Date: Tuesday 17th January 2012
Route: WP, Burrator track, Handrail, Scout Hut, Eyslebarrow, Higher Hartor Tor, Drizzlecombe, Wilson's Path, HQ
Riders: Colin, Stephen, Martyn, Keith, Steve B, Dan & Julian.
Depart: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 22:15
Distance: 18 miles
Weather: Dry, clear & mild.

Numbers were good tonight despite there being a PTA meeting on the same evening and the Routemeister doing what he does best, setting a fairly daunting route by email in the afternoon.

Six other gents joined the Meister and headed off for Burrator, waving at the ladies of the PTA at HQ as we passed! The descent to the dam saw the first off, which I didn't see so much as feel as Martyn stopped sliding down the hill as he rested against my right leg! No damage done, then we tried to negotiate the soggy Handrail, not easy at the moment.

From here the Meister set the pace all the way up Eyslebarrow, where Martyn was true to his word and decided the half man was the sensible option, hard to argue with his thinking. This left me struggling at the tail, suffering more than I realised after last week's sickness.

We took the right fork before the top then headed across open moorland towards Hartor and the Plym. Thankfully the Meister had been here before and knew where we were going. As we stopped at Hartor there was the reassuring sight of a bright glow in the distance, we could see the final destination of the Plym. An interesting blast followed down to the 'War Horse House' (Dittsworthy Warren) where we stopped for a quick breather.

I scuppered the plan for a drink in the Royal Oak, there was no way I wanted to be leaving Meavy after 11:00 with how I was feeling. We did fragment a little from here, Stephen, Julian and Steve doing Earthquake, the rest Sheepstor. Sitting in the Farmer's Bar at HQ (the lounge was shut), there was a long wait for Dan. As I was starting to get the straws ready to see who would have to go back and find him, he rolled up. His reason for lateness seemed implausible! He got lost in Sheepstor, going up the steep hill to the Tor itself. Not only that, he knocked on someone's front door and asked for directions!!!

Talk drifted to this year's Dartmoor Classic and I set the Meister a challenge, get around the 100 mile course quicker than David Parlby does the 100k in! He didn't want to commit himself before consulting last year's times, but as far as I'm concered, the race is on!!!

Reporter: Keith