Dillan and Jude called in to wake up George on the way through town, and to our surprise both he and John were keen to join the ride. After a welcome coffee from Kelly we headed out via Caddaford Hill to Staverton Bridge, up to Huxham's Cross and then down through Dartington to the cycle path.

We stopped briefly at Totnes weir, and everyone was surprised when Michael said he had seen a seal in the river. By the time they all looked it had disappeared under water, although John said he had seen a blur. The animal did not reappear so people started suggesting Michael had seen a dog in the water - a seal dog! The last laugh was on them however when the seal reappeared ten minutes later and was photographed doing its rolls.

There was a leisurely atmosphere in the club today as everyone renewed friendships, so nobody was in a hurry. We went to Morrisons to try out the new café and ended up buying cooked food, hot drinks and donuts for the usual low prices. We then rode to Totnes bridge and took the riverside path back towards the steam station, stopping briefly so that the youngsters could climb a tree with limbs overhanging the river.

Continuing back to the Shops at Dartington we passed a bird hide off Dartington Lane that offered views over the marshy fields nearby, but look as we might we could not see a single bird from inside or outside the hide. We then called in to the Food shop at Dartington that Michael and Dillan had discovered a few weeks earlier, buying some tasty cakes and snacks. Finally we took the cycle path back to Riverford Bridge and followed Colson Road back to Buckfastleigh, chatting about everything and nothing as we meandered through the twisty lanes.

Jude came down for the Evening Ride, and we did a ride to South Brent, the first with the new camera lens. We rode out along the old road, around the detour, down to South Brent in the near darkness, then back to Marley Head. We took the left turn to join the Dean road. I took some photos of the sky to test the camera, and it all looks good. We got home at 9.09 and Jude stayed until he was collected at 10.00.

Dillan and Jude decided on Bovey Tracey as today’s destination, and we left at 10.42.

This was the first cycle ride with Michael’s repaired Nikon camera lens, so he made good use of it. We took the dual carriageway path past Ashburton, and on the downhill past Bickington, John decided his bike freewheeled faster than Michael’s Mercian! Michael disputed that of course.

We arrived at Café 360 at 12.07, a place that was new to John. The café was very warm and welcoming, and we found a free table upstairs, although as usual they took way too long to bring the coffee up, and the “large” late was not really large at all. John had the soup, which at £5.95 is about the most expensive it could possibly be, but it was large, tasty and fairly good value. Dillan and Michael had coffee and a cake each while Jude had nothing. Dillan used Michael’s camera to take several photos before the refreshments arrived.

Leaving the café at 12.51 we visited the Co-op next, buying sandwiches. We then showed John around the Devon Guild which he had also never been to before, then tried out the “training” equipment in the park. It was very pleasant there by the river, so Michael took a few more photos.

Jude decided to save his Mum a trip to Buckfastleigh, so he cycled home, as he usually seems to do from Bovey, while the rest of us set off at 1.29 and rode back along the same route, apart from riding through Ashburton town and the path past the vets. On the way back John wanted to look at the “pickle stall” he had seen on the Bickington road, Granny Pat’s Farm Shop, but it turned out to be only pickled onions and the rest jams and marmalades, so he did not bother. John went straight home, and Dillan and Michael got home for 3.15.

We left at 10.43 on a warm but cloudy day and set off along the old Ashburton road. Michael had forgotten to bring food, so he detoured to the garage shop at Peartree to get chocolate and biscuit rations, then met the boys back near The Lanterns.

The climb of Ausewell Hill was quite tiring, so when we reached the top we took the fastest route to Widecombe, arriving at 12.22.

We had lunch in the Café on the Green. We were surprised to see that soups there were still priced at £6.50, and the woman behind the counter didn’t seem to know what Michael was talking about when he asked if the seasonal pricing had come to an end yet. Clearly, they are going to keep ripping people off all year round now. Having said that, Michael paid £10 for a large latte, a regular latte and two scones with cream and jam, which wasn’t too bad. They were skimpy on the jam though, which came in a very small glass pot, and when Michael asked for more, he was told he had the large pot and that is what everyone gets with two scones! Well, they may call it a large pot, but it was small by our reckoning, and she should have responded more positive to our request.

We took some photos on The Green, then looked in the village shop - Dillan bought crisps and Jude bought a flapjack. We left at around 1.10 and rode back through Ponsworthy and Leusdon. The ducks were waiting for us at the Leusdon pond, so Michael took some good photos of them.

Dillan and Jude did not want to go along the riverside area at Spitchwick, as they felt it has a bad reputation now with people partying there. It’s a shame that such a lovely spot has been tarnished like that. We returned home via Hembury Woods for 2.36.