| | Five of us gathered at the start today, Myself, Graham Black, Dave Newman, Ted Greenberry & Andy Prideaux. Ted would not let us start off first without a group photo, having posed for him we set off towards Wrangaton and then onto Avonwick turning off the main road towards Dipford. Having climbed the big hill into Dipford Ted decided he had enough for the day, but not before he took another group photo, he then set off to the main Totnes road and back to Ivybridge and completed his planned 20 mile. We carried on up hill to join the Morleigh road, from then onto Blackawton out of the village up a new route for me up to Oldstone Cross.Here I planned to join the A3122 Dartmouth road to our first stop but not bothering to look at the map thinking I new the way, turned right instead of left. After realizing my mistake I found us heading for Bugford and another big hill that I wanted to avoid. But hey-ho whats another hill among the many, so headed up to Hemborough Post and our first stop at the Gardentime farm shop. The cafe here is in a greenhouse and very hot inside and we thought if we sat in here we would get forced growth an come out 2" taller ( which would not be a bad thing in my case ) but decided to have our coffee & scones outside. Fully refreshed we headed back up to the Sportsmans Arms pub and turned left down another country lane to Capton Bridge which was a lovely down hill stretch, but then pay back time and another long climb uphill but to be rewarded at the top with lovely views over towards Torquay & Brixham. Turning Left at Tideford Cross and some more new lanes for me to Allaleigh and a lovely valley nicely named, Higher & Lower Venice. Turning right at Blackdown Cross and towards Brook Farm and back onto familiar territory for me, turning right to Lower Washbourne I took them off road through Granary farm and up a concrete track with a few rough bits thrown in, to Lower & Higher Yetson, then down hill to Bow Bridge for our second stop at the Watermans Arms pub. We decided the Dorset Gold looked good so we retired to the terrace with our beer over looking the stream in nice sunshine. The plan from here was to head back on a well tried and tested route through Harbertonford, Avonwick, South Brent, but about 2 mile along the lane the road was closed, so decided to follow diversion signs which took us up another monster hill to arrive just east of Harbertonford where we joined our usual route back. Good day was had by all with 38 mile on the clock arriving back at Ivybridge station. Trevor |
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