Our climb to Haytor Vale was interrupted for twenty minutes while Michael and Oliver dammed up a stream behind Ashburton. Actually, Michael just needed to eat some food, and the stream offered a good excuse to sit and chat! Exploring Haytor Vale proved educational, as none of us really knew it existed. There was time for ice creams and drinks by the rock, then a speedy return via Ashburton brought us home in time for lunch.

A meandering ride took us up Green Lane and then down the cross-field track to Landscove. We continued to Broadhempston and then completed and enjoyable evening with a return through Staverton, stopping only to aid an ailing pigeon near Riverford.

Our planned ride to Bradley Woods ran into some difficulties when we experimented with the lane signposted to Down Farms on the far side of Ashburton. It proved very scenic and interesting, with narrow twisty lanes meandering through old fashioned farms, picturesque woodland and ancient bridges. It brought us out to a place that Tao knew well, and when he said he knew the best way to Bradley from there, we took him at his word. Unfortunately the route he has in mind included a very long, very muddy, very overgrown track. Navigation took so long and involved so many stings and scratches that we had to abandon the idea of the Bradley Woods track altogether.

Fermoys restaurant - also part of the plan - was just too tempting to abandon even though we were running quite late. Numerous freshly-squeezed orange juices provided us with the sustenance for our brisk return home via Staverton. Will coped well with his longest ride yet.

This was an off-road ride that kept us near shade or water from start to finish. We took the riverside track through Hembury Woods, but the proposed swim didn't actually take place. Instead, Michael fixed a puncture and then we rode up to Gallant Le Bower cross through River Dart Country Park and up the woodland track that we had always previously descended. At the top of Hembury we were able to reunite a dog with its owner before making the final descent along the Slalom track, bringing us back to our starting point as darkness fell.

Today was the hottest day on record, so we didn't want to push too far into the afternoon. First stop was the river Avon near South Brent, where the cool shade of the woods provided a perfect spot for a dip and splash in the warm but refreshing waters. Wet shirts kept us cool as we continued through Avonwick to Diptford, but the temperatures were now beginning to climb even higher and there were no more watering holes! We decided to return home via Rattery and then spend the afternoon in the coolest place we could think of - the air-conditioned cinema at Warner Village, Plymouth!

Tao was working from 11pm tonight so we did a brisk but short ride that kept us in trim and took us through Ashburton, Landscove and Caddaford.

Today the weather was, for a change, comfortably warm. From New Bridge we took the steep climb to Poundsgate and on to the summit, where the absence of the usual ice cream van was a disappointment. The track that is often called Dr Blackall's Drive provided spectacular views of the steeply wooded Dart Valley and plenty of fun on the descent. Today we stayed off-road all the way to New Bridge, fortunately (from Michael's perspective anyway) missing the steep and dangerous bit that some of our more experienced mountain bikers have reported in the past. Ice creams and Hembury Woods concluded another excellent ride.

A hot air balloon race across Dartmoor kept us entertained on the climb from Dean Prior to Skerraton Down - at least 7 balloons crossed our path, the sounds of hot burners pushing easily through the still evening air. Views from the high moor were excellent as always. There was enough time to try a couple of new tracks before we took the usual descent to Cross Furzes and home.

Ride cancelled

The steep lane past Caddaford Farm marked the beginning of one of our more adventurous evening rides of recent weeks. Continuing through Staverton at a good pace we were soon near Ipplepen and turning off for the hamlet of Torbryan. The footpath that Michael had in mind took a scenic route along the lower boundary of a field and then past a luxurious country house. He had recollections of unfriendly landowners in the big house, however, so we made sure to push our bikes along the final stages. As it happened, only the ducks seemed concerned at our presence as they viewed us cautiously from their secure island on the lake.

Our return route took us through Broadhempston and home via Green Lane.