Sorry a bit late with write up been away for a few days. We all gathered at the old Riverside Inn car park in Bovey all 19 of us. The Plymouth lot  where, Graham John & Black,Andy Prideaux, John & Jenifer Durham, Dave & Nicci, Ted Greenberry, Tina, & myself,the others where Torbays group of the Out Patients with Rob Swayne. The start was delayed waiting for Graham John & Tina, Graham had in his head Bovey Tracy was beyond Exeter, so I was confused when I phoned to see where he was and he said just coming into Exeter. So they finally arrived at the start just after 10.30, how long as he lived in Devon?
We finally set off and joined the new cycle trail towards Teigngrace and the new bridge over the A38. Here the cycle path followed the old Templar Trail and the old Stover canal.This was used centuries ago to transport the granite from the Quarries up at Haytor down to Teignmouth for shipment far and wide for building our fine buildings in London and beyond,so ends the history lesson.
We cycled on past some lovely scenery to the hustle and bustle of Newton Abbot joining the cycle path over the new bridge to the edge of Newton Abbot race course, I left the cycle path for a bit of off road to our first coffee stop at the Passage Inn alongside the river Teign. Ted organised another Photo shoot grabbing some poor stranger to take the photo giving him instructions how to work his camera.
Here a couple of the Torbay group left us, was it because I told everyone that the so far flat course was now a bit more undulating.
So we set off up Hackney Lane and our first hill. then joined Humber Lane a even bigger hill. Much moaning from one of the Torbay group Roger, saying he hated Devon and was looking forward to his cycling holiday  in East Anglia.Having waited for all to catch up we cycle along country lanes to Rowden Cross turning left up another hill to Teignmouth Golf course,turning right onto Sheperds Lane and down to Teignmouth taking in some beautiful scenery over looking the coast and Teignmouth estuary.Then we crossed Shaldon bridge and onto the Ferry Boat Inn for our lunch stop sitting over looking the mouth of the river to the sea and Teignmouth and another group photo.Here the rest of the Torbay group left us thanking us for an interesting ride.
With now just our own group we set off south side of the river towards Combeinteignhead and Lower Netherton, it was a bit up and down so I waited for the two Grahams to catch up with the main group going on ahead, then they committed the mortal sin of not waiting at road junctions. When we arrived at the junction with no sign of anyone, I thought Andy Prideaux who had done this route with me before and had remembered to turn left to Buckland. But having arrived at the foot bridge over the A380 my phone went with Dave realising they had missed the turning, but by luck Ted had a map.So I lead the rest of us on the return route to Bovey we then had another wait of 45 minutes for the rest of the group to arrive back.
Still a great day was had by all, and it was nice to ride with another group so thanks Rob for organising your lot

Points for "A" Riders: Graham Black, Trevor Bradshaw, Mike Willacy, John and Jennifer Durham, Tina Siani, Neil Crowley, Lez Prior, Graham John

At the end of the ride I was pleased that the day had gone well, this was based on words of appreciation at the end. Though after doing the reccy on Friday I did have concerns about the state of the some lanes with all the bad weather over winter it was more pot holes than tarmac also there decent.

On the day we took the usual coastal route from Torpoint to Seaton then I picked the best and safest lanes from Seaton to Liskeard via Monkey Hill and on to No Man's Land. From then on we headed north missing out lots of rough and steep lanes off from the B3254. At Horningtops it was down hill into the Looe Valley and the Music museum, then another steep climb but we were  rewarded with good views and with lots of primroses and garlic.

Morrison's in Liskeard was the lunch stop and for me it had to be beans on toast with a pot of tea. The return journey back to Torpoint was via Pengover Green, Doddycross to Trerulefoot and then the scenic route again with good views with more garlic on to Polbathic and the ferry.

We agreed it was a good day and with 40 miles covered. (Report by Graham Black)

Points for "B" riders: Anna Bryant, Bryan Richardson
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The best day of the year so far, only Bryan and me out. Blue sky, not much wind and the views from the little lane between the Kingsbridge rod and Westlake across the South Hams and the Moors was glorious. The hedgerows were ablaze with primroses, blue bells , celandines, dandelions and red campions. The only thorn in the vista were two big fields with solar panels. Two kind motorists reversed to give us ample space to pass them, so a good day out. (Report by Anna Bryant)

Sunday 10th April

Informal ride from Tamar Bridge led by Dave Newman. (Larry Clarke had a virus.)

Present - Graham Black, Jennifer and John Durham, Andy Easton, Tina and Mike Willacy

Owing to the poor weather forecast I decided to shorten the ride to 40km (max) so coffee at Louis on the side of Kit Hill and then a tour of the lanes to the NW with a return to Pillaton via Linkinhorne, South Hill, Golberdon, New Bridge, Cadson Bury, Crift and Clapper Bridge.

It was the usual ride out via Hatt and Amy Tree but as Louis' was fully booked we continued round the hill to the 'Engine House' cafe in Florence Road,. Kelly Bray.

The return journey was , in places, extremely difficult due to gale force winds at times but at least we only had a tiny drop of rain.

"B" Riders: Points for Anna Bryant, Bryan Richardson, Sue Etheridge.

Getting up the hill out of Plympton was a real struggle, especially for me, but getting hit from the side was really dangerous. Don’t know, how Sue and Bryan managed to stay on the bike being so much lighter than me. My meter showed 16 miles. Regards  Anna

Points for: Trevor Bradshaw, Andy Prideaux, Tina, Graham John

After a bright start to the day rain soon set in and continued all day. John and Jennifer Durham sent their apologies and headed back to Tavistock. I was surprised therefore to find Trevor and Andy Prideaux at the start. There's strength in numbers, so the saying goes, so in spite of the continuous rain we headed up the road to Kelly Bray and made our way via Stoke Climsland, Beal Mill and Rezare to Launceston. It was 12:15 when we got to Tesco for a welcome cup of coffee.  That bit of the ride was familiar to me since I had dome it many times on the Tamar 100, but in the opposite direction. There were four 'snorts' on the way out (grunts in my case) and the others waited patiently for me at the top of the steeper climbs. Still not having received my electric bike back from the dealers, I realised how unfit I had become over the past year. The return journey was new to me and after a fantastic descent to Lowley Brook, there came the first inevitable ascent. Turning left at Trewarlett Cross we made for Lezant and the next climb to Trekenner. Trevor stopped for a photo-shot by the bridge on the River Inny and there began a mammoth climb to the top of Tremollet Down. Three mega-climbs on the return leg already. Fortunately, after that, the going became easy. We descended to Bray Shop and headed back to Callington via North Hill and Maders. We only had 20 miles on the clock, but we had to fight for each one of those. In spite of the short distance, it had been a very demanding ride and one to repeat in better weather. The view from the top of Tremollet Down is certainly worth the effort of getting there.

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'B' Riders: Mike WillacyI arrived by car at the long stay car park just before 9.30 and but the saddle bag on the bike and the rain jacket on me, no one by the pub as yet.  I sheltered under the shop canopy for about 10 minutes just in-case someone else decided to brave it, or for Brian to appear round the corner under an umberella to see if anyone has turned out in the rain.  Having been in Bracknell again for the last two weekends I have not done any cycling for two weeks and also given the weather forecast, I decided that just a ride to the Farm shop by Endesleigh Garden Centre would be enough for the morning.  I went the usual way and soon arrived at the shop cafe and not really that wet but still good to arrive and get inside.  They must be running a promotion on full cooked English breakfast's as I had only just sat down and one of the girls can over to ask if I wanted a full breakfast.  I was certainly tempted but having had porridge for breakfast I opted for a large latte and a piece of their strawberry slice from their cake selection instead.  The chap's full breakfast, who was sitting by the window, then arrived which certainly look very good (I wonder if Andy E will be interested in checking this out I thought as I know he does like a good full English breakfast, like myself really)  While I was drinking my coffee, a few other groups of people arrived and also ordered the full English breakfast with toast and various drinks. I finished my most enjoyable strawberry slice and coffee and thought about making a move, but as the rain was now wetting the windows even more I decided that another coffee would be a good idea and see if the rain eased off a little, also resolving to check out the English breakfast situation when next in the shop.  Now fully topped up with coffee and having paid the bill etc then a look around the shop produce I finally ventured out to the bike.  It was still raining steadily so as well as the jacket I also donned the waterproof trousers and overshoes.  Re-tracing over the A38 I went straight across at the roundabout into the edge of the houses then left into/up Woodland Road, up to the shut of section of road, across Cornwood Road, past the small industrial units then back down the hill to Lee Mill past the 24h Tesco.  The usual route then back to Plympton to the car park.  As I was not really in a rush to get back to do a few jobs in the afternoon (carry on re-furbishing/cleaning my third spare pair of Campagnolo Record pedals, one pair though is for the Claud Butler that I am not re-assembling) and listen to Gardener's Question Time on Radio 4 at 2 o'clock, I called in at one of my cafe stops the Plym Railway station buffett.  A mug of tea and a slice of chocolate cake also with some clotted cream on top was duely enjoyed.  Even though it was still raining as I was leaving there were still passengers boarding the break van for a trip up the line to near the level crossing and back, one of their diesel shunters  being the motive power for these trips which run in between the steam hauled Sundays to Plym Bridge.

All in all, good to be out for the morning or so to enjoy good coffee, tea, cake and blow away the cobwebs (must do more miles next Sunday though).