The meeting this year was a fairly quiet affair. The only changes to the Section Committee were that Neil Ault became the treasurer and Seb Lessware became Publicity Officer and Section Delegate.

Publicity representatives were elected as follows:



Two motions were considered, all proposed by the Section Secretary:

<i>A: That the Section should return to Leusdon Lodge for the 1993 Christmas Lunch to see if the new owners will provide a satisfactory service.</i>

There was general agreement that the Moorland Hotel had offered large portions of good food at a reasonable price, but that lack of a private room was a disadvantage. The motion was carried.



<i>B: That a new publicity position be introduced to cover villages such as Ipplepen, Staverton, Broadhempston and Landscove.</i>

The motion was amended as follows: That the Publicity Officer should ensure that posters are presented in all villages in the area as far as possible, either by making personal visits, requesting existing publicity officer to make visits, or posting leaflets and posters to known locations in the villages.

The amended motion was carried. Michael agreed to make a few initial contacts. Additional villages discussed included Denbury, Ogwell, Kingskerswell, Bovey Tracey, Kingsteignton, Bickington and Chudleigh.


Other Business

1. Lorraine Walker offered a pre-Christmas social at Paignton on 10 December.

2. It was agreed that the pick-up time for Avonwick starts should be changed from 11.00 to 11.15 to allow more time for the Paignton and Totnes contingents to arrive.

3. It was agreed that the survival blanket need not now be purchased and that Dave Robinson's £2 donation should therefore be returned with thanks.

4. South area decided that it was sensible to put destinations on local rides, and Charlie agreed to send Michael a list of destinations for use in subsequent newsletters.

5. South Area prefer morning rides to afternoon rides, so all South Area afternoon rides that do not meet up with North Area afternoon rides will be converted to morning rides with immediate effect.

6. The drop in attendances were a cause for concern, and it was therefore agreed that every effort should be made by all members to recruit additional children and adults to the club as quickly as possible.

7. Dave Humphreys agreed by telephone to lead one ride per month, and Dave Robinson and Charlie agreed that their names could be used on posters in their area.

Martin Luke selected this perfect autumn morning to make a tentative comeback to club life. We took in the best of the autumnal scenery by riding the track through Hembury Woods to Gallant Le Bower and New Bridge, and then riding (and pushing) the riverside path to Spitchwick. It really is surprising how a path can seem totally different when traversed in the opposite direction!

When everyone had just begun to enjoy Spitchwick, Michael urged us onwards through the woodlands and up the steep climb to Buckland in the Moor. There was a general desire to stop for refreshments, so we made our inaugural visit to the Round House cafe. Paul had no money and Tom, confident that there would be no cafe stop today, had spent all his at the start of the ride.

Jeremy, who performed excellently on his first ride, reckoned the bakewell tart was excellent!

Risk was the selected board game this evening. The winner was ... Budgie!

Totnes pick-up. Out via Tuckenhay for a change, joined with Strete road then turned off for Hansel Mill. Took a wrong turning during the descent and ended up in an overgrown glade infested with midges. As we were too hungry to climb back up the hill before lunch we made the most of it as a lunch spot first. Returned through Diptford.

This was an "autumnal ride".

The date being what it was, attendance was somewhat low this evening. Chris Giles made full use of the computer games, however.

Maypool was good fun as always, although the wardens were a little stingy with the food and a little sharp with the youngsters. The firework display looked spectacular against the backdrop of the river Dart and the Dartmouth lights.

The younger members, who had been pressing Michael for months to tell them a really good ghost story at a hostel, didn’t get too good a reception for the one he told tonight - it had a rather disappointing ending!

On Sunday morning, when chores had been completed, we rode at high speed to Marldon to lead the local morning ride …

Another excellent ride across the moor.