May 13th was our Invitation Ride arranged to coincide with National Bike Week. The Burrows family were out in force, Michael Jones joined us from Buckfastleigh and we were joined by Adam from Newton Abbot.

Our ride took us first to Newton Abbot via the lanes of Compton and Stoneycombe. From here we wound our way around the back of Newton Abbot towards Ogwell, crossing the busty main Newton to Totnes road with the help of a new roundabout – one of the many additions to Newton Abbot’s traffic system which seem to have been done quite tastefully.

We climbed the long drag up to East Ogwell, some riding, some walking, some sort of grovelling in between! Once on top a gentle run into Denbury, past the Union Inn and swiftly down to Torbryan, past Ambrook.

Normally the sharp drop down to Littlehempston is most enjoyable, but on this occasion the road dressers had gone totally berserk and piled about an inch deep of gravel at the steepest part of the hill at the bottom which was not conducive to effective braking. I for one was pleased that my front wheel ploughed a straight course through it whilst not having much control over the matter.

Colin re-joined us at Tally Ho, having stopped to true his wheel which had broken a spoke, and here we said cheerio to Michael as he headed for home. The rest of us then climbed the hill to Red Post and past the “Blasted Oak” to Marldon.

(Graham Brodie)

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