We are currently searching for attendance list and report for this event.

We are currently searching for attendance list and report for this event.

Dominic came out of his winter hibernation for this enjoyable ride that took us to the woodland track behind Ashburton that always gets everyone excited. It came to an end all too soon, so we took a new route to River Dart Country Park and then joined the riverside track through Hembury woods - a thoroughly enjoyable end to a fairly short ride.

As they climbed Parliament hill in what felt like June sunshine, a few members complained light-heartedly that Michael had found the hilliest possible route to Berry Head. But it was quiet, and we arrived at Galmpton just in time to witness the passing of the 12:20 steam express to Kinsgwear.

There were plenty of boats to see all around as we enjoyed lunch on the grassy headland near Berry fort. Some interesting tracks then took us to Berry Head itself and on to Brixham harbour, where the "No cycling" signs spoiled a little of our fun. Ken, Julie and James Twydell - lapsed members from Paignton - made a surprise appearance at Goodrington Sands and seemed so envious of the fun we were having that they just might turn out on a ride again soon. We all hope they do.

Doughnuts at Goodrington and ice creams at busy Paignton set us right for the return journey through Red Post and Staverton, delayed only by Julian's numerous text messages and the general feeling that it would be disappointing to finish this fabulous ride too soon.

Oliver surprised most of us by turning out this evening when we expected him to be at university - he's so looking forward to the Switzerland tour that he just had to come back to Devon for the weekend to chat about it! We had to make good speed up the long climb from Buckfast to Cross Furzes so that it would still be light for the fun moorland track to the ford and on to Scoriton. We just managed a detour through Holne and Hembury before the light finally faded, and were grateful for the warmth and refreshments that awaited us at Crofters.

The tramway was built from granite slabs around 1820 to transport granite from the quarry to London via Teignmouth. We followed the tracks into the quarry itself, browsed the last remaining evidence of the industry that worked there more than a century ago, then took to the rough moorland descent from Smallacombe Rocks and enjoyed lunch by the Becka Brook in the secluded woodlands at the base of the valley. Everyone was surprised when Eliot's mobile phone managed to make a call to Julian from this isolated location.

After a stiff climb we enjoyed the hospitality of the medieval village near Greator, settling in the living quarters for a well-earned rest: the lack of walls, doors and a roof did not bother us too much. At Houndtor the wind was very strong, so we continued quickly to Jay's Grave and the short track to Widecombe for our tea stop. Showers became more frequent for the final leg of our journey through Spitchwick, but we still managed to include a couple more tracks before we eventually arrived home.

Phillip requested Totnes this evening, and as there were no disagreements we set off up the big climb past Pennywell to Rattery and Week. Tao did one trick too many at Totnes bridge and ended up with a grazed elbow and knee. The riverside track back to Dartington was delightful, and there was even time to play Frisbee in the school playing fields half way along - the sound of Tao fighting his way into a thorny bush to retrieve a frisbee he had accidentally thrown there made excellent entertainment! Colston road provided a quiet return route.

Heavy rain just before the start of the ride nearly put us all off, but the shower quickly subsided leaving a generally fine afternoon for our jaunt through Woodland to Fermoys Garden Centre.

This was the first junior ride of the new season, designed specifically for the children taking cycle training at the local primary school. The four youngsters had no problem with the country lane route along Colston Road and were soon demonstrating their skill at stone-skimming from the river island near Staverton. Dragging them away from the fun took longer than expected, so our return was a little later than planned. None of the children had ever ridden as far as eight miles before, so they all felt very pleased with themselves when they completed the ride.

A brisk ride brought us swiftly through Michelcombe to the open moor, where Julian demonstrated his superior skill at performing bike-less jumps from moorland mounds. For the return journey we decided to explore some of the many interconnecting paths that run through the upper and lower reaches of Hembury Woods. Reaching a clearing with three possible exits we simply had to guess the right route, and ended up discovering some new paths to the riverside.