The meet this week was at Plymco but Myself, Sue B & Ted were meeting the rest at The Hunting Lodge, there was a small hic-up as I had put the meet at 10.00am instead of the usual 9.30am start, so we had a longer wait than normal. All together at around 10.40am we had a reasonable group with Dave N, Graham B & J + Andy P joining us. So away we went heading for the Ermington road and then turning into the lanes for Penquit through Strode to cross the A3121 and down to Sheepham Bridge. Now was the time to ascend the mother of all hills heading for Modbury, a few had to walk it due to the increase of traffic on this rat run from Modbury, but I think some were glad to get off their bikes & walk. Through Modbury keeping on the main road for about half a mile before turning right back on to the lanes again - and yes ! - another hill to test us, although this one was ride-able. We kept on this lane all the way to Seven Stones Cross before turning right and heading for Kingston. Its worth mentioning we had a beautiful blue sky with the sun warming us up and views of the sea in the distance. From Kingston it was then right again at Marwell Cross to head down to Ringmore and on to Challaborough for our first refreshment stop at the cafe on the beach. Ted decided to treat us all as it was my birthday today, and we sat near the beach watching the surfers in the rough sea and the dogs running up and down the beach having a wonderful time in the bright sunshine.
Dragging ourselfs away from this idyllic setting, we set off again trying a new lane up to Bigbury, through Bigbury Court to join a lane down to Foxhole, giving the tidal road a miss due to high tide. We carried on the lanes heading for the main road at Averton Gifford , at this stage Graham J decided to leave us and head back as he was worried about his low battery. We joined the main road and headed across the Avon Estuary before turning left for Venn, through Hatch and onto the second coffee stop at the farm shop on the Loddiswell - Kingsbridge road. Again we sat outside enjoying the sunshine and the views across the Avon river and surrounding countryside.
Time to mount up again and tackle the hill up in to Loddiswell and through the village to tun off at Loddiswell Butts back on to lanes, Dave decide to leave us here to carry on the `B` road back home to prepare for our evening Planning Meeting. The rest of us carried on the lanes passing Woolston farm, Stanton and to Chillaton Cross, straight on heading for The Thatches Holiday Village. It was then on a well tested route back to Sheepham Bridge and on to Ermington, then back to Ivybridge, were Myself, Sue & Ted said our goodbyes to Andy and Graham as they made their way back to Plympton.
A good testing ride in beautiful sunshine,I think a few people felt knackered, with myself clocking 32.8 miles and the ones from Plympton at around the lower 40`s. Also something worth noting out of the seven riders today, 4 were on e-bikes, food for thought.
Trevor
Dragging ourselfs away from this idyllic setting, we set off again trying a new lane up to Bigbury, through Bigbury Court to join a lane down to Foxhole, giving the tidal road a miss due to high tide. We carried on the lanes heading for the main road at Averton Gifford , at this stage Graham J decided to leave us and head back as he was worried about his low battery. We joined the main road and headed across the Avon Estuary before turning left for Venn, through Hatch and onto the second coffee stop at the farm shop on the Loddiswell - Kingsbridge road. Again we sat outside enjoying the sunshine and the views across the Avon river and surrounding countryside.
Time to mount up again and tackle the hill up in to Loddiswell and through the village to tun off at Loddiswell Butts back on to lanes, Dave decide to leave us here to carry on the `B` road back home to prepare for our evening Planning Meeting. The rest of us carried on the lanes passing Woolston farm, Stanton and to Chillaton Cross, straight on heading for The Thatches Holiday Village. It was then on a well tested route back to Sheepham Bridge and on to Ermington, then back to Ivybridge, were Myself, Sue & Ted said our goodbyes to Andy and Graham as they made their way back to Plympton.
A good testing ride in beautiful sunshine,I think a few people felt knackered, with myself clocking 32.8 miles and the ones from Plympton at around the lower 40`s. Also something worth noting out of the seven riders today, 4 were on e-bikes, food for thought.
Trevor
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