The start of this year's "South Hams Challenge" got off to a damp start, it all looked so rosy at the start of the week, with bright sunny weather forecast. That all changed come Thursday with heavy rain & winds forecast for the Sunday, what's happened to what used to be a reliable long range BBC & Met office forecast? It seems to change hourly. I had predicted a turn out of 30-35 riders, but come Saturday, the wholly understandable cancellations started coming in.
Turning up at Ivybridge station car park, I expected to be there on my own, although my Plymouth CTC marshals & helpers said they would be there. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a few hardy soles had turned up for the start. In the end, we had a total of 12 riders, that was with myself & 2 of my team as sweepers. "Yipeeee!!!"
When we had everyone booked in, I gave the signal for the off @ 10.00am, at the moment the weather was dry but with a forecast of 90-95% chance of rain. But what did we care, as we made our way towards Bittaford & to take the first turn right after the tall railway arches, to join the lanes. Now away from the traffic in nice quiet lanes, I gave them a nice hill for starters and a climb up to the ridge road. With everyone now warmed up, we headed for North Huish and then Bickham bridge. It was now time to get serious with a long steep climb up to the Moreleigh road, and then on to the village itself. From there it was Blackawton, Bow, and a climb up to Cornish Post & the Strete road. Up to now, we seemed to have got away with the rain, just the odd spot of drizzle. So it was on to Strete, then the long scenic downhill to Torcross & on to the first check point at Stokeley Farm shop.
Checking with my marshals, everyone was accounted for, a couple of riders had taken a wrong turn, but got their first, so no problem. It's worth mentioning there was a father & son entry, Leigh Jackson & son Finley, who was only aged 12, and giving us a good run for our money.
At the farm shop there was a long queue to be served, so we all stood by the marshals' car eating our nutty bars & sandwiches. Now by the seaside the rain had caught up with us, and the heavens opened. With it not being pleasant just standing there in the rain, we didn't hang about and set off again, heading for Stokenham. Then on to Sherford to start a series of climbs to Fursdon Cross, where the riders in front of me missed the turning. I didn't catch them till Cole's Cross, but no harm done, we took an alternative lane to rejoin the route. We then passed through Goverton, Ledstone & across the Kingsbridge road, then down some narrow lanes and to our second check point at Avon Mill garden centre.
Again checking with my marshal's everyone was accounted for. They had done some alterations here during lockdown, & the outside seating area was now all covered in. So we could all cuddle underneath out of the rain, which had been with us since Torcross, this had alternated from heavy downpours, to steady rain. By now we were all fully rinsed, so it was nice to sit there in the dry enjoying our drinks and snacks. In our little group, Bonny had bought a couple of packets of biscuits for us all to share, which was very thoughtful. Sitting there listening to the rain beating off the over head canopy, we thought of stopping there till the sun came out, but as this wasn't due till Monday, we thought we better man up and brave the last leg. At least we couldn't get any wetter than we already were.
So we headed for the estuary road to Aveton Gifford passed Knap Mill, at the start of this lane, the river Avon had overflowed, so we had a bit of a river crossing, in fact the whole lane has deteriorated, with lots of standing water & potholes. After Aveton Gifford it was a long steady climb up to Hangmans Cross, then down past the Thatches holiday park & through the lanes to Ermington. Now it was on the homeward stretch back to the start & finish. My wife Sue was there to great us with some cartons of fruit juice, which she had in a cool box & also some cereal bars. A perfect end to a wet but challenging, enjoyable ride + everyone said how they enjoyed the ride. Better than sitting at home looking out the window.
Note: I would like to thank all that took part, for David Byfield making it from Liskeard, & Andrew Smerdon
from Lustleigh.
Also, for my fellow Plymouth CTC members who acted as marshals
Trevor
Turning up at Ivybridge station car park, I expected to be there on my own, although my Plymouth CTC marshals & helpers said they would be there. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a few hardy soles had turned up for the start. In the end, we had a total of 12 riders, that was with myself & 2 of my team as sweepers. "Yipeeee!!!"
When we had everyone booked in, I gave the signal for the off @ 10.00am, at the moment the weather was dry but with a forecast of 90-95% chance of rain. But what did we care, as we made our way towards Bittaford & to take the first turn right after the tall railway arches, to join the lanes. Now away from the traffic in nice quiet lanes, I gave them a nice hill for starters and a climb up to the ridge road. With everyone now warmed up, we headed for North Huish and then Bickham bridge. It was now time to get serious with a long steep climb up to the Moreleigh road, and then on to the village itself. From there it was Blackawton, Bow, and a climb up to Cornish Post & the Strete road. Up to now, we seemed to have got away with the rain, just the odd spot of drizzle. So it was on to Strete, then the long scenic downhill to Torcross & on to the first check point at Stokeley Farm shop.
Checking with my marshals, everyone was accounted for, a couple of riders had taken a wrong turn, but got their first, so no problem. It's worth mentioning there was a father & son entry, Leigh Jackson & son Finley, who was only aged 12, and giving us a good run for our money.
At the farm shop there was a long queue to be served, so we all stood by the marshals' car eating our nutty bars & sandwiches. Now by the seaside the rain had caught up with us, and the heavens opened. With it not being pleasant just standing there in the rain, we didn't hang about and set off again, heading for Stokenham. Then on to Sherford to start a series of climbs to Fursdon Cross, where the riders in front of me missed the turning. I didn't catch them till Cole's Cross, but no harm done, we took an alternative lane to rejoin the route. We then passed through Goverton, Ledstone & across the Kingsbridge road, then down some narrow lanes and to our second check point at Avon Mill garden centre.
Again checking with my marshal's everyone was accounted for. They had done some alterations here during lockdown, & the outside seating area was now all covered in. So we could all cuddle underneath out of the rain, which had been with us since Torcross, this had alternated from heavy downpours, to steady rain. By now we were all fully rinsed, so it was nice to sit there in the dry enjoying our drinks and snacks. In our little group, Bonny had bought a couple of packets of biscuits for us all to share, which was very thoughtful. Sitting there listening to the rain beating off the over head canopy, we thought of stopping there till the sun came out, but as this wasn't due till Monday, we thought we better man up and brave the last leg. At least we couldn't get any wetter than we already were.
So we headed for the estuary road to Aveton Gifford passed Knap Mill, at the start of this lane, the river Avon had overflowed, so we had a bit of a river crossing, in fact the whole lane has deteriorated, with lots of standing water & potholes. After Aveton Gifford it was a long steady climb up to Hangmans Cross, then down past the Thatches holiday park & through the lanes to Ermington. Now it was on the homeward stretch back to the start & finish. My wife Sue was there to great us with some cartons of fruit juice, which she had in a cool box & also some cereal bars. A perfect end to a wet but challenging, enjoyable ride + everyone said how they enjoyed the ride. Better than sitting at home looking out the window.
Note: I would like to thank all that took part, for David Byfield making it from Liskeard, & Andrew Smerdon
from Lustleigh.
Also, for my fellow Plymouth CTC members who acted as marshals
Trevor
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