Date: Tuesday 2nd August 2011
Route: WP, Walkhampton, old Railway, Kings Tor, Foggintor Car Park, Great Mis Tor, Badger Ally, HQ.
Riders: Sam, Gidon, Keith, James, Alex, Julian & Colin
Depart WP: 19:45
Arrive HQ: 22:05
Distance: 16.5 miles
Weather: Perfect

A Ride to the Heights

Arriving at WP, as we have come to expect come Tuesday, the sun was shining and a great evening’s ride lay ahead. Sticking to Keith’s originally proposed route, seven gents set out down the road, through Walkhampton and up bastard hill (no not that one, another one). Onto the old train track and past our usual stops up towards Princetown, we headed for the end of the line. Keith again proved his ‘Tor proficiency’, reeling off the names of distant crags, including our destination; - Great Mis Tor, the highest point around these parts…

With a great view opening up, we dipped down through the valley towards the old Foggintor School car park. By this point James had recounted his own connection with Great Mis, he had proposed to Katie all those years ago at near neighbour Little Mis, Katie had refused to go all the way with him on that particular night….’longer and steeper than I remember”, Keith observed as we climbed onward toward the summit. But what a spectacular view, as we dismounted and automatically began scrambling upon the granite towards the highest vantage point. The ideal photo opportunity now as we watched the sun set amazingly in the distance, seven sweaty gents shared a moment and it really was a sunset to behold.

The clock was now ticking and all minds now turned to beer and the quickest descent to HQ. After a quick puncture repair from James, it was onward to badger alley, good fun for most although a first proper Tuesday ‘off’ for Gidon, fortunately however, aside from a grazed elbow and a torn shirt, little harm done. So it was then, that six gents, Alex bailed-out understandably as we passed his house in Walkhampton, we arrived at the drinking hole. All talk was now about Big Willy and the ‘Friggin’ ale. Tremendous!

President's Footnote: I'd been keen to do this route for a while and what an evening to do it on. We must return one day. The last time I was here it was total solitude, this time, as well as the other six gents, there was a Dartmoor Rescue platoon making this remote spot strangely crowded!

Reporter: Sam