Devon TRF Group Forum

I had intended to post a run but Ray got there first and I took the easy option of following, for a change.

Wheely saved us a great deal of hassle by pointing out the clash between our proposed itinerary and the Devon Dirt route and in order not to meet several hundred muddy mountain bikers we headed south instead. After a false start caused by a flat battery requiring a running bump start for Fred's huge Husaberg we headed along Pigeon lane. The guinea fowl were in their paddock but may often be seen running around the bottom end of Woodpark lane. The arm less windmill stands at one end of it's namesake lane, and Compton Mill's pool is just around the corner from it's own. Red mud churned to gloop fills an unusually deep wallow on Windthorn lane and Fred bravely (?) chose this spot for the first test of his electric starter since the bump start, a good thing it started.

The grassy dog legs on Aptor lane were so slippery I wondered, not for the first time, if I had a puncture. I passed Fred at the right turn into Marldon lane as he looked over the wrong shoulder blind siding himself and sat waiting for me. We stopped our motor for a lone horse rider

who warned us of more riders further along who we passed at Weekaborough Oak which was good timing.

Primroses sprinkled along most hedges brightened our day but Bourton lane put on a good display

and after a glance sideways to appreciate the floral abundance I left the brakes alone and enjoyed letting the CRM flow over the many undulations on the long downhill while enjoying watching Ray doing the same on the KDX. Overhanging branches tugged my camera off it's velcro mount on Copland lane and the lanyard did it's job of saving me the bother of going looking for it. Once deep puddles have been cured by large amounts of stone infill on Lower Copland lane but deep red water is still worth slowing for, or you end up wearing it.

Mindful of deep water and flooded bikes on other rides we turned right at the top of the first of Jackmans lane's three parts and were glad when we listened to other riders we met later who had passed the repaired section but met even deeper H2O further along. This bought us neatly to the Submarine Penn shown on the maps as Reservoir lane where a long sticky wet section persists even in drought conditions and can be quite intimidating after rain, but we were not put off, although a submerged log caused more than one rider to have a 'moment'. Before descending Dundridge Steps Ray appeared to see the left turn a little late and his successful sudden left turn manoeuvre had us giggling like naughty schoolboys. 

I didn't dare look away from the recently repaired but still slippery road to Keys Englebourne to admire the glove tree and a lamb was very lucky when it fell out of the hedge inches from Ray's back wheel as we passed. Following Ray after turning right at the end I was wondering where the road actually went, never having been that way, when Ray did a U turn and led us to Ashwell where a sign on the recently repaired bridge reminds people that TRF volunteers were responsible. Part way up the slate climb I had to reverse back down from the bank onto the road after an unscheduled sideways moment. Spanish Lane end was deserted when Fred and I arrived and after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing we were re-united with Trevor and Ray. We slithered up Hernaford road and through the farm with it's fresh cow smell, if fresh is the right word. Both gates were open on Bickleigh lane with it's BMX stutter bumps. Resisting the urge to jump the hump backed bridge over the Boreston brook we clambered up the steep rocky strata admiring its many lumpy off camber geological features reminiscent of the Cornishmen's beloved Muchlarnick. Three familiar faces rehearsing their Teign to Tamar route stopped to chat at the top. We passed said three amigos again later and waved and smiled.

Repairs have removed the unlamented long single rut to Farwell without spoiling the lane. I had never ridden Cleave lane downhill before and after rolling from bank to bank descending the long stony gullies we paused to debate which side to pass the lazy dog lying in the road by the duck pond long enough for the mutt to move anyway, but the ducks took no notice of us. A balanced stone lifted by my front wheel made me duck as it flew over my shoulder on Moreleigh Mount lane. Water run off has eroded even deeper into the rock strata after the long red pool on Capton lane and Ray adjusted his too soft front suspension, turning the adjusters the right way this time before Torr lane. After dining on sandwiches and crisps on the garage wall and suitably refreshed and refuelled we carried on over Shindle mill hill, noting the Byway sign to Washabrook now reads SALSA. Sitting down to avoid overhanging branches on the usually dark green tunnel at Charleton the as yet leafless branches allowed in enough light to see the sinuous single track below. Duncombe cross lane's mud wallow has been filled with light stone which now colours the lower part with washed out shingle. I was trying to remember the name of the rider who fell off in front of me last time I rode that way when Fred dived into the very same hedge, luckily both rider and bike were undamaged.

Stopping to change the camera battery at the top of Frittiscombe lane took long enough for Fred to come back looking for me and a few miles up the road after Squibb lane we caught up with the others in time to ride in each others wash along the flooded tarmac leading to Battle ford lane. The overlay speculates the lovely rocky slatey climb after the ford may be slippery in winter and I can confirm this. After debating riding over the freshly ploughed soil at Allington where both hedges have been grubbed out we instead descended a badly cut up Green lane before slipping and sliding along the delightful Alston wash lane. Skipping the overgrown road to Whitestone cross we dropped down steeply through Hansel. Trevor was sent back down the steep cork screw climb and helped Fred regain lost momentum with a push. Fred's son had helpfully cleaned and polished his bike and made a lovely job of shining up both tyres tread and all which looked brand new at the start and made me wince at the sight of such shiny polished rubber which looked completely lacking in any potential to grip anything..

The short link between tarmac'd UCRs at Burlestone proved a little elusive but worth seeking out, and harder than it looks. Descending the grassy Buckford plantation lane is straight forward, but ascending when the grass is wet can be different. Blackpool sands looked busy from our vantage point above and Ray's childhood reminiscences had us giggling. 

I enjoyed Mill lane which I had not ridden before, as well as splendid views from above into the back of Dartmouth. At Lapthorne walkers stood by and let us open and close the gate for them and behind them, while two small boys stared at the bikes enviously. Barely any sign now of fairly recent repairs to the road down from Bozomzeal cross which have bedded in well. On Barberry water bridge lane we reminisced about having to ford the water a few years back while awaiting a replacement after the water washed the bridge away. I don't know whether it is truly called Furze hill lane or Small bridge lane or Allaleigh lower road but it is a delightfully varied and beautiful long road. Bridge plaque lane has sprouted yet another new gate just above the pair after the deep boggy section by the bridge, which stopped Ray firmly enough to allow him to roost the rest of us extracting himself. Fred's Husaberg jumped ruts and he and the bike ended up in different ruts and had another lie down after Beenleigh cross. The puppy the sign on Crossways lane warns of must be an old dog by now. Smallwell lane's ruts are deeper than ever and filled with varying shades of brown gloop with a tractor tyre edged motif. Rut riding practice along Bowden lane is easier since the last repairs. Climbing Bourton lane is even more fun than free-wheeling downhill. Bittams lanes bowl shaped profile filled with slippery mud caused some sideways moments for all but overall forward momentum was maintained and all stayed upright, just, and after climbing and descending the rocky slabs and splashing through the puddles we concluded our ride. 

Thank you Ray for leading.

Great fun, good company and a laugh along the way.

Looking forward to the next ride already.