A few of the “Bridport” group were on a sponsored End to End trip so I Was not surprised that we were only four heading for Wistman’s Wood today. The road from Buckfast to Holme and Hexworthy is hard so we were quite ready for food when we stopped just short of Two Bridges. We parked and locked the bikes a little way along the track and strolled on to the collection of stunted moss- and lichen-covered oaks that is the wood. Many of the trees seem to have more root above ground than below, and the “ground” is a great depth of tumbled rocks as Mark discovered when he dropped his padlock key. It was recovered by Lee who disappeared head first up to his ankles to get it out of its hiding place.

We met Noel Downie at Postbridge and headed to Buckfastleigh for a most magnificent tea at the Stuart household, with Don Hassal and others of the Downie family to augment numbers – although not enough to do full justice to Mrs Stuart’s cookery.

(Colin Brierly)

[Attendance verified]

[2 points: Madora Downie, Robert Downie, Don Hassall]
[4 points: everyone else]