Date: Tuesday 13th August 2013
Route: WP, Burrator, Scout Hut, Eylesbarrow, Higher Hartor, Ditsworthy Warren Stone Row, Ringmoor Down, Earthquake, Home.
Riders: Keith & Paul
Depart: 19:45
Arrive: 22:15
Distance: 13 miles
Weather: Good

Having indicated in the affirmative via email earlier in the day (and seen very few/no other responses) I got the impression that tonight might be a bit low on numbers:

I swung into WP at about 19:41 and there he was. "Hi mate" I said.
"That front tyre looks a bit low" said Pres. He was right.
2-3 minutes work with my relatively new hand pump resulted in a nearly flat front tyre so we headed to the Texaco garage for a quick fix. No AIR LINE! Then I remembered my electric pump that I had in the van....
19:56 and we're off, just me and Pres.

We had decided upon a route that would hopefully result in us spending a few romantic moments being entertained by the fireworks competition taking place in Plymouth. So, up onto Yennadon, through Sheepstor village and out towards the Scout hut. Up Eylesbarrow before hanging a right and dropping down towards the Plym.

A bit of up and downing before Pres skillfully guided us past Ditsworthy Warren house and on towards Gutter Tor. Up and around GT (south side) and along towards Ringmoor down. Our plan worked well and we were rewarded with a good bit of multi coloured pyrotechnics from afar. Onwards again, having decided that Earthquake-Meavy-HQ was the best route home from our firework vantage point.

So to the top of Earthquake where "The Pres" led (as he had done all evening, unsurprisingly) us off down this well know stretch at a really impressive pace. Just as I was thinking "Pres is picking a very good route down here tonight and at a cracking pace" WALLOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pres was whiplashed over his handle bars with such force and pace that neither of us actually knew what happened. I jumped off my bike and rushed over to Pres who was sat three quarters of the way into the ferns looking very dazed. My first thought was "Try not to show too much/any sympathy" but I immediately realised that our leader was hurt. Keith's head appeared to have taken the brunt of the impact and thankfully his helmet did its job (ask if you can see the damage to his helmet but just be careful how and where you do this)!

Once we'd gathered Keith's bike parts and composure we set off tentatively on our journey home. Keith still managed to get back to Yelverton a good few yards ahead of me and made the (wise) decision to head straight home due to the last half hours events. This was the point at which I realised how bad things must be, that or I must be terrible company as Pres was turning his back on a pint and a half of our favourite energy drink.

It transpires through the medium of text that Keith has in fact broken his collar bone so we may not be seeing him (or his helmet) for a week or two.
It's definitely the best "off" I've witnessed in my brief membership of the GOWCC and I'm glad that Keith is relatively OK, it could have been so much worse!

Reporter: Paul

President's Footnote: If ever you've thought about upgrading your helmet, I'd recommend it!