Arrived at the station car park for our first ride of the new year to be greeted by 4 eager souls, Graham B, Yolande, Dave Newman & Andy P on a dull but dry day.After wishing each other a Happy New Year, we set off towards Wrangaton & then South Brent.From here we stayed on the main road up to Marley Head then joined the lanes to Harbourneford Cross.Stopping on the lanes to Zempson Cross and Moorshead Cross & on towards Deancombe and Buckfastleigh, taking in the odd hill here & there on the way.Once at Buckfastleigh we rode through the center of the town to see lots of volunteer workers in their high viz tops taking down the Christmas decorations, ( that`s it !! Christmas is over for another year ) It was then on to the Salmons Leap cafe for our first stop & not a drop of mud on our bikes with the lanes unusually dry.
Once refreshed we came out to see a large group of cyclists across the road the second large group we have seen today, all out riding there christmas pud off. We crossed the road and joined the back road towards Ashburton, then taking the first right to Pridhamsleigh, it was then a long climb up to Five Lanes, to be greeted by another large group of cyclists, ( where are they all coming from ? ) We stopped for a chat to find out, and they were the," Teign Valley Pedal Bashers" out of Denbury & beyond. They were going the same way towards Staverton, so off we all set, I think the largest group we have ever cycled with. It was on to Wash Cross, Wash, Bumpston Cross & to the junction for Staverton Station, were we said our goodbye`s with them turning left and us right, and on to Ben`s cafe for our second stop. It was coffee,tea & cake all round, with Yolande tucking in to a Lentil Pastie.
After having our fill & discussing what we would do if we had been as lucky to win the £115 million like the Irish couple, we set off again to join the main A384 and to cross the Riverford Bridge over the Dart then crossing the road to join the cycle path up to Huxhams`s Cross. We turned right here to join the road to Rattery, then it was on familiar lanes towards South Brent and back to Ivybridge. I had 33 miles on the clock, and a cool & dry day, the occasional hill made sure we stayed warm.
Trevor
Once refreshed we came out to see a large group of cyclists across the road the second large group we have seen today, all out riding there christmas pud off. We crossed the road and joined the back road towards Ashburton, then taking the first right to Pridhamsleigh, it was then a long climb up to Five Lanes, to be greeted by another large group of cyclists, ( where are they all coming from ? ) We stopped for a chat to find out, and they were the," Teign Valley Pedal Bashers" out of Denbury & beyond. They were going the same way towards Staverton, so off we all set, I think the largest group we have ever cycled with. It was on to Wash Cross, Wash, Bumpston Cross & to the junction for Staverton Station, were we said our goodbye`s with them turning left and us right, and on to Ben`s cafe for our second stop. It was coffee,tea & cake all round, with Yolande tucking in to a Lentil Pastie.
After having our fill & discussing what we would do if we had been as lucky to win the £115 million like the Irish couple, we set off again to join the main A384 and to cross the Riverford Bridge over the Dart then crossing the road to join the cycle path up to Huxhams`s Cross. We turned right here to join the road to Rattery, then it was on familiar lanes towards South Brent and back to Ivybridge. I had 33 miles on the clock, and a cool & dry day, the occasional hill made sure we stayed warm.
Trevor