Everyone seemed to think we would wake up to a hard frost or snow, but thankfully no! After a very damp day before, it was dry and bright but with a biting chill. So the turn out was relatively good at the start, delayed 20mins for a latecomer! Sue was there on her crutches, but looking well, taking the opportunity to catch up with some before we set off. Anna left ahead of schedule, thinking her pace these days would hold us up. Bryan R (who also had arrived ahead of us at Wrangaton) had been an early bird, and to save waiting around in the cold, set off on his own from Plympton. Caroline, two Grahams (J and B), George, Mike and Yolande were with me. Leaving Wrangaton, four turned back, leaving me with just the two Grahams, Yolande and George. All in all it was a pretty uneventful ride, however, Yolande felt the cold on her extremeties and borrowed some spare inner gloves from George and experimented with plastic bags on her feet! Our route was via some small lanes which were a little mucky and puddly, over Bickham Bridge. We visited the quaint little 13th century Church in Moreleigh, having our lunch there but not wanting to cool off too much. We pushed on over Gara Bridge and called in at the filling station at California Cross for a hot drink from the machine. Then via the lane opposite (also mucky!) through the hamlet of Brownston, and back to the main road to Ermington, through Ivybridge and back to Plympton. I think the cold especially took its toll on poor Yolande. I thought I had lost her and George by the end of the cycle track from Smithaleigh, but George was administering some much needed nutrition!. Graham B and I waited on top of the flyover, whilst Graham J who also feels the cold and prefers to keep moving, pedalled ahead but in the end waited for us on Sandy Lane roundabout. Nice ride I thought, considering the forecast, a 35 mile loop back to Plympton, an extra four for me, and another couple more for George.
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