Recent Event Reports
Friday 18 January 2019
20:30 - 21:45
20:30 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
7 Participants:
Harry Back, Will Bastow, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, George Rogers, Mark Thomas
A good turnout this evening led to a series of five excellent rounds. Dillan ended up in first place with five wins, closely followed by Jude with four wins and Will with three.
Sunday 13 January 2019
10:15 - 15:00
10:15 - 15:00
Day ride: Bonehill Rocks
Cloudy and not too warm
0 Participants:
No participants recorded for this event
With only Dillan and Michael available for the ride today we decided to cancel the event.
Friday 11 January 2019
20:15 - 21:45
20:15 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
5 Participants:
Harry Back, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, Mark Thomas
Winner this evening was Dillan with three wins. Jude was runner-up with two wins.
Sunday 6 January 2019
10:15 - 16:00
10:15 - 16:00
Day ride: South Devon Chilli Farm, Loddiswell
Cloudy and rather chilly
28 miles (▲ 700m)
28 miles (▲ 700m)
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris
We have passed the entrance to the South Devon Chilli Farm several times on the way to Loddiswell, but despite the large Café signs we had never ventured in. We had made it the destination for today’s ride, and after riding out through South Brent and Wrangaton we arrived just after 12.00.
It turned out to be a little less impressive than we had expected – basically a modern, barn-type building divided seamlessly into a shop and a café. Michael is not really a fan of spicy foods, but he hadn’t expected the spice to extend to the coffee and cakes! There were only four cakes to choose from, all dark, but one contained chilli, another contained ginger and a third had had its gluten removed. That left only the apple cake, which turned out to be acceptable. Fortunately there was a regular latte on the menu with absolutely no added chilli or ginger, but Dillan tried the Chilli Mocha and thought it was .. interesting!
In the shop there was a very long display cabinet offering sample of around thirty different chilli sauces and jams in little dishes. Michael tried the first sample at the “mild” end and decided that was quite spicy enough for him, but Jude and Dillan were not so reticent and sampled the explosive products at the “hot” end without too many serious consequences. We finished with a sample of chilli chocolate – nice to start with but offering what some would describe as an unpleasant kick after a fifteen second delay.
Leaving the establishment at 1.15 we decided to return via a different route, as the main road from Wrangaton is really not especially inspiring. We rode a short distance towards Loddiswell and then took the path near Reveton that takes you down to the river Avon. We had stopped at this path last year when Tao wanted to drink his flask of coffee and Michael discovered a rip in his shorts, but today we were free to explore it all the way, reminding Michael of the fun we used to have in the Section many years ago. It was steep in places but was a real delight to ride.
After skimming a few stones in the river, we clambered up the path to the old viaduct, joining the railway path that we took last year from Loddiswell station. As previously, we followed this along the riverside to Topsham Bridge and then headed back to Moreleigh. Dillan somehow managed to fall off his bike on the approach to Diptford, grazing his knee in three places. While Michael was patching him up, two separate cars stopped to offer assistance, the second person really wanting to get out her expensive first aid kit. We were surprised and very grateful, but we had all we needed to sort him out.
The final lap home via Rattery was tiring in the dull, chilly air of the late afternoon, and when we got home at 4pm we were very grateful for hot showers and a long rest.
It turned out to be a little less impressive than we had expected – basically a modern, barn-type building divided seamlessly into a shop and a café. Michael is not really a fan of spicy foods, but he hadn’t expected the spice to extend to the coffee and cakes! There were only four cakes to choose from, all dark, but one contained chilli, another contained ginger and a third had had its gluten removed. That left only the apple cake, which turned out to be acceptable. Fortunately there was a regular latte on the menu with absolutely no added chilli or ginger, but Dillan tried the Chilli Mocha and thought it was .. interesting!
In the shop there was a very long display cabinet offering sample of around thirty different chilli sauces and jams in little dishes. Michael tried the first sample at the “mild” end and decided that was quite spicy enough for him, but Jude and Dillan were not so reticent and sampled the explosive products at the “hot” end without too many serious consequences. We finished with a sample of chilli chocolate – nice to start with but offering what some would describe as an unpleasant kick after a fifteen second delay.
Leaving the establishment at 1.15 we decided to return via a different route, as the main road from Wrangaton is really not especially inspiring. We rode a short distance towards Loddiswell and then took the path near Reveton that takes you down to the river Avon. We had stopped at this path last year when Tao wanted to drink his flask of coffee and Michael discovered a rip in his shorts, but today we were free to explore it all the way, reminding Michael of the fun we used to have in the Section many years ago. It was steep in places but was a real delight to ride.
After skimming a few stones in the river, we clambered up the path to the old viaduct, joining the railway path that we took last year from Loddiswell station. As previously, we followed this along the riverside to Topsham Bridge and then headed back to Moreleigh. Dillan somehow managed to fall off his bike on the approach to Diptford, grazing his knee in three places. While Michael was patching him up, two separate cars stopped to offer assistance, the second person really wanting to get out her expensive first aid kit. We were surprised and very grateful, but we had all we needed to sort him out.
The final lap home via Rattery was tiring in the dull, chilly air of the late afternoon, and when we got home at 4pm we were very grateful for hot showers and a long rest.
Spicy refreshments at the South Devon Chilli Farm, Loddiswell
(12:23)
Leaving the South Devon Chilli Farm
(13:09)
Entering the track down to the Avon near Reveton
(13:17)
Dillan and Jude enjoy the downhill track to the Avon near Reveton
(13:22)
Dillan by the River Avon near Reveton
(13:29)
The River Avon near Reveton. The railway path that we will join crosses on the old viaduct
(13:30)
Joining the old viaduct over the Avon near Reveton
(13:35)
The railway path continues towards Topsham Bridge
(13:45)
A matching pair of Smart cars at Rattery
(15:36)
Sunday 30 December 2018
10:15 - 18:00
10:15 - 18:00
Day ride (Car-assisted): Exeter Ship Canal
0 Participants:
No participants recorded for this event
With only Michael and Dillan available for today's ride, the event was cancelled.
Sunday 23 December 2018
10:15 - 20:00
10:15 - 20:00
Day ride: Christmas Lunch Ride
Breezy with occasional drizzle
8 Participants:
Tao Burgess, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, Gavin Pearson, George Rogers, John Rogers, Will Rogers
Wet and windy weather at Paignton prompted Tao to make the decision to use the car today, and whilst it was only drizzly at Buckfastleigh we made the decision to all go by car so we could make the best of our expensive Christmas Lunch.
We arrived at the Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey for around 12.30 and were soon shown to our private room – the Old School Room. Apparently, the hotel used to be a private school and the owners had tried to retain as much of the original feel of the building as possible.
The meal turned out to be excellent in nearly every respect, with apple and parsnip soup and a chestnut and mushroom main course for the vegetarians. As we didn’t have to cycle back, we ordered coffees to accompany our after-dinner conversation where talk turned to a possible summer tour to Switzerland.
When we finally left at 3.50 after a very relaxed afternoon, we dropped Jude home to Ilsington and returned to Buckfastleigh for a mammoth game of Risk which went on until 8pm.
We arrived at the Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey for around 12.30 and were soon shown to our private room – the Old School Room. Apparently, the hotel used to be a private school and the owners had tried to retain as much of the original feel of the building as possible.
The meal turned out to be excellent in nearly every respect, with apple and parsnip soup and a chestnut and mushroom main course for the vegetarians. As we didn’t have to cycle back, we ordered coffees to accompany our after-dinner conversation where talk turned to a possible summer tour to Switzerland.
When we finally left at 3.50 after a very relaxed afternoon, we dropped Jude home to Ilsington and returned to Buckfastleigh for a mammoth game of Risk which went on until 8pm.
The group in the Old School Room at the Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey
(12:56)
Friday 21 December 2018
20:25 - 21:45
20:25 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, George Rogers
Jude had no easy way to get down from Ilsington this evening so just three of us met for badminton at Ashmoor leisure centre. Michael played left-handed again while his right elbow continued its tediously slow healing process. Dillan won two of his three games and was declared overall winner.
Sunday 16 December 2018
10:15 - 15:00
10:15 - 15:00
Morning ride: Holne
Dry start, rain later
9 miles (▲ 290m)
9 miles (▲ 290m)
3 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris
We had planned to possibly visit Venford and Dartmeet today, although with the unsettled forecast we decided to ride via Silver Street to Holne first and see how things looked. Well the first patches of rain came in as we rode up from Michelcombe, so the lads had no difficulty deciding to divert to the café at Holne. This turned out to be exactly the right decision, as twenty minutes later it was raining heavily.
The café was very quiet today, so we enjoyed our snacks, drinks and intelligent conversation while the rain continued to pelt down outside. When we had been there for an hour and three quarters, however, and the rain still showed little sign of stopping, we decided we had better brave the weather and make a dash for home. In fact, it stopped for a while as we rode down through Hembury Woods, allowing us to finish the ride on a brighter note.
The café was very quiet today, so we enjoyed our snacks, drinks and intelligent conversation while the rain continued to pelt down outside. When we had been there for an hour and three quarters, however, and the rain still showed little sign of stopping, we decided we had better brave the weather and make a dash for home. In fact, it stopped for a while as we rode down through Hembury Woods, allowing us to finish the ride on a brighter note.
Friday 14 December 2018
20:30 - 21:45
20:30 - 21:45
Social: Badminton
8 Participants:
Harry Back, Will Bastow, Ziggy Clark, Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, George Rogers, Mark Thomas
We had our maximum 8 people this evening, which required seven games each. We only managed to complete 5 games properly in the time, but some played a sixth game and the overall winner was Jude who won every game he played.
Sunday 9 December 2018
10:15 - 15:00
10:15 - 15:00
Morning ride: Ashburton
Breezy with showers
9 miles (▲ 147m)
9 miles (▲ 147m)
5 Participants:
Dillan Edwards, Michael Jones, Jude Norris, George Rogers, John Rogers
The overnight rain and wind was still abating at 10.15 and since our members don't really like winter weather we started with a coffee at Crofters before setting off at 11.30 when conditions were more pleasant.
We took the old road to Ashburton, rode through the town and met George at Ashmoor Leisure centre for an hour of badminton. We then returned to the town - with George running alongside us - for our first ever visit to Taylors tearooms. Here, the hot drinks were excellent, but by the time the cakes arrived twenty minutes later we had long since finished our drinks, so the service could have been better.
We returned to Buckfastleigh with continued light showers peppering the journey on an otherwise sunny afternoon.
We took the old road to Ashburton, rode through the town and met George at Ashmoor Leisure centre for an hour of badminton. We then returned to the town - with George running alongside us - for our first ever visit to Taylors tearooms. Here, the hot drinks were excellent, but by the time the cakes arrived twenty minutes later we had long since finished our drinks, so the service could have been better.
We returned to Buckfastleigh with continued light showers peppering the journey on an otherwise sunny afternoon.
Preparing for the long journey home after refreshments at Taylors, Ashburton
(14:09)