What an excellents days riding. 6 met at my house by 9am and the sun was already beating down and the warming things up nicely. Then off to Yealmpton to meet Neil and fill up those thirsty KTMs !!
All lanes did were 202s, so started with 193, 194 195 and 196 which warmed us up slightly before we 'hit' devil steps. Kev decided to opt out around these, so Bob kindly offered to show him the escape route . No one got up cleanly, I firstly got stuck on the 1st big step when bike stalled, Ben fell off on 2nd step, Geoff dropped his, think Neil had a put down and Jeff struggled on the first step, then wobbled up the next 2/3s when he decided to throw himself off the bike - unfortunately just after I put the camera away. Everyone made it to the top though to meet Kev n Bob.
Geoff picking bike up and wobbly Ben behind :
Even wobblier Jeff :
Neil exiting :
From the steps onto 178, 179, 171, 172, 180, 173, 174, 181 and 205 where more pics were taken through a rather low looking water level.
Geoff:
Other Jeff:
Ben :
Kev :
Neil :
Bob:
All da bikes :
Onto 204 and down 198 where my front fender bag jumped its footings and the straps/hooks were banging against my spokes and threatened to throw me off. A rapid stop/fix and all sorted. Then onto 160 where I let Jeff taste the power of a WR450 while I piloted his TTR along the lane. Ah the comfort of this bike. Like sitting in an armchair. I'd never stand again if I had one of these. Jeff loved the WR and has vowed to get one soon..........keeping his sensible Yamaha head securely on his shoulders. Then a welcome break by Bow bridge by the ford.
Not the prettiest bunch I've seen :
Then up 165 where we met a horsee coming down. Not for the first time this day did we meet a horse, but on all occasions they were bike-friendly except they were ALL frightened by Geoffs green Kwakka...how strange.. anyone know why ???
Onto 162, 167, 187, 201 and the wonderful 200. No real issues here with the big step, and there is now a clearly 'easy route' on the left hand side - which far too many of todays riders opted to take. Must get a lane technicalising party out there and step this up - spoils the fun - I am especially ashamed of Jeff for opting this route !! A road ride the back to Totnes cross nr Halwell for a working mans lunch. I know these devon lot like proper sits down meals, but it was a standing pasty today at a petrol station - as we had lanes to do and were a little behind my schedule.
Filled and fueled and onto 177, 176, 149, 147 and 144 where Geoff decided to throw himself into the mud, just before the deep puddle. Then across onto 143
Geoff
Ben :
Then it was 133, 132, 131. Bit of road work then to 109, 97, 96, 107 before working are way across to 95. This a massively overgrown lane and hard work getting through. An already knackered Kev, who was doing well today, vowed never to the this lane again !! LOL. We then had fun on 86, entering from the north end so it was an uphill climb through wet muddy grass, then up narrow steps which all but 1 or 2 decided to stall on. And some had more perilous moments. Personally I didnt know Neil ever fell off, but he was a close 2nd today behind the Jeff master :
Neil.......he aint gonna hold this up !! :
Nope, I was right :
Neil did have potential to hurt himself there, the surroundings did make it a bit precarious. But he got out unscathed :
Then onto 85 and 84 which was so slippery/muddy on the descent and a real fun little lane. Jeff had fall number 5 (or maybe 6) here right at the end of the lane and ended up falling into a large soft bale of hay. We thought he was just resting, but a few minutes later it became clear as it was so soft, he couldnt actually get out. What do we do.. leave him or help him ?? It was a tough decision, but in the end Geoff got his bike off him and he got out.
Finally did 120, 121 and 122 before heading back to Ivybridge where the Plymouth boyz jetwashed their bikes and the rest of the crew bid their farewells, with Jeff and Bob planning to do a few more lanes en-route home.
Excellent days run in some great company.
-- Edited by Wheely on Sunday 30th of August 2009 01:24:41 PM
Nice one Mark, some great photo's too. Thankfully you seemed to slow with the camera to catch my many 'off's' during the day. Booked myself on the Cornwall Group novice ride on Monday the 7th clearly i need the practice. I guess the rest of the group weren't trying hard enough.
Well done Kev, it will get easier mate and then the buggers who claim to be your mates will start counting your 'off's'
Thanks everyone for a great day. Good to meet you Geoff.
Well, I'm amazed!!. I've never seen Neil in trouble before. I expect he had a fly in his eye.
Kev stuck at it, well done mate, you won't be the only one aching for a couple of days. Kwacka Geoff's another Barney in the making I think, afraid of nothing. Ben, well, I only remember him having a problem on one occasion the last ( and first) time we rode together, and that was the rear tyre rather than his abilities. Wheely himself?. Can't comment on his riding because I was too far behind but his leading was first class. I only remember him checking his map on two occasions, so well done mate. Great route and well paced. If you do it again I'd like to come. Can't say too much about Jeff, he must be out of practice!!
Great report and pics Mark (when I eventually stumbled across the thread).
Twas a great day out and I look forward to the next ride out, I can't get enough!!!! Do it 7 days a week if I could. Think I'm gunna have to progress to the next level and start learning about reading the maps etc... Think I'll drop Brian a line and request the map overlays and have a play at working out how to use them.
Good to meet you all too; Bob, Kev, Jeff and Neil. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon.
Who is this Barney guy I am likened to and what traits do we share to be compared? I'm intrigued. Fearless / unfazed as Bob commented?
AHHHHHHHH Geoff well come round and meet me, I'll pass you the bottle and nappies while I ride!!! Looks like a nice run, got the ticker racing thinking about the bike, would love to be out and will soon once I have taught my son to like his mothers breast! Would like to get on a ride that is led by someone else in different ground. Need the hours on the saddle cause fitness aint great at the moment.
. No one got up cleanly, I firstly got stuck on the 1st big step when bike stalled, Ben fell off on 2nd step, Geoff dropped his, think Neil had a put down and Jeff struggled on the first step, then wobbled up the next 2/3s when he decided to throw himself off the bike - unfortunately just after I put the camera away. Everyone made it to the top though to meet Kev n Bob.
:
No, just lack of practice in the last few months and nobody notices your offs when you're TEC 
