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The red Vistalights, promoted by Ken, were tested this evening and certainly looked quite bright from behind. From the Dartington Hall estate we took the overgrown track to Totnes (tricky in the dark) and returned via Rattery as usual.

We repeated our earlier route today by having lunch at Mothecombe and then wading across the river to enable return via Aveton Gifford. Charlie wasn't all that enthusiastic about the idea, but he didn't fancy climbing back up the hill we had just descended so he went along with the majority. Things got a bit dicey when we realised, half-way across, that the tide was coming in at the rapid rate for which Mothecombe is famous: shoes and socks left on an island of sand in the middle of the river were submerged a few minutes later when we returned for them!

The Loddiswell café seemed appropriate, but as some were then quite tired we returned home by the shortest route.

As rain was forecast we kept close to home, riding out to Buckfast. Since the rain had not materialised we decided to tackle the steep climb to Cross Furzes, calling in at the Rushworth farmstead along the way for some welcome refreshments. The rain had still not arrived by the time we got back to Buckfastleigh - the forecasts seem to be hopeless these days!

The forecasts for the weekend looked abysmal right up to the start of the ride: storm force winds, torrential rain, all continuing throughout the weekend. In fact the worst weather we experienced was some light rain as we neared the hostel on Saturday evening.

We were not deterred from venturing out for our traditional walk through the woodlands, despite the inky blackness of the night and the promise of rain. Armed with a handful of battery lights we bravely set out, but MJ and Tao were not amused when the rest ran on and left them lightless on a rough path that had numerous pools of water along its length and a fast flowing river close to the edge. There was nothing much to be done except wait for the rest to return. Card games saw us through the remainder of the evening.

The rest of the weekend was plagued with mechanical problems, including Chris Platt's irreparable derailleur spring and numerous punctures. Our Sunday ride was therefore doomed from the outset, so we returned home after a less than satisfying ride, taking all day to ride from the hostel to Buckfastleigh by the direct Moretonhampstead/North Bovey route. We stopped for lunch at Mearsdon Manor, Moreton, as about half the group had not brought a packed lunch.

This year's AGM attracted a smaller attendance than in previous years, partly because the Section seems to have settled on a good formula, leaving little need for change. Lorraine Walker took on the treasurer's mantle, and Ken Twydell took the position of Section Delegate from Richard Hopper. The position of Publicity Representative was unfilled, although Sebastian Lessware was later co-opted to the position. All other Committee positions remained unchanged. Local publicity reps are as follows:

<table>
<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Newton Abbot</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Alan Dawson</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Torquay</td><td></td><td>Dave Robinson</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Paignton</td><td></td><td>Robert Walker</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Totnes</td><td></td><td>Seb Lessware</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>South Brent</td><td></td><td>Mark Hedges</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Buckfastleigh</td><td></td><td>Neil Ault</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Ashburton</td><td></td><td>Catherine Hopper</td></tr></table>

No major changes to Section policy were introduced.

Seb turned up at the Avonwick pick-up but Richard had already abandoned the ride owing to a zero turn-out at Buckfastleigh: he had forgotten about checking Avonwick. So Seb made the best of a bad job by completing the ride on his own.

Seven from Buckfastleigh met fifteen from Marldon at Tally Ho bridge and rode to Fermoys via Ipplepen. The usual pleasant afternoon ride with no unfortunate incidents.

We bumped into the Torbay Section this morning at the Totnes pick-up, and attracted two additional riders by virtue of our proposed track-based route. Ken, who had recently purchase ten second-hand Moulton machines (a kind of Mechano construction which bears a vague resemblance to a bicycle) and was riding one today, was the laughing stock of the whole group.

From Tuckenhay we continued through Cornworthy to the lunch stop at the top of the Bozomzeal track. Departure was then significantly delayed while Dave finished his Thermos of piping hot coffee! Both he and Michael then got the best laugh of the day as they watched Ken picking his way down across the field on foot, pushing his Moulton beside him.

The track was a bit stony and wet, but Ken got on eventually and somehow didn't fall off. After a short café stop in Dartmouth we took the ferry route back to Paignton, Dave H taking great delight in seeing the Buckfastleigh contingent having to ride the extra distance for once!