There were no riders out for this evening's ride.

There were no riders out for this peak season afternoon ride.

With many of our regular riders away on holidays only Michael and Ashley turned out for this evening's ride. As it had been dry for a couple of weeks we decided to try the Burchetts Wood track, opposite Hembury Woods. It still proved to be a little muddy in places, but it was quite passable and Ashley thoroughly enjoyed exploring what was for him a completely new track.

Nine year old Harry Blackman was fortunate enough to get one to one attention for his first club ride - and since Ashley wasn't out he also got to borrow the club mountain bike and helmet! He couldn't get over how easy the bike was to ride up hills, and he found the Hembury tracks so enjoyable that he just didn't want the ride to finish!

Ashley joined us for the afternoon social at Crofters, but Harry was so keen he wanted to go out for another ride! Sadly he's moving away from the area next week, but he hopes to return from time to time for more biking fun.

Everyone seemed to want to go to Burchetts Wood again once Ashley had told them all about it. Michael's warnings of muddy conditions proved well founded, a result of the heavy rain earlier in the week, but everyone seemed to love the track anyway. Olly used the mud as an excellent excuse to walk through the river at the end of the track, but everyone else just cleaned their wheels from the bank!

The steep climb towards Holne was followed by the descent past Shuttaford farm and then the lower Hembury track - much more enjoyable today in the downhill direction.

By the time we reached Buckfastleigh everyone was filthy, but that didn't stop them returning to Crofters for a few computer games before heading homewards.

We'd like to remind everyone that working lights must be brought on all further evening rides this season.

Today's ride did not take place as everyone was away.

Ashley was in fine form for this evening's ride. We rode out along Colston road, stopping for a full 15 minutes to chat with Michael's relatives at Colston who were riding the most enormous Shire horses. We made good speed to Riverford and then took the track leading back to Hole Farm that we rarely get to ride. With no lights we had to make good speed to return before dark, but Ashley managed it with no difficulty whatsoever.

Sam and Olly were keen to introduce Heidi to the delights of the Belford Mill track, and Heidi was not at all disappointed. When we came to the Terrace Walk however there were a few problems when Michael's pannier caught on a piece of wire fence carelessly left sticking out of the ground: his pannier was ripped from the bike, breaking both clips and the elastic strap in the process! Temporary repairs proved ineffective but fortunately Michael was carrying spare clips and strap, so he was able to effect full repairs once we reached the road.

Julian, back in Devon for a week's holiday, joined Michael for a speedy ride to Marley Head, returning via Rattery to ensure we got back before dark as Julian didn't have lights.

On a perfect sunny afternoon we headed through Hembury Woods and found Spitchwick packed with people of all ages. We settled down at the Buckland end and amused ourselves for well over half an hour; Sam and Freddie went swimming in the deep waters and then at Olly's request we played a game with the Frisbees in the trees.

The hill to Buckland was challenging as always, but everyone was fast today so we were soon heading down the hill to Ashburton and home.