Graham Black, Andy P, Trevor, John from Tavistock and myself assembled at Plympton on a cloudy morning but dry, for my ride to Yealmpton Farm Shop for elevenses and Wrangaton for lunch. I was on my high geared bike due to my usual touring bike having just been re-sprayed at Argos and still in its bubble wrap bag, a nice re-build project to look forward to for the new year. I had ridden the route up until elevenses on Saturday, so we set of with my full condidence towards Langage then left and over the main railway line and up to the right turn for Sparkwell. There we turned right then under the main railway line and bumped over to Lee Mill. Over the A38 we continued south on the more major lane, which was quiet traffic wise being Sunday, to the steep decent to the A379 at Yealmpton. Rather that just going right on the main road to the Farm Shop, we crossed over the A road and down to the bridge over the River Yealm to join the track on the south side of the river. This is metaled to start with and even all the potholes had been filled for our ride ( as it happens by the locals as I noted the day before on my test ride). The track then turns right, by the private section to the house, but is still firm under wheel and goes over the river (on a bridge), then follows the north bank with some sections even being concreted. Having avoided the walkers and toddlers on the path, we arrived at the gate by the road bridge to turn right to reach the A379 again, I had to walk up from the bottom until we cleared the steep arrow section. Turning right by the entrance to Kitley Hotel (who can forget the HARD SPROUTS on our Christmas lunch a couple of years ago, everything else was very nice though Trevor, honest) it is just a few pedal turns to the cafe. On locking up the bikes Graham Reed appeared from under the shelter to join us for the rest of the day, he had arrived at the start after we had set off.
As I had not finalized a route from here, Trevor took up the challenge of leading us on wards towards lunch. After a while and suitably refreshed the now six of us continued at a good pace down the main road and through Yealmpton. At Yealmbridge we turned left back into the lanes and Trevor took us to Westlake and over Todd Moor. Trevor had to head back to Ivybridge from here but he gave us directions for a good route on the minor roads that climbed then followed the ridge along the south side of the valley. This sounded a great suggestion so we bid Trevor fare well and continued towards Ermington. Continuing we made a few turns by the 'committee decision process', however despite Trevor's excellent and very clear directions we soon came to the conclusion that we were not sure where we were - relative to my trusty OS map. There was nothing else for it but to followed our instincts, however after a short while we ended up on the A3121 valley road by Ludbrook. Time was rolling on, I was now flagging & feeling the effort of the high gears on by bike and there were now some dark clouds about, so we decided to stay on the A road to continue to cross over the A38 then left down to the cafe. Graham Reed decided to give the cafe stop a miss this time so sped off down the hill to Bittaford etc. A most welcome lunch stop was had by four of us while we also chatted to three other cyclist in the cafe that Graham and Andy knew.
After a group discussion of possible lanes so as to add a few more miles to the route, we all decided on heading for home on the direct B road option to Ivybridge. Here, feeling a little rejuvenated from the cafe stop and being the leader for the day, I suggested that we avoid the usual route on the cycle track by the A38 and stay on the yellow road up the hill. This we did then left and past St Austin's Priory, left to go round Tesco then the fast drop down to Lee Mill,then the usual lanes to Plympton. We arrived back in the car park at about 3.30 having ridden 30 miles according to the computer. I was glad of having driven to Plympton as by the time John & Graham had returned from a quick shop at the Co-Op rain was in the air, so good timing all round and a good day out a wheel (with no punctures!) was enjoyed by all.
As I had not finalized a route from here, Trevor took up the challenge of leading us on wards towards lunch. After a while and suitably refreshed the now six of us continued at a good pace down the main road and through Yealmpton. At Yealmbridge we turned left back into the lanes and Trevor took us to Westlake and over Todd Moor. Trevor had to head back to Ivybridge from here but he gave us directions for a good route on the minor roads that climbed then followed the ridge along the south side of the valley. This sounded a great suggestion so we bid Trevor fare well and continued towards Ermington. Continuing we made a few turns by the 'committee decision process', however despite Trevor's excellent and very clear directions we soon came to the conclusion that we were not sure where we were - relative to my trusty OS map. There was nothing else for it but to followed our instincts, however after a short while we ended up on the A3121 valley road by Ludbrook. Time was rolling on, I was now flagging & feeling the effort of the high gears on by bike and there were now some dark clouds about, so we decided to stay on the A road to continue to cross over the A38 then left down to the cafe. Graham Reed decided to give the cafe stop a miss this time so sped off down the hill to Bittaford etc. A most welcome lunch stop was had by four of us while we also chatted to three other cyclist in the cafe that Graham and Andy knew.
After a group discussion of possible lanes so as to add a few more miles to the route, we all decided on heading for home on the direct B road option to Ivybridge. Here, feeling a little rejuvenated from the cafe stop and being the leader for the day, I suggested that we avoid the usual route on the cycle track by the A38 and stay on the yellow road up the hill. This we did then left and past St Austin's Priory, left to go round Tesco then the fast drop down to Lee Mill,then the usual lanes to Plympton. We arrived back in the car park at about 3.30 having ridden 30 miles according to the computer. I was glad of having driven to Plympton as by the time John & Graham had returned from a quick shop at the Co-Op rain was in the air, so good timing all round and a good day out a wheel (with no punctures!) was enjoyed by all.
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