We set off with the intention of completing our planned ride to Haytor, but before we had even reached Ashburton, we realised that the strong wind, coupled with temperatures of around four degrees, meant that the moor was not a good destination. We all had painful ears even though we were still on low ground, but Dillan was particularly badly affected.

The solution was to leave the A38 corridor and head back through the relative shelter of River Dart Country Park and Holne Woods. We stopped briefly on Holne Bridge to admire the delightful autumnal scenery, then rode up Holne Chase to the community café at Holne.

Once we had warmed ourselves with hot drinks and soups, we left at around 12:10 and took the lane down through Michelcombe to Scoriton where Jude settled down on the seat to eat his packed lunch. Leo, the farm dog from Scoriton, was out and about this morning with his friend: he did start to walk over to us from his farmhouse, but after a few steps he clearly felt he was too old to make the journey and headed back home.

We got home by 12:45 and stayed warm by the fire until Jude was collected at 2pm.