Led by Julie

We numbered nine at the start from Plymco and made for break at The Junction Cafe, Wrangaton. There to greet us were Bryan R and Iris. My original plan was to try the Chilli Farm cafe on the Loddiswell road, but it seems their trade is not sufficient at this time of year to keep the cafe open. So we will try another time.  Several went back after break, but George, Grahams B and J and Mike continued on. I tried to vary the route a little, taking us down some really muddy tracks. So muddy, if you had the misfortune of putting your foot down it squelched over your shoes! And having got through one particularly bad lane we had to employ a twig to release some of the material we had gathered from our wheels and guards. We went down a steep part-way concrete path, continuing on dirt and then at the bottom was a ford.

We got across! Mike, Graham J, Graham B and George.

After our crossing (over the concrete bridge!) we eventually came out on the main A379 for a short distance before turning into the park behind the church in Yealmpton. Ate our picnic on the bench there and then headed across the road to the Kitley Farm Shop for a hot cuppa where George gave us his take on modern technology and communication. With not much experience of it – his imagination is good, he was hilarious!! From there it was back to Plympton via more back lanes, but George, Mike and Graham B were ahead and missed a right turn so Graham J and I beat them back.  I think my name is mud after this escapde! Sorry it was so muddy Guys.  Thanks for sticking with me most of the way! Forgiven?!

What with the Met Office issuing a Level 2 weather warning and the tabloids threatening widespread deaths from exposure to the cold weather, it was with some trepidation that I drew the curtains today to see what Mother Nature had cooked up for my ride. At 8.00 am cars still had iced-up windscreens, but the ice soon melted and after judiciously testing the drive for ice, I decided there might be a ride after all.

At the Bridge I found Graham Black and Andy Prideaux, who were soon joined by Julie, George, Roger Floyd and Graham Reed.  The rest of the crowd were still tucked up warm under the covers on what turned out to be a very cold day BUT .. with no ice on the roads. 

Graham Reed announced he thought the weather was too cold and he had no lunch with him anyway. So giving his apologies, he headed back home.

The route took us through Hatt, Pillaton, Blunts and the lanes to Trerulefoot. We arrived there later than I had anticipated – 11.51 am. Ten minutes after arriving we were joined by Mike Willacy, who had been late arriving at the Bridge and caught us up. 

Only George, Graham B,  Julie and I made it to Seaton. The others turned back at Trerulefoot. When we arrived at the cafe in Seaton the thermometer was reading 3 degrees C. When we left, it had sunk to barely 2. And, to boot, it had started raining quite heavily. The home route took us through Downderry and up the infamous hill in the direction of Crafthole. At the top we headed for Narkus, George and Julie soon leaving Graham B and me to return to Plymouth via the Saltash ferry.

It was still relatively early and Graham B was “out for the day”, as he puts it. We headed back to Trerulefoot via Narkus and thence to Cutmere. We picked up Cutmere Lane which we had come out on and retraced to Blunts. Right at the T-junction and on to Notter Bridge and Hatt.

It had rained heavily ever since we left Seaton and when I got home I was drenched and my fingers and toes felt as though they no longer existed. I had been looking forward to a hot shower, but the hot water felt like I was beating my fingers and toes with a hammer, they were that cold!

What we do for cycling!

Julie writes:

When I got to Plymco I was first there and noticed a chap circling the car park and cycling up and down the Ridgeway.  Apparently Peter has been meaning to try out with us for a while but just hadn’t got round to it yet.  Sue chatted on her way into the shop – not coming out with us. Andy, Jean, GB, George, Mike, Bryan S, Peter and I set off for Buckfastleigh at a fair pace. I’m sure Andy has been training now he’s retired! Peter and he seemed to be very evenly matched. Mike left us at Lee Mill, reports of feeling under the weather. Bryan R met us at Buckfast Railway for break. We arrived at Dartington Hall and managed to get some seats at the little round summerhouse, sharing with a couple of walkers. It was quite busy there, very chilly but a bright day so lots of people out and about. To end our lunchbreak we made for the cafe and some hot chocolate. We headed for the outskirts of Totnes and once again Andy was bowling along, he made for home from the Avon Inn and we took it more leisurely back through Wrangaton, Ivybridge and so on. Peter was getting cold and was worried his back light wasn’t too bright so left us in his wake from the Lyneham. He seemed to enjoy the day exchanging travel tales with some of the itinerants in our group and hopes to join us again for another ride soon. Enjoyed the day!

Our first official ride of 2012, and everybody remembered the new start time. As it happened I was glad of the extra half hour when I realised I had a puncture. When the lever wouldn’t budge,  I knew I would need a helping hand…..So George came to my rescue, and even he struggled to get the wheel out!  After this came the problem with the offending object which refused to budge, and all this time the precious minutes were ticking away!!  I rang Julie and Caroline to warn them that I might not be on time, but the promise of a cup of tea works wonders with George, and he made it to the start on time.

Wrangaton was our coffee stop, so leading wasn’t really necessary, and we split into two groups.  Bob was going to call it a day in Ivybridge but with some coaxing he stayed with us. As usual the place was surrounded with bikes and the place was buzzing with chatter.

As we left the Cafe the looming drizzle changed to rain, and I must admit that had I not been leader I would have returned home!  Although Modbury is only a short distance I actually found a lane I hadn’t ridden before which brought us out near to Marys Cross, a familiar junction.

For our lunch break we had to make do with a wall as there weren’t any seats, which was disappointing because I could have sworn there were!!  Whilst the group were finishing their lunch I found that there was an alternative road to the ‘nasty’ hill out of Modbury.  The route home was quite hilly, taking in Westlake and Lotherton bridge which we hadn’t done for quite some time, and now I know why!  Thanks to you all for joining me.

L to R: Bryan R, George, Clare, Julie and Graham B.

I think most people planned to drive to the Bridge for the start but I was cycling from home in Plympton and a bit earlier than the rest to make the 9.30 start. I thought it was quite a mild morning as I set off but it could so easily have ended in disaster before the start as within less than the first half mile I came off on black ice – not a pleasant experience! Both times on reasonably flat ground having negotiated the downhill twists and turns. I then didn’t know what to do for the best. I carried on very carefully along the Parkway to the Bridge and was really pleased to hear no one else had suffered the same. Others from Plympton had either not ventured out or had driven.  We debated whether to carry on cautiously to tea-break or abandon the ride. The majority wanted to give it a go,  so we headed off to Tamar View Garden Centre and not far from there we passed Les and Larry stopped at a junction shouting “black ice everywhere ….don’t go to Cotehele”! Just what I wanted to be reminded of!! We didn’t stop to chat so wondered if they too had had an incident? Those of us who did get to tea-break, were I think mightily relieved and the debate began again. Bryan Richardson had joined us by car as he had planned. Sue and Anna decided to return to the Bridge and home by car. George, Graham B and Clare went back with them to the Bridge to collect their vehicles whilst Bryan waited with me and we had another. I had jarred my back and felt quite shaky and sore by then. They hatched a plan to then lock our bikes in Graham’s van and continue by car from there to Cotehele. I had heard there was a choir singing under the Garland in the Great Hall, however it turned out to be the Polperro Fisherman and not the Fisherman’s Friends as led to believe. We had something nice and hot to eat in the Barn Restaurant and then returned to the Hall to hear the choir, George decided to leave as it didn’t appeal to him. However if we could squeeze through the door, we couldn’t see them and we felt like sardines! So we didn’t stay long in there. We had earlier visited the Gallery whilst it was raining and so then we did a little walk around the immediate garden and grounds before leaving. Bryan took us back to Tamar View so we could load my bike into his car before returning home to Plympton. Thank you Bryan for looking after me, and to the rest of you for rescuing the day, it was a nice outing especially for Clare and I, we hadn’t been before.  Photos

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