We assembled today at the station car park with what resembled a cycling touring club, all 7 of us, the best turnout for a while. There was Myself, Graham B, Andy P, Dave Newman, Mike Willacy, John Durham & Neil Crowley out of hibernation after the long winter.
We set off towards Wrangaton then down to Avonwick to pick up the back lanes to Harberton, taking in Yogi hill. Then a climb up to the main Totnes/Kingsbridge road, turning left then first right to take us down to Ashprington were Dave discovered he had a puncture. Suspecting it was the valve he pumped it up hoping it would last him to the Vineyard, so it was climb the hill up to the entrance and then the long downhill to the Vineyard.Dave had to stop to pump up his front tyre again and had to walk the last hundred yards as it was a puncture, he discovered he also had a hole in the wall of the tyre so had to put a bit of card inside to carry out repair.
After Tea/Coffee, Neil had a glass of wine, we picked up the lower track to pick up the cycle path to Totnes. Then it was through Totnes to pick up the cycle path to Dartington, just before the Railway station the path was closed with a big hole blocking our way,but Dave said Oh! we can get round that, so we negotiated our way along a narrow edge of tarmac and holding on to the fence to round it. (see Picture) It was then on to Dartington to join the road just above the church, then a track through North Wood to join the Staverton road just before the Bridge over the Dart, were we stopped for a group photo. It was then on to Ben`s cafe/farmshop for our second stop.
Fully refreshed we joined the main A384 turning left and over the Dart river again, and then first right on to the Old Totnes road to Buckfastleigh. It was then back home on the usual route through South Brent and back to Ivybridge Railway Station Car Park. I had 39.8 miles on the clock with an added 2 mile back to my house, it had now started to get really hot so we were glad to finish, also it was nice to see everyone had lasted the course, even Mike who normally has some pressing engagement to do at home.
Trevor Bradshaw
We set off towards Wrangaton then down to Avonwick to pick up the back lanes to Harberton, taking in Yogi hill. Then a climb up to the main Totnes/Kingsbridge road, turning left then first right to take us down to Ashprington were Dave discovered he had a puncture. Suspecting it was the valve he pumped it up hoping it would last him to the Vineyard, so it was climb the hill up to the entrance and then the long downhill to the Vineyard.Dave had to stop to pump up his front tyre again and had to walk the last hundred yards as it was a puncture, he discovered he also had a hole in the wall of the tyre so had to put a bit of card inside to carry out repair.
After Tea/Coffee, Neil had a glass of wine, we picked up the lower track to pick up the cycle path to Totnes. Then it was through Totnes to pick up the cycle path to Dartington, just before the Railway station the path was closed with a big hole blocking our way,but Dave said Oh! we can get round that, so we negotiated our way along a narrow edge of tarmac and holding on to the fence to round it. (see Picture) It was then on to Dartington to join the road just above the church, then a track through North Wood to join the Staverton road just before the Bridge over the Dart, were we stopped for a group photo. It was then on to Ben`s cafe/farmshop for our second stop.
Fully refreshed we joined the main A384 turning left and over the Dart river again, and then first right on to the Old Totnes road to Buckfastleigh. It was then back home on the usual route through South Brent and back to Ivybridge Railway Station Car Park. I had 39.8 miles on the clock with an added 2 mile back to my house, it had now started to get really hot so we were glad to finish, also it was nice to see everyone had lasted the course, even Mike who normally has some pressing engagement to do at home.
Trevor Bradshaw
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