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After another strenuous 11-mile walk on Dartmoor with Graham Black on Saturday, I was wondering how I would feel on Sunday morning for the Section ride. But it seems that quite a different group of muscles or - more importantly - bones are involved. For the first time in quite some while I drove to the start and  arrived at Plymco at 9.10am.

Clare had beaten me to it and was already staving off the onset of hypothermia by vigorously winding up her eco-friendly bicycle light. By 9.35am quite an impressive crowd had gathered: Bryan, our ride leader, George, Grahams B and R and me, Sue - back from what by all accounts was a most interesting weekend in Cahéran with Dave Newman and Nycci - Iris and Patrick and Julie. No Andy this week to cheer us on our way with his repertoire of karaoke songs.

For a change it was a cold, dry day with good visibility and weak sunshine, a welcome change from the dismal weather of weeks past and with, perhaps, just the slightest hint of Spring in the air.

Caroline, who did not make the start, joined us briefly at Ottery.

Bryan took us along the cycle path at the back of Ottery Nurseries, hoping that the unfinished part of the path would be passable after the short spell of clement weather. The path was still in its usual, poor state of repair.

Bryan’s route took us into Plymouth via the SW coastal path and the Barbican and then along the Hoe to Devil’s Point. Along the way Graham B pointed out a number of interesting historical sites, especially in Durnford Street, which had been the home of both Conan-Doyle and Thomas Hardy, much admired by Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Afternoon-tea was enjoyed in the precincts of Prince William Yard, which I had not visited before. In the past it supplied victuals for ships leaving Plymouth and included a bakery and a brewery. In its heyday it must have been a hive of activity.  

Graham B, Clare and Graham R left us. I returned to Plympton to rejoin my car at about 3.15pm. Unfortunately, on the way back, Iris came a cropper on the cycle-path between the Iron Bridge and the Embankment, owing to uncut outgrowths on the path. Fortunately, she was not badly hurt. What with appalling winter weather and misplaced trust in  Icelandic banks, local councils are having a hard time - I think - in keeping abreast of all the maintenance and repairs now necessary.

 21 miles on the clock. Altogether a satisfying, if shorter than usual, run.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 8:32 pm and is filed under Section Runs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.