Having been awake at various points throughout the night due to a daughter with a less than best sleeping habit, on each occasion I noted the rain hammering down outside which didn't bode well for our planned day out.
The day begun with a rather wet and miserable commute up the A38 to meet Russ at Ivybridge fuel station for 9am.
I arrived slightly early, filled the bike and grabbed a coffee. Russ arrived shortly after. Over coffee we discussed the route which was a familiar but slightly tweaked run around the South Hams but something we'd not done for a fair while.
As we rode on the long straight between Bittaford and Wrangerton we came up behind a Police camera van which actually turned down the same backroad as us. They were obviously about to start their morning stake-out on a bridge over the A38.
Whoo Hoo was our first lane and a nice warm up it was. Water was cascading down the rocky start of the lane from the fields above and this was certainly a theme within the lanes as the day progressed.
From here we headed towards Corsewell which was completely flooded in the middle section where the 4x4's have created their playground. There's lots of deep hollows and steep banks where the vehicles play but none of these were visible due to the volume and depth of the water. Here we met a group of 4 riders who were from Wiltshire TRF. They were staying at Wheeldon Farm and had been laning yesterday and were out again today before heading home later. They weren't the only group, the second of which we passed as we entered Broadley heading towards Wheeldon. I think there were about 5 in this group. They didn't stop to exchange pleasantries.
Onwards up through the climb to Wheeldon then out onto the road then down the other side of the hill into the lane at Newhouse. This top section of the lane has definitely become more tricky than I last remember.
Out onto the main road towards Gara Bridge then a sharp turn back up the hill to Morley Mounts lane. Onwards to Moreleigh where the camera came out for the first time to get some footage of the deep puddles in this lane.
From here to the tricky and slippery descent at Boreston / Halwell. Always a good challenge and no incidents this time.
Hanging a left out onto the main road and a short bit of roadwork to Bickleigh and the lanes that ran us back towards Halwell. There was a rather moody looking walker near the end of this lane so a smile and a pleasant "thank you" was given (which probably only served to wind them up even more tbh but we had as much right to be there as he did!!)
On to the lane behind Totnes Cross garage which is always fun with a sloppy and slidy entrance and a few mud holes in the middle.
Grimpstoneleigh was next which is a lovely long lane down in the woods running alongside the river which was full and fast flowing. Exiting at Woodleigh it was a quick hop along the lanes and back to the main A-road to Totnes before darting down the short rutt lane at Sorley Cross. Interesting fact Russ told me about Sorley Cross; apparently it's the only B-road in the country that takes president over an A-road. This is likely due to the fact that if the A-road took president it would be a long straight likely promoting speed and the B-roads intersecting it form Kingsbridge and Loddiswell are both on quite an uphill at the intersection so that could be very dangerous pulling into a fast A-Road from a partially blind B-road (were our thoughts on that fact as we discussed it briefly)
Onwards down into Kingsbridge so we could head up the slimy and rutt lane out of Kingsbridge. I was very thankful of a new front tyre on this lane as I could feel it biting into the soft muddy rutt and giving me great feel and confidence from the front end.
Continuing east towards South Milton then South Huish then a rather misty view down over South Molton beach from the lane at Galmpton.
A quick stop and a choccy bar at South Molton beach then the long rutted lane leading us back into South Milton where we met the third and final group of Wiltshire riders, 3 guys this time. We stopped for a chat and they were very complimentary of our lanes saying they've had a fantastic time yesterday and today so far. At this point the weather had perked up considerably and it was dry and brightening up somewhat.
From here it was a back via a few lanes at West Alvington then into Kingsbridge fuel station for lunch. Shortly after we'd arrived the second and largest group of Wiltshire TRF arrived shortly followed by the group we'd met at Corsewell then the group of three we'd me at South Milton. We had a chat over lunch then said our goodbyes but that wasn't the last we'd see of them as we seemingly had very similar routes.
Heading out of Kingsbridge via the lane at Dodbrooke - no, not the infamous steps - then the long lane from Duncombe Cross into Frogmore. Hanging a right at Chillington then into a lane with a suicidal squirrel. It was a close call but I think it just escaped my front wheel.
Onwards to North Pool Farm and the greasy climb then the snotty descent into South Pool then a bike wash through the ford.
The creek crossing was next, fortunately the tide was well out, then West Prawle before heading back towards Torcross where we could hear bikes around us. We eventually caught up with the three guys again at the flooded road at Start. One of their bikes had had a bit of a cough and a splutter going through the water but after a vigorous rev it seemed to clear so onwards to the great lane at Start where I filmed everyone through the watersplash.
Alston, Pittaford, Merrifield then the weird and wonderful Hansel were up next at which point we lost our visitors ...... only to see them again at the top of Monsoon Alley. We were headed down Lapthorne lane back down into Old Mill knowing that we'd see them coming up this lane so I led with caution. We got almost to the bottom of the lane to be confronted with a fallen tree, it's rootball which had become dislodged from the raised bank above and our visitors were on the other side pondering how to get past. We each helped to get the bikes over the log then said our fairwells.
From here it was through Capton, Lee Lane then Broadridge and Broadgates then through Cornworthy into Corkscrew Hill which was pretty slippery at the junction of the two lanes.
Onwards to Bow but Russ's bike seemed to have developed an issue cutting out on him for no apparent reason. We pulled over into the carpark of the Watermans pub to take a closer look. It seemed like a fuelling issue as the bike would start but then bog and cut out when trying to rev it. There was no easily accessible carb bowl bleed screw nor could we get to the fload bowl drain plug. We detached the fuel feed to the carb and ascertained that we had fuel so why wouldn't it run? The decision was made to head for home on a mild throttle which seemd doable but shortly after cresting the humpback bridge and part way up the hill the bike died again and this time it wouldn't even fire up at all on the button. So, Russ made a call to his wife to bring his van and collect him. We had a pint of Guinness whilst we waited - rude not to really
Waving Russ off I headed for home via the lane out the back of the pub where I met a solo rider, older guy on a newish WR. I'd just come through the two large puddles in that lane and he was a bit apprehensive about them but I told him to stay to the side and he'd be good. We said goodbye and I continued to Harbertonford then Rolster Bridge before tackling the steps at Dunbridge. Reason for taking this route was to check out Belsford since it's reopened. Well, the repair works at the south west end whilst being evident had already taken a pretty heavy battering from mother nature with deep gulleys already carved into the newly laid hardcore (good for us though!!) Exiting this lane I hung a left and headed for Blue Post then diverted towards Diptford so I could head back via Corsewell again. Why? Well, when we left the pub there was another local rider from Dartmouth who'd been in the pub for a pint. He said earlier in the day when he was riding around he'd been to Corsewell and witnessed a Suzuki Jimmny drowned in the flooded middle section. It was a group of young lads, some of whom said, "dont drive it in there" but that warning was patently ignored to the peril of the driver. The guy on the bike said it was literally up to it's roof (probably a bit of an exaggeration) but I wanted to see if it was still there. It wasnt, boooo. From here I made one last stop to the entrance of Devil's Steps as AN-other patron of the pub who'd come outside for a smoke and was talking to us about bikes said he'd heard that Devil's Step's was being tarmaced. Well, it was, or had been, but only the first 10 feet to allow easy and clean access for the owner of the field/ smallholding/ garden immediately to the right of the entrance to the lane. Rumours and hearsay hey!!
Homebound now via the jetwash at Ivybridge, well, thats what I planned, not the faff that unfurled.
I washed the bike, started it and left it on tickover as I put on my helmet and gloves. I rode through Ivybridge and just as I was about to enter the roundabout to get onto the A38 my bike died. FFS. It felt like a fuelling issue. I tried and tried to get it to fire but it wouldn't. At this point I recognised why my backpack didn't feel as heavy as usual ...... I'd forgotten to bring my toolkit. DOH!! A call to Russ for a potential lift him and he arrived with some tools. First job was to bleed the carb. All good and she fired up but the tank sounded quite empty so back to the fuel station to brim the tank. I left it on tickover again as I paid then had a closing chat with Russ. Bike seemed fine so I went on my way and managed to make it all the way home, now in the dark!! What a polava!!
120 miles and despite the hiccups towards the end of the day for both Russ and me it was a great day out. Until next time (although there's gunna be some maintenance between now and then for both if us I'm sure!!)
Oh, and many thanks to the mother in law for saving me a roast, that was 'ansome, much needed, thx
-- Edited by Kwaka Geoff on Monday 21st of October 2024 07:08:03 AM
