Peter and Martin arrived at the start this morning to discover Richard sitting in his car: he was a shade of green and unable to lead the ride. We continued nonetheless, arriving early at the final pick-up. No one else turned up so we were able to make good time to Woodbury Common, arriving at the castle at 1145. After consuming ice cream and hot dogs we continued to eat lunch. Thoroughly filled, we went about 'getting seriously lush megabad air' (jumping) around the local area.

After Peter was 'politely' asked by a warden not to ride in the castle, we went down the road to Woodbury Mountain Bike race track where a circular course was followed. On the way we met some mountainbikers whom we chatted with, and drooled over their suspension forks.

Return route was via Exeter Ship canal, Dawlish (including obligatory tea stop) and Teignmouth.

Mike had very generously allowed himself to be conned into planning the route and had opted for Mansands - perhaps because this would be as far as possible from his home ground of Torquay/Newton Abbot.

Due to the distance we had to opt for a main road route to Hillhead - it was surprising just how quickly we ate up the miles on the smooth, straight roads. At the Hillhead garage we stocked up with crisps and sweets and were just about to go when Matthew discovered a puncture - Ken gave an impromptu display of his puncture repair skills whilst giving a running commentary to Luke, Mathew and Alan, our junior members. Luke was, to put it mildly, a little cheeky and was twice threatened with 'Yorkshire Justice' from Charlie. It is to be hoped that he really does know it all, because it is likely that he will have to mend his next puncture himself!

Due to the time wasted on the puncture, Mike decided to give Mansands a miss, so we returned via the back road to Galmpton and via Stoke Road to the back of STC, where we joined the ring road back to Marldon.

Lights! - Dave had an interesting sealed lead/acid rechargeable system on which he is still ironing out the bugs. Ken had a combination of a spoke-driven dynamo, halogen headlamp, two halogen rechargeable Nightrider front lamps, mudguard mounted rear light and a Vistalight - an LED rear light that gives five hundred hours light from two AA size cells - he is still working on the Fairy on Top!

On a more serious note it is hoped that Dave and Ken will be able to produce a technical sheet on cycle lighting in the near future.

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Ivan (the mechanic from Paignton Cycles) turned up on his lovely refurbished original type Moulton which Ken loved but Gary thought was a relic. By the time we reached Compton, Ken and Ivan had swopped bikes, but had swopped back by Kingskerswell. It was very comfortable but a Sturmey Archer 3-speed is too much like hard work around these parts.

We had the vague intention of going on the Haccombe track but only got as far as Coffinswell before deciding that it was getting too late and making for home.

At Compton we took a left turn and climbed a long steep hill to the new ring road and then back to Five Lanes via the new bridleway that used to be the old ring road. This was a longer route home but did avoid the tedious climb that we usually take.

After meeting Joseph Bellows at Hawson Court we rode to Michelcombe and Holne, pausing to follow tradition and play on the swings! We then took the track which was one of the old entrance roads to the River Dart Country Park estate, intending to turn left for emergence on Holne Chase. Unfortunately, stopping was the last thing on the minds of the impetuous leaders of the pack, as the track continued steadily downhill through the woodland. We eventually met up with the track from Galant le Bower, however, emerging at Holne Bridge.

We returned homewards through the Country Park, getting back close to 9.30pm.

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We headed out via the back roads to Stoke Gabriel and then along the river to Galmpton, where Gary left us to go and revise. It was agreed to try Galmpton Creek, so we followed the river and the footpath signs. Our dyslexic leader was good at reading the variations on these: "No Entry" and "Private". But not to worry, a patient landowner was on hand with a "Where the hell are you going? This is my garden".

We found the path along the beach and up through a field. Here some members managed to paint themselves with watery cow pats. On we went past the tied-up farm dog (trying to strangle himself in a desperate attempt to get at us), down to the quay at Greenway, back up the hill and then right, towards Maypool. Here we met Mr & Mrs Hatherly enjoying a pleasant Sunday afternoon ride away from their son.

We took the bridleway straight through somebody's private land. Having been directed to the correct path we paused for a drink from light green water bottles (see a previous sentence). Now we had to decide on a choice of pathways all clearly signposted. The decision was put to the vote and we went at some speed down the field to the next gateway. Here a naughty farmer had placed barbed wire on the other side so we had to climb over it. On we went down the path, which was now clear to see.

At the bottom was a herd of inquisitive cows. They seemed very pressing in their friendliness and were remarkably frisky. Our group started to back up the field with the hedge protecting them on one side and dragging their bikes in front of them. One member even managed to cross some barbed wire and started to walk along the top of the hedge. We could now see our path on the other side. The cows kept following us. Upon closer examination we realised, at some length, that these 'cows' were not quite what we had at first thought. This seemed to produce panic in one member who presumably thought he was a prize cow: he was gone, straight into the next safe field. Here we took a photo of our group and the 'cows'. At the top of this very steep field our prize Jersey then concluded his acrobatics display by demonstrating a back somersault complete with bike. He landed with the thud of the bike on top of him in a patch of stinging nettles!

At the top of the field we found an arrow hidden in the hedge, pointing in another direction! Having found the correct path we headed for home by a direct route as it was getting late.