Our first advertised ride to a Costa coffee shop attracted just four members on a cloudy but dry morning that threatened rain showers during the afternoon. After a coffee at Crofters we set off at 10.50 and rode through Ashburton to the Dolbeare flyover where we followed Gale Road past Goodstone. The route had been selected by Google maps and turned out to be generally very easy cycling and very scenic. We had hardly ever ridden this way before so it was fascinating to discover the country lanes and wealthy properties that were hidden so perfectly from everyday view in the Combe Park area.

We turned left at Metley Cross and were soon at Chercombe Bridge, the start of the footpath through Broadridge Woods. Seasoned members of our club will remember we have had frequent run-ins with the middle-aged gentleman at Chercombe House who seemed to resent the fact that a footpath went right through his driveway. He always seemed to see us as we were manoeuvring our bikes through the side gate and would try to tell us we weren’t allowed through with bikes even if we were walking, which was of course nonsense. If he caught us opening his main gate to make it easier to get the bikes through he would tell us to close it and go through the side gate one by one. WE were understandably apprehensive as approached the property, but nobody came out today: either out stealthy movements won the day or the gentleman in question has moved on.

The path through Broadridge Woods was interesting, running as it does alongside the River Lemon all the way into Newton Abbot. There were a number of styles and kissing gates that often required the bikes to be lifted over the top, but there was plenty to see including a weir and leat. We finally emerged in Baker’s Park, Newton Abbot, and continued along the cycle path into the centre of the town.

As it was lunchtime we felt that a restaurant might be better than Costa. We were right next to Asda but Lawrence said he didn’t fancy the café in there, so we went on to the main street. We had almost settled on Wimpey when Lawrence announced he was going to Asda after all. When we followed him however it turned out he was going to buy things in the supermarket, not the café, so the rest of us got food in the café and made the best of it.

We set off at 1.40 for the return journey. Lawrence had requested the main road route as he had not ridden that before, so we rode through Bradley estate and then on to Ashburton. Almost imperceptible drizzle in Newton turned to light rain by the time we reached Bickington and proper rain by Ashburton. We got home by 3.12 and confirmed with Neil that it was still pretty much dry in Newton, which suggests the Met Office rainfall maps which show significantly higher rainfall near Dartmoor than at Newton are indeed correct.