There was a good turnout for this evening’s video and slide presentation which gave members a taste of what to expect on the two 1995 junior tours to Cornwall and Norway. The video was from the 1993 junior tour to the Cornish Coast and the slides were from the 1989 tour of Norway.

Having ridden as far as Rattery only Paul, Philip Stone, Budgy and Roy wanted to continue with the ride. Michael led the rest of the group back through Dean Prior to Crofters for extended computer games and the others joined us there later.

This turned out to be another well-supported computer games evening.

When Paul discovered a broken spoke Michael had to work very hard to persuade him not to abandon the ride. Edward Millard joined us for his first full-day ride, accompanied by his cousin Philip Stone who was showing off an ingenious home-made battery contraption attached to his light. When Luke finally arrived at Peartree (he had been delayed by a car breakdown) we set off for Gappah and Haldon.

Adam, who had forgotten his lunch, bought some food from the market near the racecourse and then ate it with us on the Underdown track. Lawrence Castle, the strange building at the end of the track, seemed to be undergoing repairs today.

The descent to Doddiscombsleigh brought us up against another skittish horse: careful riding on our part avoided problems. We had planned to ride the BMX track at Christow, but today there was an event taking place. There were crowds of spectators, and a new batch of riders was being released every two or three minutes. Clearly there was no chance of us having any fun, so we proceeded up the steep climb to the reservoirs.

It was on the track descent to Lustleigh that Keir decided to overtake Budgie on the left hand side. He quickly found himself in a rut, lost control, hit Budgie’s handlebars and knocked him clean off his bike. Budgie, who prides himself on being a careful and clean rider, was not at all amused!

After enjoying excellent refreshments at Lustleigh’s Primrose cafe we returned via the railway track and Bickington, arriving at Buckfastleigh at 5.35. Several members who did not have lights were reminded of the importance of bringing lights on all day and afternoon rides up to the end of March.

Ten-pin bowling at Newton Abbot’s LA Bowl is always a popular social. As usual, some members also paid for some time in Lasercraze.

Harry and Luke met us at Peartree but they were dismayed when they realised the hill that Michael had planned for them to climb. Michael received his just rewards later on in the form of a puncture.

When Julian had finished his two pieces of expensive chocolate cake at the cafe we set off for Broadhempston, arriving just as darkness fell. The Buckfastleigh group, returning via Green Lane, were delayed somewhat by Luke’s puncture, but Budgy and Julian took it in turns to keep it pumped so we didn’t have to repair it.

Allen did exceptionally well on his return ride to Paignton despite David’s attempts to get them all lost.

Computer games ruled the evening once again, and everyone had a wonderful time!

Edward got off to a very rough start when he apparently blacked out in Old Totnes Road and fell face first onto the pavement. His mother arrived on the scene and took him off for some patching up, but there was no permanent damage done.

Ken and Dave were still waiting for us at Totnes when we finally arrived at 11.10. Our selected lane route took us through Tuckenhay to Dittisham. It was in this section that Michael’s newly-resprayed rear rack became detached from its light bracket.

A wrong turning in the village brought us down to the banks of the River Dart before the leaders could be told to stop, so we had lunch and then climbed the steep hills out of the village. Ken and Dave decided, quite sensibly, to return to Paignton via Dartmouth while the rest of us made our way to Harbertonford along country lanes, farm tracks and steep climbs. When refreshments had been purchased from the garage we sped back to Buckfastleigh, arriving at 4.45.

The video that attracted all these members was Mrs Doubtfire, a well-paced comedy starring Robin Williams. The usual drinks and biscuits were served during the interval.