I watched the weather forecast and heard predictions of the worst storm for thirty years looming and with some trepidation set off to lead a beginners run over Dartmoor. Stevo, Shbay, Sparkie86, Bombx3, Sweald, Tom555cars and Brownie had not been put off by the weathermans doom and gloom forecast and were waiting at the appointed place and time. I never did ask if anyone had forgotten about the clocks going back the night before and been waiting for an hour. Rog, Bartosz and Knappers were expected so we hung around a short while and Rog was lucky to arrive just as we were about to leave. Having dodged a stray red setter along the way, by the beginning of the first lane there was only one rider behind me. Not an auspicious start. We backtracked and found Sweald's poorly KTM refusing to run. Brownie strained his leg trying to kick it, I hurt my back trying to bump it, and it eventually coughed into life when 'the knack' was demonstrated by someone in the know, while the rest of us milled about trying not to get in the way of the many cyclists and a vintage tractor passing by.
Sadly it was not to be and once again it died. It seemed a cruel loss to leave someone behind before the first lane but we pressed on, although we were further delayed by having to wait at the beginning of the lane for a lady horse rider who was grateful to us for turning off our engines as she passed by. Some dog walkers were searching for a lost greyhound on the lane, but were not interested in the red setter. We splashed through a small ford on our way to the next lane where I was headed off by a man waving his stick energetically at me. I heeded his advice concerning the 50 bullocks being driven down the lane and the plan would have gone out of the window, had there been one, so we skipped on to the next lane. After the puddles at the cross roads we turned left and I paused to make sure we lost nobody as had they gone straight on they would have been going down Simms which probably isn't ideal for beginners so early in the day. The sun shone as we climbed Smiths wood cottage lane and we soon crossed the cattle grid onto the moor proper. The next cattle grid was broken and dark forboding clouds loomed over the moor ahead as we squelched down the lane. The next, very short, lane had a lot of small branches laid across the end between the posts which deter the 4x4s and it was a little tricky squeezing past. We stopped for a breather at the end of the lane through the SSSI and Stevo entertained us with a little dance to illustrate how he had dodged a badger.
The concrete ford was brimming but caught nobody out. Two equestrian ladies thanked us for stopping and killing the motors as they passed while Bombx3 teased some bracken from around his brake disc. I found the gate onto the common had been, presumably, blown open and tied it after us so the sheep would not go wandering. Brownie was quick to rescue Stevo from under his KLX after the badger tipped him off it.
Crossing the log below the gate was easy for some and bypassed by others before descending through the dark grove at the bottom of the lane where the farm dog barked, then retired to his kennel, his job done. I saw an ex badger which will trouble us no further on our way to the beautiful lane over the moor.
The weather was as dramatic as the landscape and driving rain and horizontal winds carried the steam from the puddles away as we went across the top.
I shielded my tea and tried to drink it before the rain diluted and cooled it while enjoying a suberb cheeseburger at the car park shed cafe where we took lunch. I dodged the deep puddles which others splashed through on Bonehill down. Brownie demonstrated a neat about turn when I turned right and headed away from everyone else facing the other way across yet another cattle grid. Two ramblers stood aside as I passed, warning them of the seven riders following, then accosted others complaining about illegal riding on some local moor and asked us to tell people to stop it, although they were vague when asked how we could know who was responsible and they were advised to call the police. Splendid views entertained us while a car driver made a hash of a three point turn at the end of the next byway. Bemused passengers in a Landrover going the other way grinned and we stopped at the bridge to natter and rest before splashing along the rest of the long byway. Rounding a corner I met a lone dog which ran as fast as its legs could carry it back to its owner who gathered it as we passed. I thanked her but I don't know why. The drainage channels have morphed into tempting take off ramps on what used to be a nice technical lane, now a gravel track, where Rog was lucky there was no traffic as he leaped across the junction at the end which he had failed to spot. We laughed, but he was lucky, (twice, because the camera failed to catch this indiscretion). I always enjoy seeing the large grey factory where I work when not out riding as we descended the last lane before the appointed 2pm finish, passing the DTRFG monthly meeting place on the way back to the garage.
Those who had not yet had enough set off again and drenched ourselves in some puddles and a ford which had become significantly deeper since we passed that way just a few hours previously. Simms was badger free, but a little congested, with some fancy footwork on the way up which Brownie looked quite pleased with, and one rider being forced to stop and restart by another cutting across his path in a search for grip and momentum.
There was no sign of the passing of the 50 bullocks when we went down the lane we had cut out earlier. Brownie shot off ahead of us up Tipley hill determined not to be forced to stop and restart with his knobbly tyre on the slippery slate which tired Shbay so much he had to pause for a lie down.
A budding tosser with his PW50 crosser was going the other way accompanied by his boiler suited and proud father on the last lane of the day. Had to laugh as he was so tiny and looked overawed by us.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The weather was interesting but not too unkind with several rainbows and only one shower which briefly turned heavy up on the top of the moor. The lanes are in excellent condition with plenty of slippery mud, gullies lurking under golden leaves and lots of running water.
Some statistics
11 riders signed up
9 turned up
1 retired
17 lanes ridden
45 miles
4 hours
3 badgers (that I saw, but I think Brownie may have video evidence of another, plus a dead one)
1 puncture, but Rog got home by stopping to top up with air a few times
Here is the story of the day in the form of a compilation of clips edited together
