Date: Tuesday 5th June 2012
Route: WP, Meavy, Lovaton, Cadover, Trowlesworthy, Plym wear, Lee Moor Leat, Cadover, Earthquake, HQ.
Riders: Keith, James & Gidon.
Depart WP: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 10:30
Distance: 14 miles
Weather: Overcast but mild.

James and I arrived at WP with only a rather lonely looking Keith to greet us. We loitered outside Colin’s house for probably too long expecting a few others, but eventually set off with a vague route in mind towards Cadover Bridge. We turned off before Meavy along a new track which took us up through a farmyard where very unGOWCCingly we all dismounted our bikes before continuing to Cadover Bridge and then Trowlesworthy Warren.

A few glimpses of the swollen river should probably have made us change our course but we soldiered on towards the Plym crossing near Ditsworthy Warren. I got drenched crossing a little brook along the way with James and Keith choosing a far drier but more precarious option.

The threatening clouds held off as we arrived at the weir with Ditsworthy Warren and an easy route back home tantalisingly visible. The earlier heavy rain of this flaming June meant we weren’t going to get across without incident and since I didn’t have my helmet camera to record such a moment we decided to take the safer route back along the leat towards Cadover hoping for a safer crossing.

Before long our lights were on and we appeared to be surrounded by water in every direction – the leat seemed to follow a mysterious route. Fortunately I was with far superior navigators and we did eventually find a route back to Cadover.

From here we had the choice of the road route with the steep Gratton hill climb to Yelverton or Ringmoor cottage, Earthquake and Meavy. We chose the latter and sprinted for the finish with Keith flying down a rather slippery Earthquake.

We arrived back at HQ a little later than we’d expected but an enjoyable ride.

The route

Reporter: Gidon

President's Footnote: Record low bar tab tonight, £8.85!! I think we were under charged though!