Every now and then there is a gathering, a wise elder (Pete Bull) summons the disciples to a mythical place (Bovey Tracey) to partake in the rite of passage that is a pre-Christmas TRF run. The weather gods are appeased with offerings of an expensive, increasing rare gift (unleaded petrol....) and at a predefined time, possibly driven by phases of the moon and the winter solstice, dating back to before the time of man (10am) routes across sacred grounds were plotted (via GPS) for man and machine to take on the worst that mother nature can hurl at them (well it's been raining a bit lately) from the mists swirling above Haytor.
Myself, I answered the call and keen to try and get my head around the myriad of legal lanes in Devon, volunteered to lead a group, and Paul kindly passed on (via email) a sacred route around the ancient land of our forefathers (Dartmoor) to place into my GPS for me to follow, not exactly a star twinkling above a stable, but at least founded in science.... So with suitable layers applied to stave off the winter chill, I stoked up the DR350 (buy the TRF calendar and enjoy seeing it on you wall for the months of May and October next year....), and trundled down the M5/A38 at a steady 50mph to Middle Earth (Bovey).
Around 20 responded to the calling, known by their brethren (on the internet) by stout manly names as the likes of Tomcat, Bombx3, Sparkie86, Keiser, Rijonz, Deviii72 and Heather.... Each one clad in gladiatorial style garments (possibly supplied by Alpinestar) upon a variety of steeds ranging from XRs, TTRs, DRs, EXCs, WRs, and more exotic makes such as Beta and AJP, overall an eclectic mix demonstrating that it's not what you ride but the fact you ride that counts. Pete marshalled his 'able' co-leader lieutenants into some form of organisation, (akin to herding cats) which resulted in a kinda reverse of the school playground where players got to pick captains. Pete, akin to a mother hen, rounded up all of the novices, the other two leaders Bombx3 and Brownie bagsie'd the brisker riders, which was a bit of a relief for me as being a devout mechanised rambler, I was not massively keen to have a screaming 2 smoke up my jacksie all day..... That left me as a bit of a "Billy no mates", much like was the case as a kid in the school yard where I didn't get picked for footie either....anyway enough of my sad childhood.... Matt and Steve took pity and joined my 'group'. It's not quantity, it's quality that matters and the three of us I think were well matched. A DR350 (me) a WR250 (Steve) and a XR250 (Matt) - two old school pukka trail bikes and a slightly more modern equivalent set off on the roughly circular anticlockwise 40 mile loop.
The sun shone and our spirits were high, riding into a sleepy Bovey town centre, there was barely a stir as the burble of 3 well silenced four stokes passed though and up a gentle UCR north of the town. We turned left on to the byway named 'Little John's Walk', why, who knows, but very a pleasant ride, steadily dropping into the Bovey river valley, stony (aren't they all?) but not too technical. Another byway dropping further towards the river at Wreyland brought us into the valley floor and the rather lovely lane that is Houndtor Woods. A broken tarmac road that runs into an unsurfaced byway running parallel to the river Bovey, we splashed through puddles and fallen leaves, the deciduous trees now laid bare for winter. Crossing the bridge over Becka Brook we climbed the stony lane where I took the chance to grab a bit of video of Steve and Matt ascent out of the valley passing a couple of ladies on mountain bikes and passing the time of day with them as they picked their way down the lane. Being horse riders as well they asked me how we respond to horses in lanes and I explained the TRF code of conduct which means we pull over and cut engines even if we are on the A38.... She did note the worst offenders were 60 somethings in cars, I pointed out they would have probably already pulled out in front of several bikers earlier in the day.....
We passed Manaton and on towards North Bovey and riding along the Dartmoor Way byway we reached the River Bovey crossing. Recent heavy rain meant the river was in spate with the stepping stones submerged. After careful consideration we chickened out - sorry decided caution was the better part of valour and took the bridge option. It would be interesting to know if others had chanced their arm at crossing the swollen river. Heading west we picked up another lovely narrow byway climbing out of the Bovey valley towards Langdon. With Dartmoor looming on the horizon and with ancient hut circles to our left we rounded Whooping Rock and rode another pleasant byway to Torhill Farm. Here we met the only sourpuss of the day, and old chap in a SUV 'forced' to rather theatrically reverse to let us pass - well it is panto season and we left Widow Twanker (sorry Twanky) fuming in his soft roader and passed along the perfectly legal unpaved surface on our merry way.
Next we bounced our way up the slightly washed out entrance to the UCR at Honeybag Tor (funny name) and skirted Bonehill Down for a photo stop overlooking Widecombe with the promise of tea and fried food only a couple of miles away. We arrived at the Café in Widecombe and were the second group there but in time to enjoy a variety of fortifying food (read greasy.....) befitting blokes battling the elements. As we supped our tea and chewed over the cud before we saddled up and headed into the hills with slightly ominous looking black clouds on the horizon. We hit the UCR out of Widecombe just as Pete's group were gingerly picking their way down over the step off the moors and down the very stony exit lane. We passed carefully and all three of us rather expertly negotiated the slightly tricky step in a feet up trials style sort of way. From there we rode up onto the moors proper, a lovely lane, the only one on Dartmoor where you really feel like you are 'on the moors'. The sky told a story of oncoming inclemency and unsurprisingly after riding the Broadaford and East Shallowford UCRs the heavens opened and the rain foretold arrived. I was thankful of having contacts in rather than glasses and empathised with Matt sporting steamed up specs in cold wet weather. Something I got caught out with in the autumn when steamed up specs caused me no end of anguish leading to me repeatedly crashing my brains out in a number of lanes. Within a few miles there was a moistness in my crotch (and not in a good way) which confirmed my over trousers were no longer waterproof. Thankfully it was a day of showers and having chosen two false turns at a 5-way crossing we rode down into Ponsworthy and back into the sunshine. A bit of road work and we left the National Park heading east and warmed back up in the Ilsington complex of lanes before returning to Bovey.
Being a group of three we had covered ground in an efficient and badgerless day (well done us) getting back just before 2pm. We said our goodbyes and I refuelled the DR before heading back up the A38, fantasising about a hot bath. Meeting no horse riders on the way, the bike was washed and a bottle of merlot cracked open before dark...... A happy Christmas to one and all (especially Pete for organising the run).
A bit of video and photos of no one falling off here:
As a Christmas treat - watch my epic failure at cliff diving here....
We turned left on to the byway named 'Little John's Walk', why, who knows,
John Cann was the royalist army treasurer who was known to have 35,000 pieces of silver which were due, but had not been paid, to the troops who were defeated at the battle against Cromwell on Heathfield during the civil war. In the two weeks after the battle while officials were searching for Little John (Cann) the locals were to see him going up and down the road we know as 191-075. He was found living in a cave, of which there are several, as well as a number of mine workings nearby in the woods. No trace has yet been seen of the 35,000 pieces of silver although extensive searches have been made.
We passed Manaton and on towards North Bovey and riding along the Dartmoor Way byway we reached the River Bovey crossing. Recent heavy rain meant the river was in spate with the stepping stones submerged. After careful consideration we chickened out - sorry decided caution was the better part of valour and took the bridge option. It would be interesting to know if others had chanced their arm at crossing the swollen river.
Wise. I was told a landrover drowned there recently.
Meeting no horse riders on the way,
No, they were too busy meeting us.
A happy Christmas to one and all (especially Pete for organising the run).
Bah humbug
A bit of video and photos of no one falling off here:
As a Christmas treat - watch my epic failure at cliff diving here....
Sean, thanks for leading us a really great ride out (we were the selected few!!) Really good fun and nice to catch up with the other group at Widecombe. And Cheers to Pete for organising such a motley crew and an interesting route.
Fascinating story about Little John Cann, thanks. May be that is one of the few lanes worth badgering and finding yourself grovelling around in the undergrowth, you never know you find the stash!
Big thanks to Pete for leading the plodders round - not having ridden since May and being a bear of little ability in any case I opted for this and the pace was perfect. We did spot a few badgers during the day but despite some brave dives for the hedge, or off rock steps, we never actually caught one. Great day out despite the showers and a great mix of easy and slightly more challenging lanes to keep it interesting, in among some truly lovely scenery.
Happy Christmas all :)
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Never break more than one law at a time, or carry more grass than you are prepared to eat.
