Swimming didn't appeal this evening, so Tao used the time to do some more work on our Norway video while the rest of us enjoyed the usual computer games.

Our plans to depart promptly at 10am were disrupted by several events, chief of which was that Jamie thought the ride started at 11! To make matters worse, Oliver decided to pace around for a full 20 minutes until Jamie arrived before discovering that he had a puncture. When we finally got moving we decided to stick with our original plans of pushing the ride length over 20 miles, to help those youngsters working towards their Stage 2 certificate.

Tao, Will and Louis had been waiting so long for us at Heathfield that they had been able to fix a puncture as well as getting cold. Everyone did well on the climb from Bovey Tracey to Ilsington, however, and we were soon jumping in the hotel swimming pool, relaxing in the Jacuzzi and sweltering in the sauna.

Finally the time came for the main event, and as usual the hotel provided a delicious meal and a quality atmosphere. When the awards and Christmas announcements were over, the Burgess family headed straight for Newton Abbot as they didn't all have lights, and the rest of us took the short route via Birchanger and Halshanger to Ashburton, arriving home just before dusk.

We used a slightly revised format for our popular Music Quiz, putting more emphasis on full MIDI implementations and original recordings. There was a lot of fun throughout the evening, but it was Gavin and Luke who eventually won the day over Tim and Oliver by just three points.

The forecast "sunshine with occasional showers" turned out to be more "continuous rain, with occasional sunny spells when South Dartmoor CTC are not cycling". Buckfast offered a suitable cafe stop while we ascertained the truth of the revised forecast: the best option then seemed to be a fairly direct route home. There was plenty of time during the afternoon to organise another Music Quiz for those who had not made the Friday social.

John Stuart and son Callum were the surprise guests for this seasonal evening of mince pies, DVDs and computer games.

Everyone was eager for a more adventurous ride today, so we headed straight for Totnes via Colston Road and the cycle path, arriving at the High Street cafe by around 12.00. Most bought lunches, including Michael who ordered a mushroom pizza that was cut neatly into 6 slices. Will thought the prices were too high, so Michael foolishly offered him a slice of pizza for £1: within seconds he only had three slices left, thanks to the added interest of Louis!

The afternoon sun was still high enough to allow our planned 20-mile ride, and Ashley was soon taking photographs from the viewpoints on Totnes Downhill. Others commented on the fact that Keir was wearing out his shoe leather on the climb rather than his tyres, but it was so good to see him again that we didn't press him too much on the point. The downhill to Bow Bridge presented a challenge to some of the youngsters in the form of the ford across the shallow but fast flowing river. Tao and Keir egged them on in the hope of an entertaining show, but Michael's words of caution against the cold finally won the day.

Tuckenhay and its old creek looked delightful in the afternoon sunshine even though the tide was out. This had to be the far point of our ride, however, if we were to return before dusk, so we veered right past the mill stream and followed the valley through Harbertonford and on to the final climb from Tigley to Rattery. Having reached the twenty mile point at Tigley we were now heading into "extra miles": combined with the plummeting temperatures this began to take its toll on the younger riders. When they got close to the top, however, they all found plenty more energy and we were soon warming ourselves by the gas fire at Buckfastleigh and enjoying hot drinks all round.

We previewed the first 6 days of Tao's Norway tour video edit this evening, as well as enjoying competitions on Need for Speed Underground and a good old fashioned chat.

Matthew Hamlyn-White astonished everyone this morning by making a come-back after a 12-year absence - whoever will turn up next! We rode through Buckfast to Hembury Woods and then on to Spitchwick, where the grass was not as wet as we might have expected after the recent rain but everyone was especially careful not to skid their tyres. Tao and Michael had hoped to include Dr Blackall's Drive today, but Oliver needed to get back for lunch and Keir and Matthew weren't too sure about the extra miles! The Buckland return was therefore chosen, providing another challenge for the youngsters before the long-awaited downhill brought us back to Ashburton and home.

This evening's social was cancelled.

It had been raining overnight but the youngsters still wanted a track. So we gave them the best track in the area - Beaston! It was dotted with numerous deep pools of muddy water, and the inevitable patches of deep mud. Unfortunately, Will underestimated the depth of one of these patches, tried to ride through, ground to a halt in the middle and just managed to get his feet up on the bank before he fell in. So when Michael came along, there was Will, feet on the bank, hands on the bike, unable to move and begging for help!

Everyone enjoyed the off-road so much that we decided to find some more - the steep woodland track that returns to the Green Lane area. By the time we got home, everyone was saying it had been the best ride for ages. They say some people like mud and some don't - it seems that everyone today fall into the first category.