Being unsure how 9-year-old Henry would fare on this first ride, we set off along Colston road with a view to deciding on a route at Staverton. We needn't have worried: he performed exceptionally well with the support of his enthusiastic mother Jill, so we extended the ride along the Totnes cycle path and enjoyed an extended refreshment stop at the Terrace coffee shop. David bought chicken and apricot pie!

Most of us decided to avoid "puncture ally", the steep track into Littlehempston, but Tao insisted on riding it. He felt quite pleased with himself until we neared Staverton. But to his credit, he did fix the puncture in double quick time.

Henry was still riding well as we arrived back at Buckfastleigh, and Jill was very pleased that for once cycling had proved more enjoyable for him than computer games!

There was enthusiasm for a Dartmoor ride today, and since the weather was so perfect for the time of year we decided on Spitchwick, reached via the Lower Hembury track and New Bridge. We enjoyed several rounds of Frisbee on the common, managing to avoid both losing the ring in the water and hitting the passing canoe club members.

Continuing on along the wooded valley the younger riders were not too impressed with the long climb to Buckland, some finding any excuse to stop on the way. Eventually, however, we set off again for Ashburton and home, today's return being much more pleasant for Sol and Keir than the last time they took this route! Another excellent winter ride.

The initial direction of this morning's ride was determined entirely by Joe, who insisted that he had to buy a pair of cycling gloves from Ashburton in order to survive! It took him twenty minutes to decide which pair to buy, so Keir had plenty of time to look around the shop and decide that he needed to buy a packet of energy drink powder. When they first mixed it with water both Sol and Keir had doubts about the drink, but by the time we had ridden through Rew to Druid they were desperately competing for the final drops!

Today was Mother's Day, so by the time we had climbed the woodland track from River Dart Country Park we decided that certain mothers might appreciate a more direct return via Hembury Woods lower track.