The pre- dawn weather held the promise of a fine day, backed up by the opinion of the BBC weather forecast, but confirmed by the gentle mist rolling across the valley. It'll be great, I thought, when the sun burns it off. Why was I abroad so early in the morning? Two reasons. The first and most pressing was the dog. I reckon she has a six hour bladder and if I'm getting up at that time then we may as well go out together. The second reason was because this novice run leader had committed in print on this very Forum to trying to stitch the ride together without the aid of a map ( and I can't read the GPS screen anyway!) relying purely on the increasingly faulty memory which , as an instance, leaves me standing in the shed looking around hoping for inspiration as to why I had gone out there in the first place.That was more of a 'Times' sentence than 'The Sun' usually churns out so, to be brief...I wanted to study the map again!

There were several riders already at the meeting place when Jeff and I turned up. Our plan had been to do a couple of lanes on the way but I needed not to be late because my new regular TEC, well known as a fine, upstanding gentleman, was kindly bringing me a new battery from the local Orange dealership so that I didn't have to rely on the boot. This he did,(thanks Neil on both counts), it was swiftly fitted and we were underway just a few minutes after the appointed time.
 
From my point of view it was a bonus to have Chris along because he is very conversant with these lanes. If I went wrong he was the man to put me back on course.

The state of the tide meant that we were able to take in 201-044, where we met our first walker of the day. This caused me to put my foot down and ruined my clear run, but, he was a very, very nice man and was smoking a very large cigar, the aroma of which almost had Jeff in the convulsions of extreme pleasure. I noticed that Jeff slowed down and breathed heavily as he passed him. A plus point on this lane was the performance of Brian, who has been suffering from post- operative nervousness regarding the possibility of doing himself further damage due to his exertions. He sailed up the rock steps in fine form and I knew then that we didn't have to worry about him.More importantly I think he knew then that he didn't have to worry.

We slithered along the Estuary and it was a toss- up as to whether we attempted the crossing described some months ago in the ride report entitled 'The Mudlarks'. Had it been towards the end of the ride I would have given it a go, but I'm sure none of us would have liked the idea of hours of riding caked in stinking Estuary mud. It was here that I was told that Wheely had collected a puncture and was waiting back at the tarmac.

Back with Wheelie the group threw themselves into the tube change with gusto. Concrete blocks were produced as though by magic, bike lifted onto them, tools whipped out of various back packs, pumps,tyre levers and tyre gauges laid out along the grass verge ready for instant selection, and the 'piece de resistance'- Jeff's well travelled and many patched inner tube ( six patches were counted). Bonny took it upon herself to semi- inflate the tube whilst those of us not ripping the punctured tube from Wheelie's wheel admired her economical but vigorous pumping action, all the more interesting as she effortlessly adopted the long stroke required by the use of Chris's 'proper' pump which had the look of one nicked off a child's bike.

The smokers smoked, the other's didn't, the cigar smoking walker stopped for a chat, his dog didn't and we were soon on our way again.

It was whilst despatching the lanes on the Peninsula that I met with a frightening sight. Postman Pat in his little red van haring along a 'green lane' at a rate of knots. Obviously a short cut for him. If he hadn't been going so fast I'd have asked him to complete one of Brian's (TTRfan) User Evidence Forms.

We stopped at the bottom of 201-036 for a fag break and considered taking the obvious jeep width track which runs down to the river. However, we're nothing if not absolutely and confidently legal so we returned by the same route.

Soon we entered the Duchy and after a fuel stop at Pearce's Garage Jeff was to take the lead and introduce us to several delightful Cornish lanes before our planned lunch stop.  Both Chris and Wheelie were to leave us shortly and make their way home as they were both under time constraints. Shame about the puncture otherwise we could have lunched together.

We lunched at Louis Tea Rooms, Kit Hill, and enjoyed the food, the views and the conversation. Neil took the opportunity of shooting off home after lunch to spend a little good- weather time with his beloved, so we were now 5.

The Famous Five found their way back into Devon enjoying the lanes as they went deeper into the County. Knightrider almost drowned himself and his bike on 201-024. I swear that his helmet filled with mud. What he didn't appreciate were the roars of mirth coming from myself and Jeff who had traversed the wicked section unscathed. I think we were lucky that his ears were also mud filled otherwise he may have been a tad naffed off with us. But later he and Jeff were riding a lane alongside one another with many mud filled ruts and the huge plumes of water hitting Jeff were a sight to behold, so perhaps he did hear after all....probably my turn to cop it next time out! 

We worked our way back to Tavistock where a tea break was called at the Bus Station, before we took our separate ways.

Unfortunately we were without a camera so there is no permanent record of the day...apart from this report.

Memories are made of this.... a sun- filled, fun- filled day, cracking company and no issues with walkers, horse riders or each other. Sincere thanks to you all, I thoroughly enjoyed the day, hope you did too.

-- Edited by Captain Slow at 00:13, 2008-10-13