Only three out today, possibly because the sky was the colour of a tramp’s billycan and there was a certain amount of precipitation. We used familiar lanes from Totnes to Moreleigh and lesser-known lanes through Sherford and Frogmore to reach Prawle Point by lunchtime. To our surprise, as we ran down from East Prawle towards the sea, the low cloud rolled up the hill leaving warm sunshine.

An enjoyable lunch, then a bit of “up and down” to Torcross and Slapton Sands with the sun very warm, though it disappeared before we reached Totnes and capes were on again for the last few miles home.

(Colin Brierly)

[Attendance verified]

We couldn’t fool the Weather Gods by putting in a run to Kingsand instead of Cawsand – it still poured with rain, and after a particularly vicious downpour we sheltered under the A38 at Lee Mill for lunch. Picnic tea was not very tempting so we accepted defeat and headed for home through Ermington and the lanes to Avonwick.

(Colin Brierly)

[Attendance verified]

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]

The lads still on the “End to End”, we were half a dozen on the July afternoon run which, in spite of a wet morning, gave us a dry ride through the lanes between West Ogwell and Staverotn.

(Colin Brierly)

[Attendance verified]

Six of us met under the shelter of some trees at Chudleigh Bridge on a distinctly miserable Sunday morning. Michael, Colin Downie (back from his end to end ride) and I cycled out from Buckfastleigh and we met Colin Brierly, Mark and Darren. Our destination was due to be Shobrooke Park but, after chatting for a few moments in the pouring rain, we decided to abandon the ride. We trundled back through the quiet lanes, after which the Torbay and Buckfastleigh cyclists parted for home.

(John Stuart)

[Attendance verified]

Despite the fact that weather conditions today were not unlike those of the previous Sunday, numbers were increased by one on our Grimspound ride. Michael, Peter, Antony and I cycled along to Bickington where, after a short wait, we greeted Colin Brierly and Mark. We climbed up out of Bickington and cycled along to meet our latest addition, Kevin Presland, at his home at Ilsington.

Just below Haytor we were caught by a heavy shower which, as soon as we had “caped up”, stopped. After I had dealt with chain trouble we swooped down Widecombe Hill and left Peter outside the village, leaving us to turn and wheel up a steep hill. We lunched soon afterwards under the shelter of a large tree and then began the hard push into the barren moorland. We fought a headwind and a tiring road until we finally stopped by the roadside to talk with Mr Peter Webb, a CTC member from Chagford.

We walked up to Grimspound, which was very interesting, and then set off for the Manaton area. Kevin left us near Manaton and eventually we arrived at Becky Falls for light refreshments. Having descended swiftly down to Brimley Cross our route took us along to the road bridge near Bickington, where Torbay cyclists turned off for Marldon and the Buckfastleigh Contingent for Ashburton.

(John Stuart)

[Attendance verified]

Our ride to Bantham began at Totnes on a sunny, fairly warm morning. Despite back wheel troubles, Michael rode in from Buckfastleigh along with Antony, John Pope, Kevin and myself. We met Iris from the St Budeaux Cycling Club and finally greeted Colin, Carl, Mark and Darren from Marldon.

We followed our usual route to Harbertonford and then did some main road work along to Thurlestone, where Iris left us as she intended to go bathing. We dropped down and climbed up again before reaching our destination, where we packed our machines in the ferns and sand-dunes to go and have an enjoyable lunch. Some of us went for a short ramble along the rocky coastline, after which we journeyed back along the lanes towards Woodleigh. We stopped for a short packed tea and finally the Buckfastleigh district and Torbay cyclists separated near Marley Head.

(John Stuart)

[Attendance verified]

[2 points: Iris Buckler]
[4 points: everyone else]

Double figures turned out for our August Afternoon Ride, and we had with us a new lad, Brian Marks. Having made our way along to Totnes we joined a track at Sharpham Drive which took us through fields alongside the river Dart, in beautiful countryside.

After some of us had hopped over a fence to avoid some cattle, we cycled on through Ashprington and down the Totnes by-pass, eventually stopping just above Dartington where the Torbay and Buckfastleigh folk separated.

(John Stuart)

[Attendance verified]

Numbers were down for the run to Killerton today – maybe a picnic tea didn’t appeal after the “milk and honey” of the previous week, but really I think it had more to do with Michael reaching the ripe old age of 21. The wind was a bit unfriendly up “The Valley”, but we were through Exwick and on the Stoke Canon road before “grub” started calling loudly, and Stoke Woods provided a pleasant spot to answer the call.

A fairly brief wander around part of Killerton grounds, and then a route following the Clyst for a few miles before heading for Dawlish Water and a picnic tea stop. Food was soon worked down with a zig-zag climb onto Haldon and then a nice run down to Luton and on to Kingsteignton where the Buckfast and Marldon contingents separated.

(Colin Brierly)

[Attendance verified]