Anna Bryant: Harford, 2 March

After having been “down under” for six weeks without a bike, I was not looking forward to the ride. There were five at the start and Bryan R. was going to meet us for coffee, coming by car. We made it to Endsleigh, where all the ladies were presented with a long stemmed pink rose.

Bryan had arrived before us and was showing pictures of his leg operation, reason enough not to be on the bike. He took my rose home for me, as it did not fit in my saddle bag. Graham R. stayed on with Bryan, while we continued up to Harford. It was quite pleasant sitting on the bench out of the wind for our lunch with the sun shining down. On the way to Cornwood Iris left us to see her grandson. We called at the Cornwood Inn for coffee; sitting outside behind a glass screen (all mod cons for the smokers). From there we made our way home via Mark’s Bridge and Venton. Not a very long ride, but enough to get me run in again.

Iris Buckler: 30 March Only Sue and George joined me at Plymco. We took a favourite route through Cornwood to Lee Mill where we stopped at the Westward cafe. We found Bryan there waiting for us tucking into a bacon sandwich. Then it was a climb across the moor to Meavy and back down the cycle track.

13 April: This week we had eight riders at Plymco. It was good to see more people out. Our listed leader Andy was still in Australia so we decided to alter the route. We stopped at Endsleigh for coffee and decided on a different destination. Bryan, Anna and I headed homewards whilst the others decided on Totnes via Buckfastleigh.

I shall be organising some rides using the Dartmoor bike bus. This year there is a compulsory charge of £5, which must be paid when booking. It will not be refundable.

Iris Buckler: Feb 10th Bryan, our leader, took us through Saltram and on to the cycle path to Hooe Lake. After some discussion we decided to stay away from the road and continue on the foot path to Hooe. There are now steps tonegotiate past the sewage works and these proved to be very muddy and slippery. Bryan was very apologetic about this but we all thought it good fun. Then it was back on to the road to reach the Jennycliff cafe. This was a coastal rideso we continued to Heybrook Bay where we took to the coast path to Wembury. This has been widened since HMS Cambridge closed and much of it is easier to ride. It was slippery in parts as Bryan found out. One moment he was in frontof us, the next he was nowhere to he seen. lie had fallen into a bush at the side of the path. Fortunately he emerged unscathed. We lunched at Wembury in warm sunshine. The others were soon eager to be off whilst I decided to stayfor a while. I had a pleasant chat with a walker who used to ride with Plymouth Wheelers and recalled being pushed as a young teenager by Roger Turner. I left to follow the others who were heading back past Otter, but I saw no more ofthem that day.Feb 17th There were only four of us out today. The weather was kind again as we made our way up the PlymValley path to the Knightstone. There was the usual contingent of other club riders there. We should have continued to Bere Ferrers hut there was a change of plan and the other three elected to carryon through Gunnislake to return via Saltash. George has a number of tea stops on this route!! took an easier option to go around Burrator and stopped for lunch at Sheepstor which is a frequent stop of ours. I was there joined by two walkers who were cyclists down here on holiday. They were CTC members from Surrey and we had an interesting conversation over our lunch he fore continuing on our respective ways.March 16th There were six of us out today. With our leader unavailable today we had a discussion on our destination and decided on Endsleigh for coffee. Bryan, walking with a stick, drove up and joined us. We seemed to be talking for a long time so decided on another change of plan and made for Mothecombe. On the way first Graham B picked up a puncture and then Andy followed suit. After a pleasant picnic session on the beach the vote was to find a tea stop. At Newton Ferrers we stopped at the cafe at the Green. I had actually found a tea place that our expert tea drinker. George, didn’t know about.

This map gives you an idea where Wilmington is:

The bike went back to the shop today - cost me $40 for four days - about 20 GBP. More pics. The country ones are just outside the city boundary:

Hi Folks

I arrived in America almost a fortnight ago and now into the third week. I’m on the East coast at the moment about 3hours south of New York and the same distance from Washington in the largest city of Delaware - Wilmington. Delaware is America’s first State.

I won’t give you a detailed step by step guide. I’ll just say I went to Washington, saw the Capitol Building there, the Library of Congress and the National Art Museum. That was really impressive. The people here are really welcoming, too. Anyway, here are some links to pictures:

I am still trying to track down a Bike Friday and went to a cycle shop and went to Dunbar’s Cyclery on my first day here to see if they had any information. Dunbar’s Cyclery doesn’t stock Bike Fridays but they were able to give me the address of a dealer near the next place we’re going to, Denver, where the Rocky Mountains are. I was also able to hire a bike from the shop for three days, so I’ve been out and about in and around Wilmington exploring. When I get to the Rockies, I hope I’ll be able to do a bit of exploring by bike, too. It should be pretty spectacular.

http://www.dunbarscyclery.com (See bikes, prices, cyclists and more …)

The roads round Wilmington are very busy but there are also plenty of cycle tracks and massive parks with through routes for cyclists. Outside the city boundary the countryside gets quite interesting with lots of woods and rolling hills. I visited two country estates belonging to members of the Du Pont family. In another month (April) the flowers would have been fantastic. At the moment everything looks very wintry still, though the weather has been dry and cold with a stiff breeze blowing most days.

We are returning to GB on April 1st, so I hope to see you all on Graham’s ride on 6th April.

 PS: The grub is lovely!

Graham J

George, Graham Reed and Sue met me at Tamar Bridge and we joined up with Larry Clarke and Les Prior on the way out of Saltash.

The route was SO Hatt RAB and then first left on the lanes to Callington and Louis’s Café on Kit Hill. Brian Richardson joined us for coffee and the usual chinwag. George followed his route to Denham Bridge and Lucy’s for more tea. A mile or two past Harrowbarrow on the way to Norris Green the rear wheel on Les’ bike sprang a puncture. Larry stayed behind to give a hand and we met up again at Cothele House for lunch.

 At Cotehele Weir Larry left us to do a longer route round Tavistock. I took the off-road route from the weir to Harrowbarrow along the RH side of the river.

I hadn’t been out for quite some time and found the going a bit tough alongside the fast riders of the Plymouth Section. Anyway it was nice to Larry and Les cycling with us and to catch up with their news.

picture gallery 

For the second week in a row the weather was unkind to us - gale force winds and squally showers. This didn’t deter 18 cyclists gathering at the Boringdon Arms in Turnchapel for Christmas lunch on Sunday 9 December 07. It was once again an opportunity for an exchange of news and to gather as a Section.

picture gallery

Three out today - George, Graham Reed (leading) and myself. Great day for a cycle ride after a week of variable weather. We made for Cawsand via Torpoint and St John.

The winter colours were amazing crossing the ford at St John, so I had to stop to take some photos. Just then, a car decided to come along. I must have been a comical sight to the motorist, juggling my bike, my gloves, the camera, mobile phone and all but falling into the river bike and all. A less even-tempered fellow would have used more expletives, I think, than I could muster for the occassion.

On for elevenses in Cawsand at the The Old Boatstore Café on the seafront. (Excellent rock cakes!)

and then Graham suggested taking the coastal path to Rame. Graham - off road?! Lunch at Rame Head, where Graham took more photos

and thence to The View Café along the coast path - particularly narrow and muddy path with steep-sided slopes. George’s suggestion! Progress was pretty slow, what with all the off-road stuff, and after tea at the View Café, we set off for Plymouth via the Torpoint ferry. Altogether a thoroughly enjoyable day with an interesting route thanks to Graham and George. - Graham John

From: Bill Barnes [bill@bbarnes.fsnet.co.uk] 

DA Annual Dinner Poster and Booking Form. <Annual Dinner Poster> <Annual Dinner Form>
 
Could I please ask you to circulate the attached information among your sections and send your returns to me by post or email no later than 24 November. 

We are targeting an attendance of 70 people for a successful event and need your support. 

Ed Genochio is traveling from Birmingham to present his return trip from China to follow on from last year’s fascinating talk on his eventful journey to China. 

Is there anyone traveling from Exeter to the Dinner who would be willing to collect Ed from St David’s station at 5:50pm on the way to the Dinner?  Please let me know. 

Thanks for your support. I look forward to receiving your returns.
Regards - Bill Barnes, 70 Cleeve Drive, Ivybridge, Devon -  PL21 9BP
01752 896111 / 07712 868166

All,

Mike Bowden, Roy Russell, Jenny Ingram and I attend the 3-monthly Exeter Cycle Forum Meetings. These meetings allow a range of cyclists’ representatives to meet County and City officials to discuss cycle facilities and initiatives in the local area.

One thing that we are trying to do at the moment is to produce a ‘Requirements of Cyclists in Exeter’ document which articulates what facilities cyclists would like. The document is divided into sections representing the interests of Leisure Cyclists, Sports Cyclists, Commuter Cyclists, etc.

The current version of the document is on-line at http://www.lkjh.org/ctc/cycleforum/index.htm  I would recommend that you download the version without images - as the full version is very large.

I am particularly interested in inputs such as
 - what cycle facilities in Exeter do you think are good? (e.g. the Canal-side route?)
 - are there any areas or routes in Exeter which you believe are dangerous for cyclists? (e.g. particular junctions, etc.?)
 - do you have any suggestions for new routes or links which would benefit cyclists? (e.g. a cycle crossing at M5 Junction 30?).

The next meeting of the Cycle Forum is on Tuesday 13 November. I would like to produce a revised of the document before then. Thus I would very much appreciate any inputs - no matter how modest - by Sunday 11 November if possible.

Many Thanks

Kirby

Exeter Cycle Forum Terms of Reference

   1. To act as a channel of communication on cycling issues between
the various bodies represented on the Forum
   2. To make suggestions on the future of cycling in and around Exeter
   3. To comment on specific proposals affecting cycling being considered
by the Planning and Highway Authorities
Kirby James
16 St Briac Way
Exmouth
Devon
EX8 5RN
t: +44-1395-279-659
m: +44-7783-672-516
e: kirby.james@gmail.com
w: www.lkjh.org

I took my new ‘Specialized Rubypro’. (Mum has nicknamed it my ‘Ferrari’!!) out on its first ‘club run’. It’s designed for petite ladies - somewhere along life’s way I have lost over an inch. (George and Graham R were my only companions). I already knew that Anna Bryant and Graham J wouldn’t be out, but nothing from Iris? I had intended to cross thc Moor to Yelverton, to feel the difference a lightweight bike makes but a couple or weeks ago I had to lean into a hedge to avoid an oncoming cars and when I lifted my leg over the handlebar my thigh felt as if I was going to get cramp. The 15 miles home were, to say the least, agonizing as anyone who has pulled a muscle knows. So we took the easy route up the Plymbridge cycle path and I can report that you can see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’!! Perhaps they have installed higher wattage bulbs so I didn’t need to use my front light. Just after this we linked up with the road, and went to the Knightstone via Clearbrook and Meavy, arriving just as they were opening. Here we were joined by Roger, Bernard and lastly Iris, who apparently, for the first time in her life had overslept!! Refreshments and conversation ‘consumed’, we left our separate ways, only Bernard joining me for the short ride to Buckland Monochorum, through Walkhampton, Horrabridge and Crapstone, lovely views from here, just a pity about the name! Bernard suggested the ‘Garden House’ for our lunch stop, but on seeing ‘concession’ I was about to make haste to the park bench. But my companion,dear of him, insisted on paying for me. Autumnal colours in abundance, plus a rare sighting of red and white speckled toadstools - not a fairy in sight!! A short but memorable ride which suited my ability. Sorry, I meant to say my disability.