South Dartmoor CTC Album

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Saturday 10 October 1987
Weekend ride: Bellever Youth Hostel
Day 1
Sunny
13 Participants: Noel Armstrong, Richard Burge, Paul Deslandes, Richard Hopper, Simon Hopper, Toby Hopper, Philip Humphreys, Gary Johnson, Michael Jones, Luke Rake, Vicky Sanders, Andrew Simmons, Mark Williams
When our three Paignton lads had joined us we set off for Scorriton and the moor, the conversation revolving around Mark Williams' assurances that there were numerous television sets located in the woods near the hostel, all of them working! Some people humoured him, others questioned his balance of mind, but Simon had a puncture and so the subject was temporarily forgotten.

Dartmoor really does look its best at this time of year, clean and fresh in the autumn sunshine. The temperature was plummeting as we crossed the Laughter Tor area from Dunnabridge, but the laughter really rose when the woods revealed no televisions! It was Mark who had the last laugh, however, during our excellent supper (huge helpings of soup served with croutons), when the warden told us of the weird 'Willo the Wisp' art exhibition which had resided in the nearby woods during the summer! He also told us what he thought of it! (Going back to the supper, the warden even washed up for us, but the self-catering Hopper clan seemed content with their rice mountains.)

Evening entertainment included the over-pumping of Philip's inner tube, a number of nameless members cowering behind a glass partition in unashamed fear of the impending explosion. When the end finally came it had more to do with Gary and the candle extinguisher than the now weary pump!
Sunday 11 October 1987
Weekend ride: Bellever Youth Hostel
Day 2
Sunny
13 Participants: Noel Armstrong, Richard Burge, Paul Deslandes, Richard Hopper, Simon Hopper, Toby Hopper, Philip Humphreys, Gary Johnson, Michael Jones, Luke Rake, Vicky Sanders, Andrew Simmons, Mark Williams
Sunday morning was perfect in every way, although Richard Burge may not have agreed as he laboured over the cleaning of the warden's brass lamp. There was time for photographs outside the hostel before we ambled along the peaceful moorland roads towards Princetown's Fox Tor cafe, led by our capable eight-year-old pace-setter Toby Hopper. The prison road formed part of the route to Wistman's Wood, much of the remainder being provided by the muddy and rocky track from Two Bridges - Vicky just loved the mudbaths!

Lunch, which was consumed within the ancient woodland itself amidst games called 'hide the pannier' and 'hunt the pannier' was followed by a more intelligent return along the upper reaches of the hills, thereby avoiding most of the rocks.

Climax of the homeward route was the use of the track from Bel Tor to Aish Tor known as Doctor Blackall's Drive, offering some of the best views of the Dart Valley we had yet seen - thanks Luke for the idea. The track from New Bridge to Holne seemed likely to be equally exciting, until the seventh stile finally killed off all enthusiasm! It was enjoyable, nevertheless.
Page 1 of 1 (2 items)
Events Index Gallery Participants