Recent Event Reports
Sunday 18 November 2018
10:15 - 12:30
10:15 - 12:30
Morning ride: Dartington
Dry with sunny spells
12 miles (▲ 222m)
12 miles (▲ 222m)
2 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones
With Jude unwell, only two of us set off from Buckfastleigh at 10:15, taking Colston Road and the cycle path to the shops at Dartington.
The Venus cafe closed a few months ago, and to fill the gap the Dartington organisers had set up a new, temporary cafe in the same premises. It seemed similar in some ways to the Venus, although the cakes seemed a little less varied. We enjoyed some excellent coffee and a teacake however, warming ourselves nicely from the chill November air outside.
After some self-timer photos outside on the picnic tables we returned via Staverton Bridge and Caddaford.
The Venus cafe closed a few months ago, and to fill the gap the Dartington organisers had set up a new, temporary cafe in the same premises. It seemed similar in some ways to the Venus, although the cakes seemed a little less varied. We enjoyed some excellent coffee and a teacake however, warming ourselves nicely from the chill November air outside.
After some self-timer photos outside on the picnic tables we returned via Staverton Bridge and Caddaford.
Dillan and Michael at the Cider Press Centre, Dartington after coffee
(11:43)
Dillan at Staverton Bridge
(11:57)
Dillan at Staverton Bridge
(11:58)
Friday 16 November 2018
20:30 - 21:45
20:30 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
5 Participants:
Harry Back, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, George Rogers, Mark Thomas
Dillan was the overall winner this evening with George a very close second, but everyone played some exceptional badminton during the course of the evening.
Sunday 11 November 2018
10:15 - 15:00
10:15 - 15:00
Morning ride: Dartington/Totnes
Occasional showers
2 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones
Today's ride had to be converted to a Computer Science social because a certain person had left homework to the last minute. Jude was planning to join us but later decided to work at home.
Friday 9 November 2018
19:00 - 21:45
19:00 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
6 Participants:
Will Bastow, Ziggy Clark, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, Mark Thomas
Three of us enjoyed a computer games session at Crofters from 7pm before heading over to Ashmoor to join the others for a badminton session. Michael's new forms ensured everyone got to play everyone else. We also got some scores out of the exercise, meaning that this evening Will came first overall with Jude coming in second.
Sunday 4 November 2018
14:15 - 17:00
14:15 - 17:00
Afternoon ride: Hembury & Holne
Rain, turning heavy by lunchtime
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris
Weather conditions were not favourable for cycling today. Jude had been down all morning to get his maths homework completed, and since the rain was quite heavy by the time the ride was due to start we decided to cancel the ride.
Friday 2 November 2018
19:00 - 21:45
19:00 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris
None of our badminton associates could make it this evening, probably because of half term activities, but Jude and Dillan still managed a few games of badminton while Michael watched from the sidelines, still trying to rest his elbow.
Sunday 28 October 2018
10:15 - 12:45
10:15 - 12:45
Morning ride: Haytor Quarry and Hundatora Village
Changed to Holne
Changed to Holne
Cold and windy
11 miles (▲ 290m)
11 miles (▲ 290m)
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris
We set off with the intention of completing our planned ride to Haytor, but before we had even reached Ashburton, we realised that the strong wind, coupled with temperatures of around four degrees, meant that the moor was not a good destination. We all had painful ears even though we were still on low ground, but Dillan was particularly badly affected.
The solution was to leave the A38 corridor and head back through the relative shelter of River Dart Country Park and Holne Woods. We stopped briefly on Holne Bridge to admire the delightful autumnal scenery, then rode up Holne Chase to the community café at Holne.
Once we had warmed ourselves with hot drinks and soups, we left at around 12:10 and took the lane down through Michelcombe to Scoriton where Jude settled down on the seat to eat his packed lunch. Leo, the farm dog from Scoriton, was out and about this morning with his friend: he did start to walk over to us from his farmhouse, but after a few steps he clearly felt he was too old to make the journey and headed back home.
We got home by 12:45 and stayed warm by the fire until Jude was collected at 2pm.
The solution was to leave the A38 corridor and head back through the relative shelter of River Dart Country Park and Holne Woods. We stopped briefly on Holne Bridge to admire the delightful autumnal scenery, then rode up Holne Chase to the community café at Holne.
Once we had warmed ourselves with hot drinks and soups, we left at around 12:10 and took the lane down through Michelcombe to Scoriton where Jude settled down on the seat to eat his packed lunch. Leo, the farm dog from Scoriton, was out and about this morning with his friend: he did start to walk over to us from his farmhouse, but after a few steps he clearly felt he was too old to make the journey and headed back home.
We got home by 12:45 and stayed warm by the fire until Jude was collected at 2pm.
Dillan and Jude on Holne Bridge
(12:05)
Dillan and Jude on Holne Bridge
(12:05)
Jude enjoys lunch at Scoriton while Dillan welcomes Leo's friend
(13:20)
Jude and Dillan at Scoriton
(13:20)
Friday 26 October 2018
20:30 - 21:45
20:30 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
7 Participants:
Will Bastow, Ziggy Clark, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, George Rogers, Tom Spurrell
Two were away today for half term but the rest of us enjoyed some good games of badminton at Ashmoor with some new shuttlecocks. We didn't quite get the Round Robin plan right this time for everyone to play everyone else, but we will print off a sheet next week to makes sure it works correctly.
Sunday 21 October 2018
10:15 - 15:20
10:15 - 15:20
Day ride: Coffinswell
Mainly sunny
30 miles (▲ 590m)
30 miles (▲ 590m)
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris
On a fine sunny morning we took the lanes through Broadhempston to Denbury and then by way of a change, followed on through Abbotskerswell and under the new bypass near Langford Bridge. The road undoubtedly offers a huge improvement in travelling times to Torquay, but it has left an ugly scar on this previously unspoiled area of countryside.
After taking a few photos of the thatched cottages in the picturesque village of Coffinswell we decided to explore the lanes through Daccombe – another attractive village in a secluded valley that felt a hundred miles away from the metropolis of Torquay. One of the steepest climbs we have seen on our travels brought us eventually to what looked like the edge of another country village. When we had rested on the conveniently-provided bench set on its grassy island we realised this was actually the edge of Barton.
Google took us down an interesting narrow footpath complete with brambles and steps, through a rough park area and thence down to the Willows. Here we parked our bikes and made our first ever club visit to the M&S café where we enjoyed hot drinks and great conversation.
We bought some sandwiches in the food hall for lunch, ate them outside in the sunshine and then headed home through Edginswell and along another Google-inspired shortcut from the North Whilborough road to Bickley Road. Having skirted past Ipplepen we stopped briefly at the nature reserve to eat our M&S cookies and then raced homewards through Broadhempston, interrupted only by Dillan’s chain getting seriously jammed for the first time as we rolled in to Buckfastleigh.
This new idea for a day ride proved very successful and enjoyable, made all the more pleasant by good weather.
After taking a few photos of the thatched cottages in the picturesque village of Coffinswell we decided to explore the lanes through Daccombe – another attractive village in a secluded valley that felt a hundred miles away from the metropolis of Torquay. One of the steepest climbs we have seen on our travels brought us eventually to what looked like the edge of another country village. When we had rested on the conveniently-provided bench set on its grassy island we realised this was actually the edge of Barton.
Google took us down an interesting narrow footpath complete with brambles and steps, through a rough park area and thence down to the Willows. Here we parked our bikes and made our first ever club visit to the M&S café where we enjoyed hot drinks and great conversation.
We bought some sandwiches in the food hall for lunch, ate them outside in the sunshine and then headed home through Edginswell and along another Google-inspired shortcut from the North Whilborough road to Bickley Road. Having skirted past Ipplepen we stopped briefly at the nature reserve to eat our M&S cookies and then raced homewards through Broadhempston, interrupted only by Dillan’s chain getting seriously jammed for the first time as we rolled in to Buckfastleigh.
This new idea for a day ride proved very successful and enjoyable, made all the more pleasant by good weather.
A tranquil scene near Tornewton, between Broadhempston and Denbury
(11:18)
Jude and Dillan at the attractive village of Coffinswell
(12:01)
This village scene is actually at the top of Barton, Torquay
(12:19)
M&S Torquay, our venue for coffee and lunch
(13:27)
Friday 19 October 2018
19:00 - 22:00
19:00 - 22:00
Social: Badminton
9 Participants:
Harry Back, Will Bastow, Ziggy Clark, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, George Rogers, Tom Spurrell (16, Bickington), Mark Thomas
Our Autumn season began with a large turnout for the badminton session at Ashmoor. Michael was unfortunately unable to play because of his elbow injury but the other eight managed to play nearly everyone else during the hour-long session of activity. Only three shuttlecocks were destroyed, one of the totally!