By the time I'd arrived at the Co-op everyone was already assembled for the rides. Sue and Anna were going to do their own ride so they soon set of up the hill. This left Trevor, Graham Reed, Graham Black, Andy Easton, John, Brian on his electric assisted light weight bike who had decided to join us 'A' riders for the run and myself to head out up the Ridgeway. Part way up Andy Prideaux was heading down to see where we had got to as we had left slightly late and turned round to also join us.
We took the left fork to go along the minor road past the woods to avoid some of the road work lights , then went right through them south and over the A38. We took the second left past Wiverton then right to Blackpool then left up a steepish incline to the 84m height then left at the cross roads down to the stream to then climb again steadily to then turn right onto the road to descend into Yealmpton. Over the main road we stuck to the B road until turning right at the junction with by the newly re-thatched house which looks great. Left at the bottom to tackle the steady climb up past the woods which I was at the back of the group for. John had carried on past the right down through Wrescombe so once re-assembled we turned right at the T junction on to the B then left for the steep twisty descent on the narrow lane down to Bridgend. The others carried on to the Ship Inn for our coffee break while I hung back at the junction for Brian, who was going very well but he has to take it steady down the steep hills so as not to have the bike run away due to the weight of the battery pack. The pub was quiet so various coffee's were soon ordered which we drunk outside with the temperature being reasonably warm.
Looking at the map over coffee and to keep the coastal theme, as per the destination on the runs list, Graham Black pointed out that it is possible to ride round the coastal path. The group was happy with this suggestion, although I was a little apprehensive about taking Brian that way but he said he would give it a go. The track has a fairly compacted surface to start with and not too bumpy, just a few walkers and those with dogs but not in the way of riding. A little further on Brian managed to over balance side ways onto a prickly patch but we helped sort him out and he was back on the way again in a jiffy. The weather was good for great views of the River Yealm estuary and Wembury Bay with white waves crashing onto the rocks. It is a little muddier further round nearing Mouthstone Point and past Gara Point towards The Warren so I stayed with Brian to give him a hand if needed but he was coping with the boggy bits admirably despite is slight excursion side wards. People were most helpful at the gates and held them open for us so we were not far behind at Blackstone Point before re-grouping at the start of the track to the car park. Brian had acquired some 'sticky' grass seeds from going off piste so John gave him a hand to pull them of but they also stuck to his woolly glove, all good fun. At the five bar gate into the car park, a 4 by 4 driver had the key to the padlock as she was just about to drive through so that was handy. All together again we re-joined the black stuff (tarmac) with the wind behind us to speed up and down along the coast road through Battisborough Cross and then the decent into Holberton for a slightly late lunch stop. I had my 2 Blackberry Jam sandwiches then joined everyone else in the pub for a cup of coffee, which was a good flavor but as per our last visit could have been hotter. Its certainly a nice pub though and the roast lunch looked to be a good value, perhaps next time we'll give the track a miss so we will have time to confirm this.
Time was rolling on and Brian was not sure how many miles was left in his battery pack so once back on the bikes, Brian, Trevor, Andy Prideaux and Graham Reed bid farewell for the day and took the main yellow road to cross the A 379 then through Westlake, over Tod Moor and into Ivybridge and home. Andy E, Graham B and John were keen to carry on further for the rest of the afternoon so California Cross was decided upon for a pot of tea stop. Going along the muddy lanes then to the A 379 we turned right at Westlake to do the climb before the long decent into Ermington. On the main road I took us first right up the other side of the valley to the Y junction and turned right, however thinking that this was not the right way on stopping to look at the map again I had mistaken this for the next junction where we should actually have turner right. We were now actually going in the wrong direction and up an un-necessary long hill. We descended down to the Modbury road and after apologizing that we will not now have time to reach California Cross we decided to head back to Ermington village center to take the usual low level yellow road into Ivybridge.
Before reaching the cycle track by the A38 I suggested that we avoid this and go up the hill and turn left to go past St Austin Priory. Graham then suggested that we head for Cornwood, as we still had some time in hand for a few more miles although my stamina was now rapidly fading. At the junction for Cornwood we persuaded Andy and John to push on, although Andy was saying he was also running low on energy not having been out on a ride for a couple of months. On climbing and crossing into the National Park we were now in light drizzle so I stopped to put my wind proof waist coat on (forgotten the technical name). Left in the village then down through Sparkwell, Any turned left at the next junction as he had now had enough and wanted to get straight back to Plympton. Graham, John and I carried on and into Plympton on the B 3416. We all had our cars at the usual car park and we arrived there by around 4.30 still in the drizzle and slightly fading light. John's computer was showing a total of nearly 40 miles which he was happy about, Graham thought he had ridden enough miles for the day and I was also thinking I had done enough for so was glad to be able to put the bike in the car to drive up Forder Valley and back to base. All in all a great day which I think everyone enjoyed. See you all on a ride soon, Mike.
We took the left fork to go along the minor road past the woods to avoid some of the road work lights , then went right through them south and over the A38. We took the second left past Wiverton then right to Blackpool then left up a steepish incline to the 84m height then left at the cross roads down to the stream to then climb again steadily to then turn right onto the road to descend into Yealmpton. Over the main road we stuck to the B road until turning right at the junction with by the newly re-thatched house which looks great. Left at the bottom to tackle the steady climb up past the woods which I was at the back of the group for. John had carried on past the right down through Wrescombe so once re-assembled we turned right at the T junction on to the B then left for the steep twisty descent on the narrow lane down to Bridgend. The others carried on to the Ship Inn for our coffee break while I hung back at the junction for Brian, who was going very well but he has to take it steady down the steep hills so as not to have the bike run away due to the weight of the battery pack. The pub was quiet so various coffee's were soon ordered which we drunk outside with the temperature being reasonably warm.
Looking at the map over coffee and to keep the coastal theme, as per the destination on the runs list, Graham Black pointed out that it is possible to ride round the coastal path. The group was happy with this suggestion, although I was a little apprehensive about taking Brian that way but he said he would give it a go. The track has a fairly compacted surface to start with and not too bumpy, just a few walkers and those with dogs but not in the way of riding. A little further on Brian managed to over balance side ways onto a prickly patch but we helped sort him out and he was back on the way again in a jiffy. The weather was good for great views of the River Yealm estuary and Wembury Bay with white waves crashing onto the rocks. It is a little muddier further round nearing Mouthstone Point and past Gara Point towards The Warren so I stayed with Brian to give him a hand if needed but he was coping with the boggy bits admirably despite is slight excursion side wards. People were most helpful at the gates and held them open for us so we were not far behind at Blackstone Point before re-grouping at the start of the track to the car park. Brian had acquired some 'sticky' grass seeds from going off piste so John gave him a hand to pull them of but they also stuck to his woolly glove, all good fun. At the five bar gate into the car park, a 4 by 4 driver had the key to the padlock as she was just about to drive through so that was handy. All together again we re-joined the black stuff (tarmac) with the wind behind us to speed up and down along the coast road through Battisborough Cross and then the decent into Holberton for a slightly late lunch stop. I had my 2 Blackberry Jam sandwiches then joined everyone else in the pub for a cup of coffee, which was a good flavor but as per our last visit could have been hotter. Its certainly a nice pub though and the roast lunch looked to be a good value, perhaps next time we'll give the track a miss so we will have time to confirm this.
Time was rolling on and Brian was not sure how many miles was left in his battery pack so once back on the bikes, Brian, Trevor, Andy Prideaux and Graham Reed bid farewell for the day and took the main yellow road to cross the A 379 then through Westlake, over Tod Moor and into Ivybridge and home. Andy E, Graham B and John were keen to carry on further for the rest of the afternoon so California Cross was decided upon for a pot of tea stop. Going along the muddy lanes then to the A 379 we turned right at Westlake to do the climb before the long decent into Ermington. On the main road I took us first right up the other side of the valley to the Y junction and turned right, however thinking that this was not the right way on stopping to look at the map again I had mistaken this for the next junction where we should actually have turner right. We were now actually going in the wrong direction and up an un-necessary long hill. We descended down to the Modbury road and after apologizing that we will not now have time to reach California Cross we decided to head back to Ermington village center to take the usual low level yellow road into Ivybridge.
Before reaching the cycle track by the A38 I suggested that we avoid this and go up the hill and turn left to go past St Austin Priory. Graham then suggested that we head for Cornwood, as we still had some time in hand for a few more miles although my stamina was now rapidly fading. At the junction for Cornwood we persuaded Andy and John to push on, although Andy was saying he was also running low on energy not having been out on a ride for a couple of months. On climbing and crossing into the National Park we were now in light drizzle so I stopped to put my wind proof waist coat on (forgotten the technical name). Left in the village then down through Sparkwell, Any turned left at the next junction as he had now had enough and wanted to get straight back to Plympton. Graham, John and I carried on and into Plympton on the B 3416. We all had our cars at the usual car park and we arrived there by around 4.30 still in the drizzle and slightly fading light. John's computer was showing a total of nearly 40 miles which he was happy about, Graham thought he had ridden enough miles for the day and I was also thinking I had done enough for so was glad to be able to put the bike in the car to drive up Forder Valley and back to base. All in all a great day which I think everyone enjoyed. See you all on a ride soon, Mike.
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