Disaster struck today before the ride had really begun. Dave Robinson, approaching the Totnes pick-up from Marldon, somehow lost control and fell off during the descent of Bridgetown Hill. Regrettably he fractured his leg near the hip joint, and is still recovering at home. It is very unusual to sustain breakages of this kind through falling off a bike. We all wish Dave the speediest of recoveries, and hope that he will soon be able to join in our activities again.

For the rest of us, unaware of the seriousness of the incident, the ride continued with a vague air of normality: Neil had a puncture; Martin Luke had a puncture, but didn't start fixing it until we were about to leave ... We didn't make it to Rolster Bridge today, but derived some pleasure from a brief ride in the Harberton direction before heading homewards.