A sunny start to an enjoyable and fun-packed day. Arriving at Avonwick at around 11.30am, Michael Jones remarked that it was going to rain, and that made everybody really pleased.

After going up and down through the South Hams, we then climbed the last killer of a hill which took us to the start of the mineral track. We stopped for lunch in a disused quarry at the beginning of the track, sitting there until the cold wind pierced our skin, so we had to make a move.

Colin, Jean and Kevin returned home on the road whilst we struggled up towards Petres Cross. A few miles ahead I had a blow out (good thing I had a spare folding tyre). By now the cloud was rolling in and it was getting cold, so they were prompting me to hurry up!

Pushing our bikes up across the moor was hard work, the small bogs and damp ground making it even worse. Nearly falling over the destination, we could see Avon Dam and many other parts of the moor.

Dropping down from the cross we decided to ride our bikes: this was fun because of deep bogs, large tufts of grass and water. I endeavoured to cross one small bog, then Andy – we both made it. John then attempted it in a different way, his front wheel went in and poor old John went flying! When he picked himself up out of the bog, dripping wet, he had also landed in a cow-pat. Someone commented that he deserved a pat on the back!

We carried on, having more thrills and spills on the way across the moor. That day, nearly everyone came a cropper, but it was great fun. It didn’t rain after all, so to make a good day even better, Michael invited us to tea.

(Richard Wiseman)

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

Sadly, no report was written for this ride at the time.

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

Only two souls for the hard ride, namely Richard Wiseman and myself, and 9am saw us riding fast through Compton to get warmed up. A main road bash to Exeter gave us time to linger in “The Tea Shoppe” in Topsham for crumpets and treacle tart, then we began the climb over Woodbury Common and the subsequent drop to Otterton and the hospitality of the McDowells.

The countryside and buildings of East Devon always seem different to us Torbay folk, and we enjoyed the undulating lane to Newton Poppleford. Soon into lanes again, we climbed and then plummeted into Woodbury Salterton to take “fives” and debate as to whether we would take the towpath from Exeter to Exminster. We did and were rewarded by a clarity of light on the river Exe such as you only get on these winter late afternoons.

We invited ourselves to tea at the Hassall residence in Dawlish, and on chucking out time we put on all extra clothing and began the long climb up to the golf course just to enjoy the downhill run into Kingsteignton. Back on the main road to Torbay, we had notched up eighty odd miles in perfect (but cold) weather.

(Robert Spence)

While Robert and Richard were getting the miles in in the Woodbury direction, a few of us were having the pleasure of the North Devon folks’ company for a couple of hours when they joined us for coffee and then we escorted them to wards the top of Haldon.

Slight digestive problems after this, with a very hurried lunch, before grinding up the hill to Five Lanes for the Afternoon Run.

With Michael suffering a bit of knee trouble and Kevin having to get back to Plymouth, somewhere in the Ashburton direction seemed appropriate, and we were soon heading towards Ipplepen and Woodland. Kevin headed for the A38 from this point, while Michael came a little further before turning off to Landscove while we continued to Broadhempston.

After a pause at the top of a little hill to stroke a mare and its spindle-legged, inquisitive foal, we wended our way in the gathering gloom to Compton and home.

(Colin Brierly)

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

Sadly, no report was written for this ride at the time.

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

Sadly, no report was written for this ride at the time.

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

It was a mild day on 25th November as we started up from Totnes. We had a new member out, Simon Birtles from Totnes, who was fit. As we advanced into Bow, Kevin refused to climb up Corkscrew Hill because of its reputation of being a killer!

The day gently warmed up and people were soon in shorts and light tops. As we approached Dittisham up the steep climb, Rob managed to crunch up three spokes, so we arranged to meet Colin and Rob at the castle for lunch.

I decided to take everyone along a track which had very steep and rutted fields to go down. Kevin went mad as ever. Michael Jones spotted a grassy bank, so we had an early lunch. From our lunch spot we had a beautiful view of Old Mill Creek and of all the trees with their golden leaves – I took many photos that day.

Michael Cosgrove managed to pull a gate down as we started to wander towards Old Mill Creek down the rest of the track, which due to heavy rain in the past days had turned into a small river with four or five inches of water! Climbing up from the creek, most walked but those who cycled up found it very hard because of the steepness and damp leaves on the road.

Approaching College Hill at Dartmouth, Kevin and I had a burn up, my computer registered 52.4mph – not bad! We arrived at the Castle when Colin and Rob had just finished lunch and a rain shower started. We moved on towards the Higher Ferry when it stopped. We crossed on the ferry to the Kingswear side, then walked along the path which follows the Dart Valley Railway which takes one to Kingswear station.

We then split up: six of them went back to the Totnes area; Colin, Rob and I diverted and went along the coastal path which took us past the fire beacon near Mansands. We also got great sky and sea views from the headland. Having all had a nice day we then returned home early.

(Richard Wiseman)

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

Not too many hangovers after the DA Dinner and quite a fair turnout for our Afternoon Run. Pleased to see Malcom Bishop out for his first run and rather than not being able to keep up with us I think he found us a bit slow! Pleased also to see Simon Birtles out for his second ride.

Trying to find something different took us out near Rattery and Buckfastleigh where I had a puncture conveniently outside the café at Dart Bridge. One or two who didn’t want a “cuppa” wandered on, and I presume got home OK, though we didn’t catch them.

We took the familiar but very wet lane from Ashburton to Denbury in gathering darkness, reminding me of when Christian introduced us to this particular route on a dark night many years ago.

Adam split off to head for Ogwell and Newton shortly after Denbury while we carried on to Stoneycombe and home. I decided it was definitely not my day, for apart from the puncture at Buckfast I had a spoke go earlier and when I looked at the bike on Tuesday morning the other tyre was flat – that really forced the issue and I’ve even cleaned it!

(Colin Brierly)

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

Officially down to lead the run for 9 December I decided, along with Richard, to do some night riding up to Bellever hostel. Meeting at 6.30pm we had a splendid run through a very find Saturday evening on the Buckfastleigh to Hexworthy route, stopping at Scoriton’s Tradesman’s Arms for a meal and a pint.

Our final few miles took in the Dunnabridge to Bellever track, half of which goes through a dense conifer forest, and we were thankful to have taken battery lights to supplement our dynamos. Reaching the hostel at 10.15pm we soon had hot drinks inside us, then hit the sack!

(Robert Spence)

Sunday morning was a beauty – cold, clear and still. We finished breakfast, I finished searching for my gloves, and with hostel duty completed we took to the deserted road over Bellever Bridge and heading for Widecombe-in-the-Moor via the ancient Cator Court and some very steep hills.

The Wayside café opened early just for us and two cups of coffee each and a look inside the church later we then took the lane which climbs gently, but endlessly, up past Natsworthy Manor, dropped to the Manaton road and were soon struggling up to Bowerman’s Nose for lunch and the wait for the rest of Torbay Section.

Looking at the Nose, it is very hard to believe that Mr Bowerman is just a product of erosion. I maintain that he was built by the sheep, who used cranes and a JCB to move the massive granite blocks into place.

Richard and I had located the Dartmoor Letter Box and stamped our hostel cards with the rubber stamp therein, and the others spent one and a half hours doing the same, but it didn’t really matter because we only had a few hilly miles to Lustleigh and tea and raspberry gateau in the tearooms.

By the time we trooped out and waited for Michael Jones to put the finishing touches to his puncture mending, the glorious sunshine was fading fast and a blood red sky was coming alive. Colin chose a route that got us to Newton Abbot with very little motor traffic to contend with and our lights made a strange dance through the lanes past Seale Hayne College, the Brierly tandem setting a fast pace. Once again, the weather had been more than kind to us. Well it always smiles on the righteous!!

(Robert Spence)