no man had gone before, well not that many of the GOWCC anyway! Gidon came back for some more punishment after his first outing last week, (we must have been far too soft on him). Sam had to decide between Rooney or the Routemeister and naturally went for the hard option. There were rumours that Al would be out, but there is as much chance of that happening as Torres scoring for Chelsea! But wait, Torres did score this week, I guess Torres scoring and Al coming out in the same week is just expecting toooo much.

Greg and the Routemeister sped up the road and picked up Sam on the way. The three speedsters waited for us mere mortals at the top of Iron Mine Lane. We tackled the steep Burrator drop then negotiated the Handrail, both so much easier in dry, light conditions. A quick road blast to Norsworthy then the big rocky ascent up the Boneshaker, all the way without stopping for a few. As the light faded at the top we counted only six gents, Westy was missing! After a phone call, fifteen minutes and a debate about who should go back and look for him, a figure appeared out of the gloom with the words, "Sorry gents, bl**dy gears kept slipping"!

After at least 30 seconds the Routemeister was off to Whiteworks and beyond into the relatively unknown. I nearly fell into Strane River, but we all safely got across then a long ascent up Royal Hill. All fairly straightforward with the bogs pretty dry. We picked up the Tor Royal track and headed for Princetown. After a steep long climb up the road (where Westy was back on song), we regrouped only to realise that we'd somehow managed to lose another gent, James was now missing! One is unfortunate, two unforgivable! As we tried to apportion blame, brightness appeared beside Fox Tor Cafe followed by James himself, just a little bit tired for having missed a few weeks.

It was beer 'o' clock by my watch, so when the speedsters started talking about a long route home, the four mere mortals decided to take the road. Westy was then strangely reluctant to get to HQ until I said I'd rather be talking with a beer in my hand! As we slowly climbed Peak Hill, over my right shoulder I could see three bright lights bombing down the old railway just short of Routrundle. Westy's procrastination meant that we were in danger of being caught by the off roaders, a fate that would have required me to purchase three more pairs of Golden Pants!!!

We arrived at HQ at 10:00pm and settled into our first beers. The speedsters arrived half an hour later. On this special week was it just coincidence that we went over Royal Hill and passed Tor Royal, or is Willowby Park a bastion for Royalists? The latter, I suspect, is true.

Reporter: Keith