Date: Tuesday 22nd July 2014
Route: WI, Boneshaker, North Hessary, HQ.
Riders: Jude, Gidon, Sam, Colin, Greg & Keith
Depart WP: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 22:20
Distance: 15 miles
Weather: Perfect for late July....balmy but clear

Slightly different grouping tonight... it was more like days of old.... Gary and Lawrence, as we learnt later, were out with the boys from the Rockin Cycles, slightly more technical, slightly earlier evening rides. However compensating for this, numbers were upped by the rare attendance of myself, Sam, Jude and Greg. None of us are what you could call regular attendees of late.

Despite usual delayed registration by me, the route still wasn't confirmed, but the group was fairly unaminous in it's assessment with it's wish to go high. With two of the founder members, Julian and Herr Routemeister having just taken on the Tourmalet, we eventually came to the decision that the 3km ascent of the Boneshaker would be our Cat 3 offering in sympathy.

A common enough speedy start, Lake and then Iron Mine Lanes was followed by the passage Up Yennadon Down. There was a common order to the line of riders, Greg and Sam, lets call them Edwina's - as in Curry, known to wander off but rarely get into 'Major' trouble, Gidon let's call him 'Kid Curry' renowned for being one of the nastiest cowboy/outlaws around (Gidon is renowned for dressing up as "Woody" and is the root'nest, toot'ness and nicest cowboy around - his Jessie and possee are not bad either); Jude 'n Keith or was it Keith 'n Jude aka Mark and John.... never quite sure who was pushing on or who was following behind (you may not know Mark and John (not the gospels though)) and finally me, Vindaloo... trying to stay tight but as always getting loose and blowing off at the end!

Anyhow to get back on track....

Into and out of the woods at Peekhill plantation we headed for Shagger's Van (or sight/site of) and thence to the Leather Tor Bridge'. Through Norsworthy Plantation we travailed and then the lower slopes of the Boneshaker. Always a test the route appeared to be made easier subsequent to the path having been filled with aggergate post the spring storms. The only trouble was, this substrate often failed to give the tyres a good surface to purchase so there were a number of sections which deceivingly mocked the hesitant rider. Greg, the exception - is our regular mountain goat... a "Lefty" heavy hop, skip and a jump and the next time you see him is at the top!

With the summit eventually reached by all, the discussions turned to 'what to do next'. 'Next' very unusually for so early on a fine evening was favouring a pint at the 'Plume'. Somehow, however, everyone, one concluded lost their appetite for a pint of jail at the local. Don't know why but opinions changed as we traversed the ridge past South or was it North Hessary Tor, but they did. At Princetown, we headed onwards and upwards past the point of the Jail's manufacture to the next ascent....... North or was it South Hessary Tor. (Definitely North).

At the top, we decided to try to find a new route down. It could have been speedy...... it was not, it could have been interesting, it was not..... it could have been one of those wrong moves..... hmmm think was another one of those unaminous assessments. - No 'F' in Good!

Anyhow with Keith's lights spinning around like a disco ballroom spotlight, and mine - not at that time being used at all, the group split somewhat on the return down the railway line. The leading quartet kindly waited for us at one of the numerous gates but then not so kindly almost immediately left us again as they hit the road for home - Jail, Doom and Carling was calling.

Keith and I had to endure the only thing close to a mishap, that night, as a fellow cyclist from some other group exited Lake Lane without as much as a slightest inclination that something might be coming from his 'F' in right. Mad Bustard.... I had to take fairly dramatic manouevre to miss him, drifting far to far over the centre of the road at the bend to be comfortable.

All back at the local, all safe, all on the pop, all on Strava....all in agreement it takes some beating this Tuesday night lark.

Reporter: Colin