It was clear that the day was going to be hot and sunny. When everyone had arrived at the Bovey Tracey pick-up, we learnt what was in store for us: a trip to Lustleigh for elevenses, and back to the Rough Stuff start by the road from Bovey to Liverton.

Most went along the railway line to Lustleigh but Nick and Richard (one afraid of jolting his bike, the other of jolting his stomach) chose the road and were well into their tea by the time the others arrived. A debate followed on whether hot tea or ice drinks were better for cooling down, while others ate toast and jam or just jam. A certain person decided the Primrose drinks were not large enough and went 'over the road'. An easy ride took us to the starting point and everyone took to the shade of the forest for lunch where we met the other participants, dodging low flying frisbees between mouthfuls.

Some with the competitive spirit pinned numbers to themselves, while others just went the course for the fun. Each was given a route description, the marshallers were despatched and everyone set off. The course was mainly over lanes and rough tracks and covered about five miles. At the end tea and cakes were heaven sent while the marks for style and expertise were counted. A deserving Philip Humphreys was proclaimed King of the Rough Stuff. One or two had missed a section or two of the course, one, by name of Luke Hatherly, failed to make the first marshal and made up his own route. He must have wondered when the A38 dual carriageway was going to turn into a green lane. He must have wondered where the fords and woodland tracks were as the suburbs of Exeter passed by. Anyway, while everyone was getting lost themselves looking for him, Luke was having to make a deal with British Rail to get him back to Totnes without money. This was a strange end to the day, but after finding all was well we went home having had a fun day out with something to remember from it.