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The forecast for the day was quite reasonable, and I hoped that it would be, as the weather is an important factor and can mean the difference from having a good day and completing , what is a difficult & character testing ride, and abject failure and disappointment.

The day started for me at 04.30 with a good breakfast and departure at 05-00, as I was cycling to the start at Bovey Tracey for 09-00. The ride up was fine, traffic was ‘light’ on the A38 with a tail-wind, and 34 miles later I arrived at 07-10, had a cup of tea in the pub that also served as the Control/sign in, and watched the weather worsen to heavy showers, which was the order of the day.

I took some pics at the start and of the 08-00 riders. The weather was really too wet to take photos on route, so are limited a few at each control. This ride is a Challenge and a test of stamina and endurance, wouldn’t be the Devil otherwise, only more so in this weather that persisted most of the day.

When I arrived at the soup stop, which was very welcome and a morale booster, I was cold, wet, but pleased to arrive. Some of the hills & descents were hazardous to say the least, I have to admit to having one or two ‘close calls’ and so was happy to be in ‘one piece’. Here, I learned that there had been a few casualties on various descents, fortuneately nothing too serious. Having warmed and dried out slightly, I was a little reluctant to leave the warmth & shelter of the hotel. On leaving the hotel, I had some welcome company in the form of Graham Brodie and so continued over Holne moor and into Princetown Fox Tor cafe control for a cup of hot chocolate & cake which went down very well. I also had an opportunity to wring out my cycling mitts. In these conditions its little things like that, that make a difference.

Refreshed and a little drier, out into rain and the last leg ( no pun intended). As we arrived at Post Bridge, it actually stopped raining and by the time we got to the village of Widecombe the sun was out, bathing the village in late afternoon sunshine, a photo opportunity too good to pass by, with more photos taken on the hill, looking back towards the village, as the sun went down. Magic !

The rest of the route, once up the hill, flew by and into Manaton, and the Finish at the Kestor Inn. A welcome rest and sustenance in the form of a home-made Inn pasty, which was very nice, saw us on our way. We cycled to Bovey Tracy where Graham had left his van, leaving me to cycle back to Plymouth via A 38. I usually cycle back via Princetown & Dartmoor, so this was a change, though traffic was heavy. Only 34 miles to go!!

I arrived home at 2105 having covered 38.5 miles ( Inn to home ) in just over 3 hours. A loooong day, but also a very successful one. Total mileage, up 34.6, Devil 67.75 and home 38.5miles = 140.85miles. On reflection, I think the moors route home is the safer option.

The weather this year was almost the exact opposite of last year, when it rained as cycled all the way up on the A38, then cleared up as I arrived at Bovey Tracy , for the Devil and cycled home across the moors. Thanks to Kevin for another Devil, will I do it next year? You bet!