Date: Tuesday 21st August 2012
Route: WP, Double Waters, Grenofen Bridge, Gem Bridge, HQ.
Riders: Alun, James, Keith, Alex, Gidon, Dan & Rob
Depart WP: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 21:50
Distance: 12 miles
Weather: Good

As I headed up hill from home to WP wondering how much fitness I'd lost after missing two consecutive weeks, I saw three people coming down the steep Station Hill which, as I was displaying GOWCC colours, meant I couldn't engage granny gear and slow down! The last gent passed comment, "very impressive" he said! I'm not sure if he was commenting on my riding ability or the jersey, but I was suitably buoyed up for the rest of the night!

Again a group of gents formed that had never ridden before, for starters Rob and myself always seem to miss each other. Alex turned up for a rare outing (although not as rare as some I could mention) and Dan had returned from his short family trip to France, just the four weeks this time!

Even though two of the last three rides had been to Double Waters, there was a keenness to return. So we shot down the Horrabridge track that I had just come up, then picked up Dwarf's Track. Rob was a little apprehensive because last week going down here he had gone over the handle bars and also ended up in a big hole!

The three full sussers hit the front and stayed there, enjoying the route a lot more than the rest of us, I think. Just after Gidon asked Rob to let him know when the "Big Hole" was approaching, I saw this flash of yellow disappear in the distance. Dan and Rob stopped in front of me, but Gidon had literally disappeared. I then spotted half an upsidedown front wheel in the "Big Hole", then Gidon's head appeared! He'd managed to miss the tree and was relatively unscathed, confidence took a hit though!

We all got to the bottom in pretty good shape from there, then attempted the little loop by the Tavy before crossing the wooden bridge. However, I failed to get to the bridge unscathed. Having concentrated so hard all the way down, I can only assume a momentary lapse sent me into a root instead of over it. I ended up falling down a bank, river side, landing on my head and back! Thankfully my helmet did it's job and the Tavy wasn't running as high as it can.

By the time I'd gathered myself and got to the track at the start of Julian's Loop, I'd lost the others. I took the route of least resistance and headed for Grenofen Bridge, (the same direction as HQ). I went gingerly, especially over those darned wet roots! Just before Grenofen I got a call from the pack and soon afterwards we were all regrouped and set off for HQ.

Over the Jail the conversation stopped when Rob proudly showed us his gleaming new smart phone! The rest of the evening was spent trying to 'Buddy' up the phones and get Viewranger for Rob. An hour and £25 later Rob had what he wanted, but after one and a half Jails, he proceeded to delete the app from his phone!! One point of interest to you all smart phone users (I think that is probably everybody except Colin & me, but that will soon change) if you didn't already know, HQ has free wi-fi, the password is Dartmoor.

Reporter: Keith