Four of us gathered at the car park Ivybridge Station, Myself, David N, Graham B, & Andy P. on a cold but frost free day. We where soon on the lanes heading for Combe Cross & Strode, then crossing the main A3121 Ugborough road to head up hill for the Ridge road & past Ludbrook Manor. Here we had to battle the cold biting NE wind before turning right & the climb up to Mary Cross, at least we where out of the wind, & surprisingly the lanes had seemed to have dried out a bit after all that rain of late + no icy patches. We continued on the lanes heading for The Thatches Holiday Village, which seems to have grown in size of late, & up to Chillaton Cross. It was then a continuation of frost & ice free lanes to arrive at Loddiswell green & two convenient placed benches to enjoy our flasks of coffee & tea, also to people watch as they took their dogs for walkies.
After a good natter, we navigated the back streets of Loddiswell to join Knapp Hill and down to Knapp Mill there to join the lane to Aveton Gifford. Here I took them through the park to the under pass, to join the Avon Estuary road, I had checked the tides before hand to make sure we didn`t get wet. I think everybody else had, going on the amount of traffic we had to pull in for. Having admired the bird life along this stretch it was then to navigate the long Stakes Hill up to Bigbury Village, mind all my companions shot up on their electrified bikes leaving me to struggle up in their wake, still it was my fault for coming this way. Through the village and on the main drag, passed the golf club where plenty of golfer`s we enjoying the balmy weather today, but still a biting wind, & down to the beach. The cafe in the lower car park was open for takeaways, so we sat on the bank admiring the view and trying to keep out the wind. It is worth noting the upper cafe is open again after being sold & closed for a while, I thought it was going to be developed in to some luxury accommodation, but it looks like someone has decided to open it as a cafe again.
We set off again to negotiate the off road coastal path down to Challaborough, which gave Dave a chance to moan because I had got his bike dirty with red clay. It was then a climb up to Ringmore & to turn left at the church & head for Marwell Cross, and join the Kingston road. Coming in to Kingston we hung a right for Langston Cross and headed for Shearlangstone then on towards Modbury. Arriving at the back of Modbury it was time for another off road bit, so joined Cottlass Lane, Dave wasn't to keen but I assured him it was hard packed and not muddy. ( Well it was a few weeks back when I walked along with the dog ) Well you`ve guessed it, it was muddy ,and Dave`s wheels clogged up with mud & he had to carry his bike most of the way, ( Sorry Dave ) but I keep telling you to get a proper bike. With Dave having de-mudded his bike so his wheels would go round again, we headed for the main A379 Modbury road to cross and join the Ridge road again & head for Ermington. Passing through the village and heading for Ivybridge, I took them on another off road jaunt through Filham Park, this wasn`t muddy though, with hard packed track. It was then up through Filham & back to the Station to say are goodbye`s, and for Dave to go home & clean his bike.
Another good adventure, for those worried about icy lanes there was no bother, although that wind was cold, I had 33 miles on the clock.
Trevor
After a good natter, we navigated the back streets of Loddiswell to join Knapp Hill and down to Knapp Mill there to join the lane to Aveton Gifford. Here I took them through the park to the under pass, to join the Avon Estuary road, I had checked the tides before hand to make sure we didn`t get wet. I think everybody else had, going on the amount of traffic we had to pull in for. Having admired the bird life along this stretch it was then to navigate the long Stakes Hill up to Bigbury Village, mind all my companions shot up on their electrified bikes leaving me to struggle up in their wake, still it was my fault for coming this way. Through the village and on the main drag, passed the golf club where plenty of golfer`s we enjoying the balmy weather today, but still a biting wind, & down to the beach. The cafe in the lower car park was open for takeaways, so we sat on the bank admiring the view and trying to keep out the wind. It is worth noting the upper cafe is open again after being sold & closed for a while, I thought it was going to be developed in to some luxury accommodation, but it looks like someone has decided to open it as a cafe again.
We set off again to negotiate the off road coastal path down to Challaborough, which gave Dave a chance to moan because I had got his bike dirty with red clay. It was then a climb up to Ringmore & to turn left at the church & head for Marwell Cross, and join the Kingston road. Coming in to Kingston we hung a right for Langston Cross and headed for Shearlangstone then on towards Modbury. Arriving at the back of Modbury it was time for another off road bit, so joined Cottlass Lane, Dave wasn't to keen but I assured him it was hard packed and not muddy. ( Well it was a few weeks back when I walked along with the dog ) Well you`ve guessed it, it was muddy ,and Dave`s wheels clogged up with mud & he had to carry his bike most of the way, ( Sorry Dave ) but I keep telling you to get a proper bike. With Dave having de-mudded his bike so his wheels would go round again, we headed for the main A379 Modbury road to cross and join the Ridge road again & head for Ermington. Passing through the village and heading for Ivybridge, I took them on another off road jaunt through Filham Park, this wasn`t muddy though, with hard packed track. It was then up through Filham & back to the Station to say are goodbye`s, and for Dave to go home & clean his bike.
Another good adventure, for those worried about icy lanes there was no bother, although that wind was cold, I had 33 miles on the clock.
Trevor
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