Ryan rang early to say he was coming but then had to cancel just before the ride started because he had hurt his arm on a door at home. He did hope to join us later but unfortunately that didn’t happen, so just the four of us set off for the Avon Dam.

We were honoured to have Hallam on the ride. He had been given a choice of cycle ride or horse ride and he had chosen the cycle ride, partly because he had never been to the Avon Dam before.

It was already quite warm as we rode up Dean Hill and on to Bloody Pool. Here Hallam’s Mum passed with a horse box and Ash had a long chat with a bloke who was setting up his radio controlled aeroplane – the grass was apparently too long for take-off so he was just doing some maintenance on it where he would be well away from his neighbours.

We continued on to Shipley Bridge where we bought ice-creams and sat in the sun to eat them. Ash pointed out an interesting-looking beetle, Michael got involved and started talking about it and Callum promptly squished it.

The path to the dam was delightful today with rhododendrons out in full bloom. The reservoir itself was not quite full but very close – surprising in view of the recent spell of dry weather. The Teign Valley Pedal Pushers caught up with us at the dam: they had planned to go back to Shipley but decided to follow us when we suggested the moorland route to Buckfastleigh. Michael was not amused when one of the women in the group tried to poach Ashley for their fast group! We left them behind after a short time but I think they enjoyed the detour.

We left the reservoir at 12.20 so we expected to get home by 1.10. In fact we got back at 12.55 which was pretty good going. This had been a very good ride that everyone had really enjoyed.

Michael took everyone on a Tracks Special this evening. After climbing Green Lane and riding down to Baddaford we took the track to Lower Combe that we rarely use and then pushed up through the woodland track to Penn Farm. From there we took the track down across the fields to Landscove at Ryan’s request: it’s now a Riverford field. Zac got a puncture so everyone played in the school playing fields while the puncture was repaired.

Unfortunately things did not go quite to plan. There were actually two holes, and since Zac did not have a spare tube they had to be repaired. Michael then got Zac to pump the tyre, but as he removed the pump a sudden load hissing sound confirmed that he had somehow managed to break the valve! As we had no spare tubes Michael rang Zac’s Mum, but she was unable to collect him and didn’t like the idea of him walking. So we ended up riding back while Zac walked with us until he was close enough for Michael to come back with the car to collect him – from the end of Old Totnes Road.

When we were finally all back at Crofters at 9.40 we rounded off a rather disappointing evening with some Call of Duty rather than the planned Lord of the Rings.

Today was the hottest day of the year so far – 28 degrees by mid-afternoon, which none of us found very pleasant. Michael was feeling drained by the heat before the ride even started!

We didn’t get around to leaving until 10.40 or so and then did a fairly short ride along Colston Road, interrupted when Ash got a thorn in his rear tyre which had to be fixed in the shade of a tree.

We continued down to Staverton Bridge where the river level was really low, rode along the riverside path to Staverton Island which was still closed to visitors on Sundays, saw a steam train heading to Totnes and then rode up the woodland path to the park where we played on the new swing thing.

We rode down the Staverton Station where at 12.17 we waited for the train to return. It was the “Driver Experience”, a special hire train with two or three carriages where they hire the whole train for the day for perhaps £400. They get to go up and back four times during the day, taking it in turns on the footplate. When the Driver Experience had gone through we waited for the passenger train to come through from Buckfastleigh and Ash was shown photos of the very big train when it used to run commercially.

We returned home via Caddaford, getting back for around 1.15.

The start of this evening ride was delayed until 7.30 because Ash had some punctures to fix, and since the lads were tired after sports day we agreed on an easy ride to the tracks in Hembury Woods. We didn't see anybody else in the woods at all as we sped along the rugged paths and tracks. Michael managed to drop a huge stone in the river whilst Ash and Callum were searching for skimming stones and they didn't really manage to get their revenge.

The plan this morning was to take the track to Dartmeet but by the time we got to Venford reservoir showers were threatening so we contented ourselves with riding the track that circles the reservoir. The water level was strikingly low today and we were able to walk on areas of rocky grassland that are usually submerged.

We returned via the lower Hembury Woods track, by which time conditions were distinctly damp.

We took the old road to Ashburton, climbed Chuley hill and then took the track to the left that starts just past Parkfield. The track has two sections: the first part was a bit rough but offered great views across the surrounding hills in the glorious evening sunshine. The second section, running through woodland at a lower level, was infested with many swarms of flies but included some great jumps for the mountain bikers.

We pressed on to Landscove and played with the Frisbee in the school playing fields - Ryan almost lost it when it landed on top of a tall hedge but fortunately it fell down through the bushes so we could reach it. Conditions were very humid so from there we headed straight home via Green Lane.

Michael was delayed this morning by having to pump up his car tyre. After a discussion we agreed a social today, travelling to Plymouth to see the film Shrek 3 in 3D. It was a great movie and everyone enjoyed the morning. When we got back we finished with some excellent network computer games.

Heavy showers around 7pm persuaded us to switch the ride to a social. We went to Plymouth to play several games of Pool, called in at Tesco on the way home to get some snacks and finished with some computer games for the last ten minutes.

Our initial destination was Ugborough Beacon and everyone seemed happy about that. We rode up Dean Hill and through South Brent, getting to Golf Links Road at Wrangaton by 11.30. As usual the strict dress code in operation at the golf course provided some amusement (no t-shirts and all shirts must be tucked into trousers) but we didn't hang around long enough to risk getting struck by a golf ball. The youngsters needed a rest halfway up the Beacon, and we stopped again near the rocks at the top for a short lunch while admiring the extensive views across South Devon.

After riding a short distance into the moor it was 12.50 and Michael presented the options for the second part of the ride: either take the track decent to Owley and head home via South Brent, or take the adventurous option along the Redlake Tramway, emerging eventually at Cross Furzes. Hallam was a little anxious because he had arranged for his father John to collect him at 3.30 and had been instructed to ring if he was going to be later. The mobile number to ring had been written in large numerals on his lunch box, but every time he rang he got a strange and increasingly-annoyed person answering. Everyone wanted the adventurous option however so we decided we should go for it and would hopefully get back by 3.30 anyway.

The track was not especially rough so we made good progress. Despite the mainly grey skies Callum quickly ran out of water (as usual) and was trying to take everyone else's - Michael made him promise to bring two bottles in future, but he still did a fair amount of whinging.

Eventually we neared the point where Michael knew we needed to strike out across open moorland to join the Abbots Way track near the Avon. He got to what he felt sure was the right spot but couldn't see the gully that he had expected in the featureless moorland, so we pressed on a little until we caught sight of Redlake spoil heap itself. This confirmed our location, so after a short backtrack we left the track and waded through the long grass past some of the ruins of old mine workings. Hallam was convinced Michael was lost, but quickly we reached the top near Petres Cross and headed down across the hills to the clapper bridge over the Avon, now bathed in bright sunshine.

A small side-stream was clean enough to quench the thirst of the few who were desperate. Soon we had traversed the rough section of the Abbot's Way and came up behind the Avon Dam, looking magnificent in the afternoon sunshine. Everyone enjoyed our familiar downhill to Cross Furzes, although Callum went a little too fast and took a tumble on the soft grass. It was 3.58 when we finally reached Buckfastleigh: John had been waiting, and when he saw the number written on the lunchbox he said "I dictated the number to Steph and she wrote it on the box: I don't know whether I dictated it wrong, but that's not my number!” So Hallam was forgiven and everyone felt pleased to have taken part in one of our most adventurous rides of the year.

Our ride this evening took us along Colston Road, where Michael had a chat with his relatives, and on past the kennels near Hood Manor where the din suggested that a great many dog owners had gone on holiday. After ascending the new cycle path to the top of Dartington hill we decided to take a new road home, turning right for Rattery. We stopped a little way up for some Frisbee fun on a footpath in a field, but when a herd of cows turned up the youngsters fled for the gate!