Date: Tuesday 30th September 2014
Route: WP, Meavy, Burrator, Handrail, Big Dipper, Deancombe, HQ.
Riders: Jude, Gidon, Dan, Simon, Keith & James
Depart WP: 19:40
Arrive HQ: 21:35
Distance: 10 miles
Weather: Dark & turning wet, but still warm

The ride started off fashionably late looking like it would just be 4 riders for the night. Simon, James and Gidon, keen to uphold his attendance record. Keith had made a partial recovery from his man flu and as ever pushed and pedaled himself out of the door to join us, true dedication. A good job, as if anything like last week’s ride was to go by we probably wouldn't have even made it out of Yelverton without getting lost or split up.

Off on a familiar route down to Meavy, all commenting on how dark it was already and generally thinking about the pending cold, wet and dark rides ahead for the rest of the year. Summer has definitely gone. Just a few minutes down the road & we had a phone call form Jude & Dan to say they were on their way. Rendezvous in Meavy the 4 of us rode on to Meavy and had a quick stop to wait for the late arrivals. And then there were 6! We all set off up through the fields on our route up to Burrator. 10 mins later and we were on Burrator Dam. Jude already concerned about battery life on his lights, red warring light after 15 mins riding! Would it survive?

Off and round to Sheepstor and a quick dry run along the handrail. That was the easy bit before we turned up the long slog of a rocky road and onto the top of the moor across the grass. Hard and slow work to get across it. A brief stop to get our bearings and decide on our next move. Mist was setting in heavily. Jude lights still going! Bearing left we climbed a bit more before entering the rocky and washed away drop zone into Outholme Wood. Conditions perfect for a quick sprint back across to Norsworthy Bridge car park.

Off and down to the reservoir edge through woods, riding perfectly across the dreaded knarly roots, no problems tonight though, a dry night meant they did not take any of us by surprise (this time). Jude’s lights still going! Carrying on round the reservoir through the woods, eventually arriving back up to the road. Almost as soon as we got onto the road, the rain started to come down. Not happened many times this year.

Keith at this point decided to break off from the group and head back to the pub, along with James. The 4 of us left decided to soldier on for a bit longer but still in the general direction of the pub! A quick pedal down the road and then a climb up off Burrator dam and across the moors. The higher we got the more the rain set in and the mist with it made navigating pretty tricky. Dan took the lead across the moor and we followed blindly behind him hoping that he knew where he was going. Perfect homing skills from Dan took us back to the top of Iron Mine Lane. Downhill most of the way now back to the Rock. Jude’s lights still working!!

Reporter: Simon (Weemys)