New rider Jack surprised everyone by being almost as fast as his friend Harry on our excursion along Colston Road to Staverton. We made such good time that we were able to spend twenty minutes playing on Staverton island, the highlight of which was John's barefoot walk across the river to retrieve the plastic bottle that Harry had propelled into the water. Then we just had to test out Michael's brand new Frisbee in the cricket park before heading home via Riverford Organic.

Today's ride was cancelled as nobody was available to ride.

With another good turnout our juniors rode their longest Wednesday ride of the season, to Broadhempston via Green Lane, and still had time for more than twenty minutes of Frisbee throwing in the local park! They wanted tracks so we found a brand new woodland track near Waytown and then returned via Beaston - Harry's favourite track to date - and Landscove.

Jack and Harry were so fast tonight that we diverted our original destination of Skerraton Down to the far more demanding Avon Dam. The sun was setting as we approached the reservoir and we were loath to leave such an idyllic spot. The lads thoroughly enjoyed our favourite track descent to Cross Furzes, and Gavin was grateful for the opportunity to try out his expensive new front lights on the final downhill to Buckfastleigh.

The poor weather forecast meant that the ride was cancelled at the start.

All the youngsters were in top form this evening and didn't walk once on the long climb to Rattery. Taking the lane past Dartington youth hostel we continued into Totnes and then rode the cycle path in reverse, from Totnes Bridge. Jack and Harry were surprised at how much fun the path was and were pleased to have managed to get so far. The short stop for Frisbee throwing in Totnes playing fields came to an abrupt end when the Frisbee rolled over the bank and into the river. There was no way to reach it, so we pressed on to the Cider Press Centre and home via Colston Road, using our lights to good effect.

Having taken the fast but steep climb from Ashburton to Cold East Cross, Gage and Tim had definitely earned an early lunch at Bonehill Rocks. Whilst we enjoyed the view from our high vantage point Gage spotted a letterbox. Then he found another not three metres away from the first. Soon we were all looking behind every likely-looking rock, and sure enough our count reached seven in the space of 15 minutes. No doubt there would have been more if we had looked harder. Many of the boxes had only been placed a few weeks earlier. It's all a far cry from the early days of letterboxing when you might find a single box on each significant tor!

We continued along the track past Honeybag tor which both lads thoroughly enjoyed, descended to Widecombe for refreshments and then headed over to Ponsworthy for the big decision on whether to go for the climb to Dr Blackall's Drive. The sight of the initial stages of the climb didn't encourage them, but they both decided to go for it and soon we were speeding down one of the most spectacular tracks on Dartmoor. Of course when they reached the bottom they just wanted to do it all again, but time was pressing on so we contented ourselves with refreshments from the ice cream van and a homeward ride through Hembury Woods.

New rider Jaden performed well on the climb from Peartree Cross to Chuley Cross, and were making excellent progress until we reached the top of the hill near Baddaford farm. Here Gage discovered two punctures, and even with both Michael and Oliver working on the repairs it took nearly half an hour to get him back on the road again. There was still time to enjoy the track descent to Landscove and another track to Hole Farm, but then we really needed to head homewards and the planned Frisbee contest had to be postponed.

A leisurely ride brought us via Colston Road to Cranks vegetarian restaurant at Dartington Cider Press Centre for refreshments. We then started a ride of exploration, starting with some of Dartington's inner lanes and finishing with the historic Leech Well behind Totnes: much of the terrain was new to Tao. Pressing on to Harbertonford we took the lane from Rolster Bridge on the Harbourne to Bickham Bridge on the Avon, spent a little time contemplating the universe and then returned home through Diptford and Rattery.

The first part of this evening's ride, to Venford Reservoir, went smoothly enough. When we took to the moorland track with a view to meeting up with the Michelcombe path, however, things began to go a little wrong. We crossed the leat with no problems (except perhaps a squeal or two from Oliver, who hates water) but the gorse had grown so densely over the summer that we couldn't see a way to cross to the start of the path by the direct route. Crossing the leat twice more we headed for the boundary wall which seemed relatively free of gorse.

After crossing a ford and descending some steep banks the gorse began to close in until we were forcing our way past the prickliest of bushes. Just when it seemed we might have to turn back we arrived at the path gate, with just enough light remaining to negotiate the steep and rocky descent into the valley. A final splash through the Holy Brook brought us to Michelcombe ready for the final journey home through Scoriton.