Alastair’s father Jerome joined us for today’s ride on a cloudy, chilly morning. We rode along Colston road at a fast pace and up the cycle path to Huxham’s Cross. Everyone like the idea of a café stop so we continued down the path to Dartington and enjoyed very tasty but rather expensive food in the Venus café. Will entertained us all by piling all his cream and jam onto one scone and then trying to eat it.

Everyone was quite fast enough today to continue to Totnes and return via Littlehempston, but John needed to get back early so we rode back up the hill and down to Staverton. Michael got a nasty puncture along the way that ripped his tyre canvas, so he hobbled along the riverside path. A rather unfriendly gentleman tried to tell us off for pushing our bikes along a footpath, but another lady nearby put him in his place by telling him we were quite within our rights, so he kept quiet after that.

Michael changed his inner tube in the park while the others played on the park equipment, then we headed home past Abham. George was keen to point out the dangers of “Death Hill”, aka Caddaford Hill, which had caused him to take a tumble on his very first ride with the club.

We got back for 1.45 and enjoyed a Modern Warfare 3 and trampoline social after the ride until 3.30.