Date: Tuesday 7th January 2014
Route: WP, Meavy, Burrator, Edwards Path, Ditsworthy Warren House, Drizzlecombe, Nuns Cross, Boneshaker, Norsworthy, HQ.
Riders: Keith, Greg, Sam, Jude, James, Colin, Stephen, Dan and Gidon
Depart WP: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 22:10
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: Mild, breezy & boggy

The inaugural meeting of the Gentlemen of Willowby Slimming Club saw nine gents turn up all hoping to get their BMI back to pre-Christmas levels over the next few weeks. With The Routemeister-in-Chief back to his old ways of setting the route beforehand there was little hanging about. We headed for Meavy then up to Burrator at walking pace followed by a few miles of road as a loosener before getting off road to Dittsworthy Warren House.

A quick breather to let Jude catch up after he took a wrong turn then what followed was the longest climb of my life. Not in miles, not in height, but definitely in time! It was never steep, but just relentless up hill, sodden ground and the Meister was waiting for no man, full or half! We finally reached Higher Hartor Tor where I recounted the story of our first visit here in fog when we spent fifteen minutes going around in a perfect circle!

After a little detour losing some valuable height, we picked up the Eylesbarrow motorway and climbed the last bit. I did check if anyone wanted to do the half man, but it was pointed out that by now it was a little late! We negotiated the very rutted Nuns Cross track then turned down the Boneshaker and into the southerly wind to head for HQ.

As is traditional I brought up the rear and towards the bottom saw Colin had come to a halt behind a prostrate Meister and bike. It didn't look good, Meister looked stationary on the ground, but next thing he got up, raised his bike above his head and threw it into the bank! The bike was joined by various bits of a deteriorating helmet. The inevitable tantrum came as a wave of abuse aimed at Exposure's inability to make a headlight that holds it's charge or a helmet light that stays attached to your helmet (causing the aforementioned off)!!!

We all regrouped at HQ apart from Sam who went home to get some money and fell asleep! But he wasn't alone in coming out with no cash, the Meister thought he was getting a free ride on the rest of us, but mysteriously at the end of the night his light had vanished. A knackered old light for two pints of Jail, fair trade I'd say!

The Meister's mood is not good. Everybody living in the PL20 area is praying that his new £25,000 bike from RockinBikes is fault free!!

Reporter: Keith