The weather provided great variety on January 22nd for the Torbay stalwarts visit to the Avon Dam. A fast run down the old A385 to Marley Head and the climb over Brent Hill were the prelude to the well-surfaced path up the Avon valley, where an early lunch was taken under the rhododendron bushes due to Mike Bowden’s puncture and a freezing snowstorm!

The latter cleared in half an hour and the sun shone as we began our afternoon rough-stuff by climbing to the right of the dam and over the shoulder of Grippers’ Hill, with its panoramic views, then squelching through tussocks and mud to arrive at a rocky road.

Ashburton for tea was abandoned in favour of Buckfastleigh and the Jones residence, though Michael was not aware of our decision until we arrived! He had carried out the run but missed us at Shipley Bridge. We chatted and exercised the Jones’ teapot for a couple of hours before heading via Staverton and Red Post back to Torbay after a day of low mileage but much enjoyment.

(Robert Spence)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]