Having ridden past Caddaford farm and Abham, along the Fursdon track and past Staverton station, we decided to call in at the public meeting in Staverton courthouse. The discussion concerned the proposed cycle path between Totnes and Buckfastleigh, and we thought it our duty to register our general approval. We seemed to be outnumbered, however, by residents who felt the path would affect their peace and privacy!

We left the meeting before it was concluded and returned home by the quickest route.

Fox Tor Café was the first stop. In addition to the items on the menu we could also have bought the café, which is up for sale. We had lunch at Sheepstor, but did this mean the village or the tor itself? We compromised and sat halfway up the slopes of the tor. Martin was determined to be mentioned in these despatches, and achieved this for two reasons. While Clive and Richard got down to the serious business of eating lunch he dragged his bike to the top of the tor to engage in some serious posing. Then later, when we descended the Plym Valley cycle path, he remembered to remove his sunglasses before entering the tunnel. However, he redeemed himself by suggesting the leisure centre in Ivybridge for an afternoon cup of tea.

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Every now and then we have a 'trackie' sort of evening ride from Buckfastleigh. Tonight we started with the Priestaford House track (off the B3357), which was as muddy as ever. Next we took the Old Totnes Road track across the old railway line, crossed the A38 (a dangerous occupation!) and climbed Whistley Hill. Next track on the agenda was Beaston, but we had a bit of riding to do first - through Woodland and Knowle. There was plenty of mud at Beaston, but there was still time to squeeze in just one more track - the one from Landscove - before heading homewards for a well-deserved hose-down.

This would have been an excellent weekend had it not been for the bad weather. Some who had booked decided not to attend (including a certain large family from the Paignton area). Of the remainder, Martin, Martin and Tao cycled through the rain and Michael, Neil, Eliot and Alan went by car, calling in at the café at Branscombe for some Dandelion and Burdock cordials and an excellent range of home-baked cakes.

We made the most of our stay by walking to the beach and along the coastal path, and playing Neil's new board game in the common room.

On a sunny Sunday morning the cyclists set off for Woodbury Common whilst the rest of us waited around for Beer caves to open. It was well worth the wait. For a small fee we were given a guided tour around the caves, created by humans as they removed huge slabs of stone for use in such buildings as Exeter Cathedral.

After another stop at the Branscombe café we moved on to Woodbury castle for lunch, hoping to meet the cyclists. Unfortunately they had already gone through, so we made an early return homewards.

Without the moderating influence of any youngsters the pace was fast - tempered only by a stop every two miles to loosen stiff links in the chain of Chris' new Raleigh Pioneer (the chain was a Suntour and similar problems have been encountered by Carol Taylor, Gary's mum, with a similar chain).

Under Ken's forceful direction we sped through Kingskerswell and on to Coffinswell where we took a lane that became a bridleway (called Milber Lane) that was diverted around the sand quarries. At the end we entered Milber Woods and took a downhill track almost to Penn Inn roundabout.

We cut back through an estate to the Newton road where we stopped at the Texaco garage for sweets etc before setting off home via Stoneycombe.

Light drizzle near Buckfast didn't dampen spirits too much, as everyone voted to continue the ride. Heavy rain halfway along the Hembury track forced a re-vote, however, and this time all but three voted to return to Crofters for a viewing of a Star Trek video. The three returned later, looking rather muddy.

Riders from different Sections rode to meet each other at various youth hostels around the edge of the county to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the CTC in Devon. Richard rode to Salcombe, where he met Derek and Mike from Plymouth. We had a short walk along the cliff path before dinner, and then had the pleasure of sitting in the bay window watching the sunset over the estuary. The hostel was almost empty, surprisingly, and the five of us (including the warden and an Australian visitor) gossiped peacefully. While we solved all the world's problems one of the hostel's colony of bats flitted around in the fading light, catching an early evening meal.

On Sunday we rode together for a few miles, chatting over the ever-changing fortunes of cycling, before our paths divided once more.