Me (landyman) Kwaka Geoff, Big G and Bonnny . We started from Plympton and with me leading the plan was lunch at Southdown beach and then return on the same route in reverse. All went well, a couple of U turns but overall I was pleased with the Quest and my route. (which I had logged the week before. Cheers Wheely). Geoff had brought his newly marked up maps along too so after our lunch stop we deviated from my planned route for a while and Geoff took the lead. On our way back Geoff and myself gave the devils steps a bash but this was made even more difficult when we met four 4X4's a third of the way up! Finished off at Yealmpton with a jet wash. Lanes ridden 34ish and according to the Garmin when I got home Moving time 3:13 and amazingly Stopped time 3:13 spooky. Thanks everyone for the company at fairly short notice.
-- Edited by Landyman on Saturday 31st of October 2009 06:39:05 PM
Indeed it was a fruitful day that gave both Graham and myself a chance to see what it's like to navigate from the front. Having experienced this from a mapping point of view I can truly say Wheely does a fantastic job on his runs - which appear seamless - as it 'aint that easy. Something that no doubt becomes easier with practice.
Having met in the Chaddlewood petrol station the route for us Plymptonites consisted of the usual 202-193, 194, 195 (hope we don't loose it ) and 196. From there is was Southbound towards Modbury taking in 210 and 209 which are lovely lanes (see vid below). We continued south to 232, 234 then the awfully rutted 235, AKA Blackberry Lane. We all exited puffing and panting, Bonnie least so as she had a nice knobbly rear which faired slightly better than the MT43 which Landy, Big G and me had fitted - honestly, an MT43 is absolutely no good here . It was then onto 236 exiting at Averton Gifford (another nice lane, see vid below). Continuing our journey to Thurlestone we rode 253 and took a slight detour - when compared to Wheelys route last week - to 255 which arrives at South Milton. The next lane was 268 which is quite challenging with an initially steep rocky climb followed by deep, DEEP ruts that saw most of us paddling with our knees up round out ears while at the same time kissing the handlebars to avoid some stupidly low branches . I took a stroll back down the lane after riding it to clear a few of the nastily low ones, which Bonnie was thankful for. From here it was a short run to the beach where we stopped for a pasty and a coffee from the overly camp guy serving from the hut.
Like Graham said, we decided to take a detour on the route home to A) make it a little more interesting and B) give me a chance to do a bit of leading. So, we headed back to Av.Giff via the same reverse route but then hit a few new lanes to me: 237 at the top of Av.Giff which I missed on the first attempt 'cos it doesn't exit onto the main A379 like I had it marked No bother, we found it in the end. Then it was onto 222 and 221 which, again, were a pig with an MT43 as they were boggy, wet, muddy ruts AND uphill! Little traction was experienced by all! Good fun though We then joined back up with Grahams return route riding 233 which joined back into 232. After 209 and 210 back to Modbury we had another detour to take in 179 - wet and muddy - which leads into the Devils steps (306). Like Graham said, he and I did a ride around to ride up Devils Steps while Bonnie and Big G waited at the top. Halfway up we tagged onto the back end of a load of 4x4s from Torbay 4x4 club. To be honest I was astonished they could get up there. Both Gra and I had a bit a difficulty scaling the main 'step' - twas slippery - but after that it was pretty good going which included me pulling a rather unintentional but none-the-less impressive wheely towards the top of the lane much to the 4x4 crews appreciation (vid to follow when it's finally uploaded to YouTube. Painfully slow upload speed ). From here it was homebound via the Yealmpton jetwash but I decided - as run leader - to go via 192 which, after a rather treacherously slippery descent, crosses the river ............ if you're brave, or stupid but we all decided to cross via the bridge. Despite being the easier route I managed to have a weird moment crossing the bridge where my front tyre went completely away from me twisting the bars savagely. Before I knew it, still with forward momentum which I couldn't stop, I was rail sliding along the bridge handrail then down the two steps on the other side before I managed to bring it to a stop. Graham thought I was a gonner My little finger took the brunt of the impact against the rail and as I type this report it's throbbing and beginning to look like a sausage .
So, there you have it. A great day out and fun was had by all.
Until the next time.
-- Edited by Kwaka Geoff on Saturday 31st of October 2009 08:25:41 PM
Nice to see you're getting out there with the maps Geoff, nice technique for reading them on the move as well, lifting the front wheel to bring them into your line of vision, although really you should be concentrating on your riding on The Steps
Catch yah soon Rob
-- Edited by Snafu2 on Monday 2nd of November 2009 01:27:49 PM
Which unfortunately for me probably wont be until Sun 22nd Nov at the earliest. I guess I shouldn't be too upset though as it's due to the fact I'm going on holiday (the misses was badgering me for a holiday so I said, "yeah, book something". I should have stipulated earlier in the year though before the lanes got wet and more fun )
Anyways, have fun while I'm away. I'll be sure to check the Ride Reports to see what I'm missing.
) and 196. From there is was Southbound towards Modbury taking in 210 and 209 which are lovely lanes (see vid below). We continued south to 232, 234 then the awfully rutted 235, AKA Blackberry Lane. We all exited puffing and panting, Bonnie least so as she had a nice knobbly rear which faired slightly better than the MT43 which Landy, Big G and me had fitted - honestly, an MT43 is absolutely no good here 
. It was then onto 236 exiting at Averton Gifford (another nice lane, see vid below). Continuing our journey to Thurlestone we rode 253 and took a slight detour - when compared to Wheelys route last week - to 255 which arrives at South Milton. The next lane was 268 which is quite challenging with an initially steep rocky climb followed by deep, DEEP ruts that saw most of us paddling with our knees up round out ears while at the same time kissing the handlebars to avoid some stupidly low branches 
. I took a stroll back down the lane after riding it to clear a few of the nastily low ones, which Bonnie was thankful for. From here it was a short run to the beach where we stopped for a pasty and a coffee from the overly camp guy serving from the hut.
We then joined back up with Grahams return route riding 233 which joined back into 232. After 209 and 210 back to Modbury we had another detour to take in 179 - wet and muddy 
- to go via 192 which, after a rather treacherously slippery descent, crosses the river ............ if you're brave, or stupid 
My little finger took the brunt of the impact against the rail and as I type this report it's throbbing and beginning to look like a sausage 
.
nice report and vids guy's. was that Graham in front on the 
