Exmouth served as the unofficial final rendezvous for this fabulous weekend, everyone having been carried across the Exe estuary on the ferry from Starcross for the sum of £1.30 per person and bike. Ken and Simon somehow managed to get punctures within 50 metres of the ferry. We had already eaten our respective lunches, so other forms of amusement had to be found, such as filling water bottles, while repairs were effected.

The ride continued through the village of Littleham to Budleigh Salterton. Here there was time for a short exploration of the stony beach before returning to the bikes for the delightful excursion through Otterton. Sadly, evidence of the drought abounded everywhere: the lanes here were as dry and arid as we had ever seen them, and the stream which usually runs through the village had completely dried up.

We were getting thirsty ourselves. Having enjoyed the views from the summit of Peak Hill we descended into Sidmouth and selected the Mocha cafe on the sea front from the many establishments that traded in the town. The three who ordered Knicker Bocker Glories were not at all sure that the selection had been a good one: they seemed to consist mainly of sauces, with only a scant taste of ice cream here and there. Toby's Rainbow looked better value, so Martin and Michael tried them as well!

The climb to Salcombe Regis was exhausting in the sweltering heat. But then there was the descent through delightful Branscombe, adorned as usual with a profusion of carefully-tended flowers.

One more climb and a track descent brought us to the hostel by 6.30, in good time for the adequate evening meal. Vegetarians were less pleased with their substitution of fruit juice in place of the chicken soup.

In the cool of the evening there was a grand expedition to Beer beach. Several went for a dip, although such activity was fraught with danger: the stones on the beach were almost too painful to walk on with bare feet, and the beach itself fell away sharply under the water, leaving the youngsters out of their depth within a few metres. Those preferring to watch from some of the many deck chairs were entertained by a dog who might have done well in a circus. The youngsters couldn't understand why he kept bringing a large plastic fish tray to them in his mouth, but all became clear when they threw it out to sea: he retrieved it in the same way that ordinary dogs retrieve small sticks!

A late breakfast contributed to the lazy atmosphere that surrounded us all next morning. There was even time for photographs on the hostel lawn before eventual departure at 10am. By popular request our first call was at Beer Quarry Caves, the result of many hundreds of years of underground hand quarrying. We hadn't bargained for the unhelpful lady who barred the entrance. She couldn't do discounts as we were three short, although she eventually agreed to let adults in for child prices. She couldn't do a quick tour - the standard length was 1 hour and the next one started at 10.30. And we couldn't even have a look in the entrance for half price: it was definitely all or nothing. We examined our watches and decided that it would have to be nothing - obviously her superiors have so much business that they can afford to turn down £20 windfalls without a thought!

The next stop was for refreshments at Sidford, which we reached by the main ridge road. After Newton Poppleford we took the lanes and tracks through Hawkerland to the wooded ruins of Woodbury Castle, which offered excellent shelter from the midday sun during lunch, delightful scenery and good opportunities for the mountain bikers amongst our group.

The last part of our ride turned out to be the toughest. A long descent brought us to Topsham, where the local garden centre offered a welcome tap. Even with this supply of water, the climb from Clapham to Haldon was exhausting. The whole hill was exposed to the full heat of the afternoon sun. Not surprisingly, the group voted overwhelmingly to return via Bovey Tracey, where a good hour was spent enjoying cool refreshments before people made their various ways homewards.