Meet time was 8:30 at Russ's house in Ivybridge then a chilly commute to Totnes fuel station to meet our Essex friends. Today's intended route was to take us around all the lanes at Rocombe.
We headed out of Totnes and hit the John Musgrave Heritage Trail passing a few young hikers who were smiling and waving as we rode past. This lane has really badly broken tarmac at the lower (southern) end of the lane which provides a good opportunity to navigate your line. Any mistakes could easily result in a pinch puncture on any one of the many hard edges of tarmac and concrete. Hanging a right near the top of the hill onto Sand Lane which led us to Berry Pomeroy and the lane down across the field and past the ruined castle. The field was white with frost as it was still largely in the shade. A quick succession of lanes at Shadrack, Littlehempston then Red Post taking us to the rarely ridden Aptor Lane which was very muddy and slippery. Compton mud plug as its affectionately know was next and there was a small but quiet deep puddle which is reforming having been repaired some years ago now.
As we continued to head in a North Easterly direction towards Rocombe. Windmill lane was next (see pic as to why its named so), then the lane at North Whilborough which has been cut short some years ago when the Kingskerswell bypass was built. At the Sloop pub we hit Coffinswell lane and took the right hand fork taking us up and over the hill to Daccombe where we kept tight to the hedge and killed the engines for a passing horse rider who gave us a pleasant thank you for our courteous actions. Now we were in the myriad of lanes around Rocombe and as I look at my track log to write this report its somewhat confusing as the track log crosses itself countless times but all that needs saying is we did them all - some up, some down. The interesting ones to mention was the steep rocky lane down to the barn at middle Rocombe - thats always fun in either direction - and the tight, steep and rather knarly lane that exits onto the turning area of someones drive/ garage (202-036). Given the amount of rain this past month or more the amount of debris across the roads and at the bottom entrances to most of the lanes in this area was tremendous. The NIMBY'S may moan about us bikers ruining the lanes but Mother Nature, she's a force to be reckoned with for sure and causes a lot more damage than we ever could that's for sure!!
We rode down Millen Lane into Stokeinteignhead then back up Butterfly Lane to the trig-point where we had a fantastic and sunny view across to Teignmouth.
Commons lane dropped us into Shaldon and a short commute through the town displayed more evidence of subsidance of hedgerows and residents garden banks and also the main A-road (A379) shortly before the bridge across the estuary (on the southern side). We waited at the temporary traffic lights that had been installed due to part of the road having been cordoned off due to the subsidance. Lights green and we headed along the road that fronted the estuary before taking a left up Dagra Lane then we worked our way around this network of lanes ensuring we rode them all. Sharper Lane is one I don't think I've even ridden before but it was a good challenge, again due to water errosion.
Back down Forches Hill into Stokeinteignhead we then rode back up one of the lanes we'd recently come down taking us to Ridge road (a snotty and muddy lane) then back down to lower Rocombe farm. Turning into our first lane at No Mans Land we headed up the hillside negotiating the loose rocks and low trees this lane has to offer - a good challenge this one. At the top we tracked along the main road and turned into the next lane where we met a sheep farmer who was moving his flock between fields. This presented a perfect opportunity for a snack break. Sheep secured and quad bike moved out of the way we descend back towards Lower Rocombe Farm. The next lane needed Russ's trusty SILKY folding handsaw as there was a tree down blocking our way. That was quickly removed - well, the smaller part of the tree but enough to allow us to pass - then back up the hillside and out of one lane immediately into another. A very short road stint and we hung a right into the next lane which would have taken us into Higher Charlecombe Farm but there was a large tree down across the lane making it impossible to pass. At this juncture Russ remembered this lane being mentioned recently at one of the TRF monthly meets. The landowner with the orchard on the other side of the hedge to the lane is quite happy not to get the tree removed as he's far from biker friendly and if the fallen tree prevents bikers riding the lane then that's all good for him. We headed back up the lane - which was a nice slip-slidey challenge - then continued to the northern exit of the lane which is the steep descent next to the house but this was made harder due to an abandoned car which was obstructing the lane. Likely stolen, driven down the lane to the point of no return and seemingly no possibility of extraction from it's resting location. Good luck to whoever has to try and get that car out!
From here we headed back towards Coffinswell and then the lane that brings us to the Sloop pub where we headed to the cafe for lunch. It was 12:55 and closing time was 13:00, bugger! So we headed to the fuel station at Penn Inn roundabout.
First lane after lunch was the somewhat treacherous entrance off the A381 at Abbotskerswell but it's a nice short ascent. Next up were the flooded lanes behind the prison at Denbury which provided another video opportunity. Another great lane at Knowle before the long lane at Forder Green then the fabulous lane at Parkfield which is a mix of sloopy mud down in the wooded section then a a rocky climb up and out to the top (western end). The off-camber lane at Pridhamsleigh is always a challenge especially with such sloppy mud then the steep amd rocky descent at Suicide Alley into Buckfastleigh.
The field at Dean provided some entertainment (see videos) then a nice decent into Deancombe. As I dismounted my bike to take some more videos I lost my footing and had a wee tumble ...... but no-one saw it so it didn't happen, right
Addislade, Gidley Bridge then heading to Higher Beara at which point I thought we were headed homebound but wondering where we were going to say goodbye to our Essex friends but Russ has other ideas as we headed away from home towards Culver lane where we waited an age for Dave to appear at the top nearest Rattery. Seems he got himself stuck on one of the slippery rocks and couldn't get himself going again.
Cutting back across to the South Brent/ Totnes link road we hit Blakemore Farm which turned out to be a bit of a race between rider's in the left and the right rutt. Not sure who won
The final flurry of lanes taking our friends back to Tuckenhay were full of big puddles (Peak Cross).
Back at their base we said our goodbyes but Steve and Dave ventured to the river crossing at Bow Bridge to wash their bikes off so this gave one final video opportunity.
Russ, Damian and I headed homebound via a few more lanes - Yetson, Lower Washbourne Barton, Wheeldon, Coursewell and finally Whoo-Hoo.
115miles for me. A fantastic day, great company - as always - and MUCH better weather than yesterday!!
