Ride Reports
Haytor Tramway
Across the windy moor via the granite Haytor Tramway, we chose the rough route to Hound Tor, helping the younger riders over the steep climb and savouring fast descents. Two moments stood out: the ‘Hound of the Basket Meals’ saving Michael’s forgotten lunch, and Matt sinking bar‑deep in a bog.
TV night: Cars
Our TV night settled on Cars, chosen from the options on offer. It was a first viewing for everyone, giving the evening a simple, shared focus.
Hembury tracks
An afternoon that became an expedition, we kept unearthing unfamiliar Hembury tracks and looping back to try them, finding a fun, testing descent and another line that merits a return. Ben missed a key turn, and the younger two were caught answering a call of nature by walkers.
Games evening
A relaxed games evening where the usual mix of networked PC and console matches kept everyone amused throughout.
Ugborough Beacon
A ride defined by fierce winds and showers saw us battle to Ugborough Beacon, abandon plans for Lukesland, and then revel in a sodden, rapid descent into the Owley valley. Lunchtime brought levity when a flying Breakaway bar left Ben with a spectacular bruise.
Squash: Teignmouth
Squash was a new venture for most of the group and quickly won everyone over at Broadmeadow Leisure Centre in Teignmouth. A late court time prompted a supermarket stop en route, and Zac inadvertently lodged a ball on a high shelf, but by the end all were improving and keen to play again.
Totnes Longmarsh
A welcoming first ride for the Acland family and Fred became an easy, sociable run to Totnes and Longmarsh, with the newcomers proving strong throughout. A homely stop at the Barrelhouse by the log fire set the tone; later Charles dashed back for Zac’s forgotten helmet before we rolled on without punctures.
Games evening
With much of the club busy preparing for the youth hostel weekend, turnout was small, but the few who came enjoyed a relaxed games evening together.
Golant Youth Hostel 2007 2
A flood became a carwash when we met an elderly chap scrubbing his car mid‑stream, while the youngsters rode through for the splash. A Jack Russell called Russell tried to adopt us, trotting along the lane. Back at the hostel, a stranger in our dorm sparked a missing‑laptop scare before night fell to a duet of snores. A breezy, ferry‑dotted weekend that turned mishaps into shared cheer.
Movie night: Flightplan
With nothing worth seeing at the cinema, we switched to a DVD night, with the suspense drama Flightplan as the main feature—a tense story of a mother whose daughter vanishes mid‑flight while the crew doubt she ever existed. The late change made for a cosy evening and lively post‑film chat.
Computer games
Torrential rain and flooding put paid to the afternoon ride, so we regrouped at Crofters for a well-attended social, turning it into computer games instead.
Games evening and chocolate cake shopping
A games evening became a small celebration for Ashley’s birthday, with a quick trip to the local supermarket for chocolate cakes. Shared between rounds, the cakes set a cheerful tone and made a simple night feel special.