Our route this evening took us up the lower Hembury track and then up the hill to Humphrey's Cross on the main Hembury road. The youngsters played in the tree for a while. We then rode into Hembury and had some fun on the fort before taking the Slalom track down through the woods and home.

New member Matt was a bit slow today on his BMX but he loved the ride and plans to join us again.

It was a bright sunny day and we were all hopeful of a great ride. Matt Porter joined us for his first Sunday ride and his second ever ride with us. Zac came along making four so we were able to do the car-assisted ride to Fingle that we had been hoping to do for weeks.

We took the car to Steps Bridge, unloaded the bikes and then set off through the delightful Cod Wood at 11.20. Bluebells spread out from the track as far as the eye could see. Matthew needed his crank tightening and his seat post clamping, but we still got to Fingle Bridge for around 12.20.

We ate our packed lunch in a picturesque setting by the river, then rode for fifteen minutes along the Fisherman’s path before returning to Fingle for drinks at the café. Neither the flapjacks nor the drinks were particularly tasty, tasting rather like the cheapest supermarket own brands.

We spent some time skimming stones, then some tried wading across the river but it turned out to be very cold and stony. We rode back along the riverside tracks to the car, leaving at 2.45 and reaching home by 3.15. Matt did really well on his first day ride and everyone had a fabulous day out.

Michael's "Mystery Ride" was not a total mystery to Ashley, and he really didn't think his sore arm would cope with the rough descent across the moor. Nevertheless once we had climbed up Dean hill and on to Bloody Pool he decided to give it a go. The radio-controlled plane enthusiasts were out again today.

The fine weather had drawn hundreds of people to Shipley Bridge, making cycling past them a little more difficult than usual. Eventually we got to the Avon dam however and settled on its tranquil banks for a chocolate break. A dog dived into the reservoir for a swim while we lay there: we didn't like the idea considering this was our drinking water, but there were no signs around so we couldn't really complain. Hopefully the filtration plant will do its job properly!

Neither Ryan nor Callum had ever ridden the moorland track behind the dam and they were totally stunned by the view from the top of the hill - it is possible to see all the way from Teignmouth to Paignton and beyond from there. And of course they thought the track descent to Cross Furzes along the Abbots Way was "awesome", both of them going on about it long after we had reached home.